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Jesus did speak in parables. “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” Matthew 13:10-11.
But, Jesus also spoke openly as he states here. And, we should think about how we can follow Jesus’ example here. Moreover, we do not know who are the elect and who are not, so as to be able to effectively use parables at least to the extent Jesus did. The call to us is to preach and teach openly and broadly and clearly.
We speak openly. “Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange–I speak as to children–open wide to us also.” 2 Corinthians 6:11-13.
We speak broadly. “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.
We speak clearly. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20.
Who can speak as openly, broadly, and clearly as we should?
But, there is hope!
2 Corinthians Chapter 3 contains the hope of the Holy Spirit within us. Here is a powerful and beautiful description of who we are. This chapter compares us to a letter “known and read by all men”. Following the link to the entire chapter, I will quote a few of the verses. Click here: 2 Corinthians 3 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com
“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-6.
“Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,” 2 Corinthians 3:12.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 