Jesus’s disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables, and he responds that not everyone is interested in spiritual truth, understanding into the divine mysteries is only granted to those whose hearts are open to it.

Many good people of the past have longed to see what the disciples saw and to hear what they heard. Some were moved closer and others moved further away by the words…

The book’s theme centers on life “under the sun”—life lived apart from God’s reality.

In chapter 7, Solomon reflects, “I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility. There’s a righteous man who dies in his righteousness, and a wicked man who lives long in wickedness.” Solomon seems to wonder why good people face bad circumstances, and vice versa.