Jesus spoke predominantly in riddles and parables, obscuring rather than elucidating the message. Therefore, Jesus is guilty of obscuring his message from opponents although the Koran states: The messenger’s duty is only to deliver the message clearly (24:54). What should be the response?

Answer:

A few comments.  First of all, the Quran itself and Muhammad specifically called Jesus Messiah and prophet, so for a Muslim to undermine the teaching of Jesus would be a very confusing thing to do.  It would be almost as strange to do this as it would be for a Muslim to criticize the teaching of Muhammad.

Second, it is simply not true that Jesus spoke predominantly in parables. Whoever says this has probably not actually read the New Testament. Consider Jesus’ most famous (by far) teaching, which is the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapters 5-7.  There are no parables there.  Then, think of Jesus’ other most famous teaching events, such as John 6 or John 13-17.  Again, no parable at all there.  Anyone who says that Jesus spoke predominantly in parables is clearly not aware of what Jesus taught, making the criticism invalid.

Third, Jesus told us why he spoke, occasionally, in parables, and his reasoning makes perfect sense.  He explains in Matthew 13:13-15 that, on occasion, he taught in parables because of the unfaithful ones who are “hearing but not understanding, and seeing but not perceiving.”  In other words, for those who refuse to listen to Jesus, he did not want to “throw pearls before swine.”  Having said this, consider his most famous parables.  Is the parable of the Prodigal Son difficult to understand?  (Luke 15:11-32).   No, the meaning is perfectly clear.  What about the parable of the soils.  Is that difficult to understand?  No, and besides, Jesus told his disciples the meaning, and it is recorded in the New Testament.  The charge that Jesus’ parables are difficult to understand can only come from a person who has never read these parables.  This is a nonsense accusation, coming from a person who appears to have no interest in the truth, and it should be totally dismissed for what it is.

One more thought.  I ask any open-minded person to do this exercise:  Read the gospels and read any portion of the Qur’an you like.  And ask this question:  Which is clearer and easier to understand?  To any unbiased person, the answer is quite straightforward.  Besides, most Muslims do not even read the Qur’an in their own modern language.  Most Muslims, literally, do not understand the Qur’an, yet this Muslim person makes this unfounded charge against the Bible.  What can I say?

John Oakes