Jesus often spoke in parables, using stories and metaphors that were meant to reveal deeper spiritual truths. He did this so that His disciples alone could understand the meaning of these teachings. Some people argue that Jesus spoke in parables because God chose only certain people to be part of His kingdom and not everyone. But is that really the case? Can God be partial in such a way? Let’s explore this by looking at what Jesus said in Luke 8:9-10:

When His disciples asked Him what the parable meant, He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others, I speak in parables so that, 'Though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'”

This passage talks about the secrets of the kingdom of God, not the kingdom itself. There’s a significant difference between the two. While the kingdom is available to all, the secrets of the kingdom are revealed only to those whom God has chosen to understand. This special understanding isn’t to exclude others, but rather to empower those chosen to share the good news with the rest of the world. Once the secrets are shared, they are no longer secrets. As Jesus said:

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open” (Luke 8:17).

To illustrate this point, think of a pilot who knows how to navigate a flight. While the pilot has the knowledge, the purpose is to transport passengers safely. Similarly, a country elects a Prime Minister, not for the benefit of one person, but to represent the interests of the entire population. In the same way, God reveals the secrets of the kingdom to a few chosen individuals to use that knowledge to serve and lead the many.

Jesus explained this in Matthew 22:14, when He said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” This doesn't mean that God has selected only a few for salvation, but that He has chosen a few to represent Him to the world so that everyone can be saved. As Jesus says in Matthew 9:37, “The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.” While we focus on the word “few,” we must also remember that the word “plenty” is key. God has many people waiting to be saved, and His desire is for us to pray for more laborers to bring in the harvest. The “many” or “plenty” refers to everyone who will ultimately be saved.

God's desire is for everyone to come to salvation, and our job is to believe that His love and compassion will reach all, just as Christ had compassion for us, as seen in Matthew 9:36.

While Jesus spoke in parables so that His disciples would understand the deeper truths, the goal was always to reveal these truths to the world. This is why He didn’t just want His disciples to grasp the parables in private. Jesus says in Matthew 10:27 and Luke 12:3:

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”

Jesus wanted His disciples to carry the good news to the world, and He chose them for this very purpose. After His resurrection, the disciples went on to proclaim the gospel without using parables—no longer shrouding the message in mystery, but sharing it clearly with everyone.

The purpose of the disciples' selection was to help spread the gospel to the rest of humanity. They were called to be “fishers of men.” In Luke 8:16-18, Jesus clarifies this mission:

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Here, Jesus uses the metaphor of a lamp to explain that the gospel—the light of the world—should not be hidden. Just as no one would hide a lamp under a bed, we must not hide the truth of the gospel. Jesus makes it clear that the gospel is meant to be revealed, not kept secret. There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known. He also urges us to listen carefully and to understand the true purpose of the Good News. Misunderstanding the purpose of the gospel can block our understanding of its full impact.

Though some are chosen to lead the way to salvation, the ultimate message is that all will be saved. Jesus wants us to understand that the gospel is meant to reach everyone. His parables were not meant to keep others out, but rather to set the stage for those who would carry the message of salvation to the world. The light of the gospel is meant to shine brightly for all to see.

In summary, Jesus spoke in parables to help His disciples understand the secrets of the kingdom, which they would then share with others. The goal was never to exclude people from salvation, but to prepare His disciples to spread the Good News to all. While some are chosen to lead, God’s heart is that everyone would be saved. As we carry the message forward, we should remember that God desires all to come to salvation, and our role is to spread the light of His truth to the world.