Does Jesus not want everyone to be saved?
When I read Mark 4:12 it did sound very much like Jesus purposely told parables because he deliberately didn't want some to hear the message of salvation. Others have commented, quite rightly I believe, that what Jesus meant was that the hearer must want to understand the meaning of the message (i.e. must seek it's meaning and thus demonstrate a true desire to know the truth). This verse is paralleled in Matthew 13:13-15 but its meaning is clearer in Matthew because it is shows that even though the hearer hears the message it is they (not God) who are determined not to listen or understand. Consequently, they call judgment upon themselves because even though they heard the message they did not desire to seek its meaning - thus effectively rejecting it. When it says "otherwise they might turn and be forgiven" it does not mean that God hid the meaning from them because He did not want to forgive them, but rather, God would most definitely forgive them if only they would ask for it but they refuse to.
Created about 2 years ago
