The Parables: More than Children's Stories

Do you remember hearing and reading fairy/morality tales and other bedtime stories when we were young? These were stories on how to live a right and good life while on earth that told us how to be good and the possible consequence if we do not listen. God has a way of teaching about Himself, what it will be like to live with Him in the Kingdom, and how we can start living that way while here on earth. They are the Parables but why did God have Jesus share in this way? 
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Matthew 13:10-13
During His time on earth, Jesus spoke to the people in ways they could understand. He spoke to the multitude by giving great sermons that convicted and healed. He had many dinner conversations that were lessons on faith. He had chance meetings, synagogue preaching, private conversations, and many others; but the one way he spoke to every soul was through the Parables. In this age we would call them illustrations and the point would still get across. Now every Parable that Jesus spoke was directly linked to the God.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’
Matthew 13:14-15
Parables and illustrations help the hearers and listeners to visualize what is being said because they take situations from the timeframe they originate in. Simple words for a simple time. Jesus gave the people a visual representation so that they could see and relate the stories to the Word which they had lost and get a picture of God’s desire for the personal relationship with His Creation. You see, it is all part of God’s timing and He picked the right moment where He knew that many of His Chosen People would return to Him. However, the people needed that physical representation and the Isaiah prophecy fulfillment of the Messiah (we always need something physical for some reason) in order to believe in the spiritual when it is revealed.     
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17
Jesus knew how to get to the heart of the matter and speak to the very soul while giving a visual and sometimes physical representation on how people should live with each other and then compared it to life in the Kingdom. When God spoke the Word into mortal existence He brought the Kingdom with Him. Many people who sought (and seek) Him found (find) Him and those who were and are blinded by their righteousness are still seeking Him. The Parables are a great reminder that we will never be fully right while on earth unless we serve and are faithful to God through Jesus. Saying this reminds me of the old hymn, “Trust and Obey” that goes:
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
For the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey