Briggs and I were discussing parables the other day. Did God seek to veil the truth from some through these? Did their own hardness of heart prevent them from seeing, believing, and being saved? It's a complicated issue. From Bible Knowledge Commentary on this:
"They were like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day (Isa_6:9-10). Isaiah said that this spiritual blindness and deafness that comes to people is God’s judgment. He particularly referred to Israel as a nation (cf. Mar_6:9, “this people”) for rejecting God’s revelation, especially as expressed in Jesus. They would see or hear the imagery of a parable but they would not understand its spiritual meaning. Otherwise (mēpote, “lest perhaps”) they might turn to God (repent) and be forgiven by Him.
Jesus’ audiences were not denied the opportunity to believe in Him. But after they persistently closed their minds to His message (cf. Mar_1:15), they were excluded from further understanding of it by His use of parables. Yet even the parables, which veiled the truth, were meant to provoke thought, enlighten, and ultimately reveal it (cf. Mar_12:12). They uniquely preserved people’s freedom to believe, while demonstrating that such a decision is effected by God’s enabling (cf. Mar_4:11)." -BKC
Dual nature of the Kingdom:
"Thus the parable displayed God’s kingdom as both present but veiled and future but openly glorious (cf. Mar_1:14-15)." -BKC
"In this parable Jesus pointed out the self-evident fact that a lamp, a lighted wick in a shallow clay bowl full of oil, was not meant to be lit and then hidden under a measuring bowl (as was done at bedtime) or a bed (lit., “dining couch”). Rather, it was to be placed on its stand where it would give light. Then Jesus explained (gar, for) whatever was hidden or concealed (during the night) was meant to be brought out into the open (for use in the day). This story from everyday life conveyed a spiritual truth for anyone willing to learn from it." -BKC
Mar 4:33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
Mar 4:34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
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