Why did Jesus HIDE the truth

from those who heard him?

Q. I am having trouble understanding Jesus' use of a quote found in Isaiah:

"But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to
them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside,
all things come in parables, so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and
not understand; Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.'" (Mark 4:10-12, NKJV)

Why would God want to single some people out (presumably the Jews he was talking to, since the quote is from
God's directive to Isaiah regarding Jews) and blind them to the TRUTH?? What would be His higher purpose in
doing that? Didn't Jesus come to save ALL people?

(Submitted by: Vanessa)

A. Your question is a very good one. We know Christ came to save all people because scripture says as much.
However, the scripture in Isaiah seems to contradict that fact. You have to look at other scripture to fully
understand God's plan.

"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own
opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all
Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from
Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.'" (Romans 11:25-26, NKJV throughout)

God promises that "all Israel will be saved." It is part of His plan to harden their hearts for a time to allow the
Gentiles time to receive the word and to have a place in His Kingdom. God knows our sinful human nature. He
knows how we operate and how we respond in every circumstance.

"if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being
cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Romans
11:14-15)

God promised the salvation of all Israel. You might be thinking, "If they died in sin, how will they be saved?" For
the answer to that question you need to look into the future.

In Ezekiel Chapter 37, we see a future physical resurrection of Israel:

"So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet,
an exceedingly great army.

"Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are
dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord
GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring
you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My
people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place
you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the
LORD.’ "" (Ezekiel 37:10-14)
We know they died in sin by the following scripture:

"They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of
their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will
cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 37:23)

The following scripture promises that God's relationship with them will last forever:

"'My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations
also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.'" (Ezekiel 37:27-
28)

What a wonderful promise from God!

Answer By:  Margaret Vidal