If God desires all people to be saved, why did Jesus sometimes speak in a way that kept people from believing? Why does Christ want some to not believe? That’s a perplexing question for a lot of Bible readers who scratch their heads when they meet texts like Matthew 13:13 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. and Luke 8:10 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. . Today the question arrives from a listener named Max — a question for Pastor John, who joins us over Skype again. “Hello, Pastor John! Can you explain Jesus’s parable in Luke 8:9 9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. –15, in which he quotes Isaiah 6:9 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. ? In Isaiah 6:10 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they sea with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed. , God says to ‘make the heart of this people dull, . . . lest they see with their eyes, and . . . understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.’ What perplexes me is that God purposefully keeps people from salvation even though 1 Timothy 2:4 4 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. states that God wants all people to repent and receive salvation. Please help me to understand this seeming paradox and, if possible, God’s reasoning behind hardening certain hearts to keep them from repentance.” Read or listen to this interview at our website: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-does-christ-want-some-not-to-believe Find other recent and popular Ask Pastor John episodes: https://www.desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john