In a recent social-media post, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv reflected on a passage from the Gospel of Luke (8:10): “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to others they are given in parables, so that, seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not understand.”
He invites us to stop and ponder these words more deeply: what is a parable? It is a teaching story that uses symbolic characters and their deeds so that through things a listener already knows from experience something new, previously unknown becomes clear.
Epifaniy emphasises that in the ministry of Christ, parables serve not only to explain but sometimes to challenge: they force the hearer, by the very clarity of the story’s outcome, to recognise a truth they might previously have rejected.
He goes on to say: To know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom requires the effort of the mind to grasp the depth of divine revelation.
It also demands the effort of the soul, so that it is purified, filled with grace, to better perceive the truth.
And beyond that: effort of the whole person — that what we come to understand might be embodied in our lives.
In other words, hearing and seeing are not enough. Without willing engagement, without that inner openness and commitment, one may watch yet not see, listen yet not understand. The parable form is chosen by Christ so that the truth is revealed in a way accessible to all who truly seek, yet remains concealed to those closed-off.
Finally, Epifaniy reminds us that the Word of God is not cloaked in overly complex philosophical terms to exclude most people. Rather, it is revealed in an accessible way — for “every person who wants to know this Word and live by it” can do so. The call is there; the responsibility to respond lies with each one.
