And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”—Matt 13:10-11 NKJV
In this chapter Jesus is on a roll telling parables especially to explain what the Kingdom is like…the disciples are there and hearing these parables. Obviously they ask Jesus why He spoke to the crowds in parables?? Jesus’ answer is pretty much; ‘you all have the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven and they don’t’---now from this phrase we can conclude Jesus considered the disciples people either in the Kingdom or well on their way to being a part of it---the funny thing is this---in vs. 36 after Jesus has told about 4 parables about the Kingdom the disciples come to Him and pretty much say “ok, can you explain yourself?” I love that Jesus goes right into the explanation—what I love even more is after He explains the first parables He goes on to tell them 2 more parables and then asks them, “Have you understood all these things?” (vs 51) This is where the disciples were given the mysteries Jesus spoke about—not during the parables part but during the extra time spent afterwards explaining them!! You see Jesus didn’t speak and then BAM they got it!! They had to spend extra time with Him, walk with Him in order to GET it! DO YOU GET IT???? Is it clicking now?? Many a times I was the kind of Christian that thought I would grow in knowledge and mysteries of God and the supernatural by just attending church and/or a one hour prayer meeting. These things aren’t wrong and they definately help in our growth but that’s not where most of my knowledge of the Kingdom will come from---it will come from Jesus Himself. Jesus revealing His plans, ideas, thoughts, lessons etc. It will happen in time spent outside of the regular “preaching/teaching” time.
The disciples already had the promise of knowing the mysteries, but they had to go after the mysteries. The mysteries didn’t come to them and land on their laps. If they had decided to keep, the doubts/confusion to themselves about the parables, there would be no knowledge released…notice their questioning of Jesus wasn’t so they could prove something about Him. They questioned to learn and grow. Once He answered, they received and believed…it’s not like one question led to 10 more questions. Sometimes our questions come out of a place of doubt or criticism of what God is doing---and in that case, they don’t honor God. When Job and God went at it, God’s reply to Job was pretty much who are you that you need to be throwing all these questions at me?? I am God and that is that---now this won’t always be the case but we must make sure our questions are coming from a place of humble submission and a burning desire to grow.
So today I ask myself, Am I chasing after the mysteries of Jesus?? Am I going into a session with Him expecting to come out with insider knowledge? I have to admit sometimes I do and other times I don’t—other times I do just to meet my devo obligation. Nothing worst then spending an hour reading your Bible and coming out with nothing mysterious or revealed and just head knowledge---Jesus is ready and willing to release the mysteries…they are ours for the taking.
One thing is for sure once Jesus explained Himself He told more parables to test them. He wanted to see if they got it. I believe we are and will be tested even while in Kingdom to see what we know and if we’re really listening etc. Jesus wanted to make sure these folks got His message about the Kingdom. The Kingdom is so important to Jesus He spent most of His parables on it!
Adelante---
Bea
Generation Glory
Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
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