Matthew 13: 10-17 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Well, this is a tough passage to understand. It seems hard to square certain sentences with the kind and good nature of God. Giving more to those who have, and taking away from those who don't have, seem to deliberately and consciously increase the inequality. Is that what God wants to do? When Jesus says 'otherwise they might see, hear, understand, turn and get healed', does He mean that He actually doesn't want them to get healed? When He says 'the secrets have been given to you and not to them', Is this then an unfair game where some are given all the information to win, and others are just there like dummy players who don't have a clue of what is going on? Or, are we imagining it the wrong way?
Mysteries of the universe: I did my Ph.D. in optical sensors. In my first month into research, I tried studying Maxwell's equations (for light - electromagnetic radiation), got frustrated, and went to my guide in a week's time to rant about my lack of understanding. He just smiled and said, 'Scientists give decades of their lives to have a good understanding of those equations, and you seem to demand it in a week's time'. As I recollect that incident today, I am reminded of Proverbs 25:2 - It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. One other verse that I held to closely while doing research was Psalm 111: 2 - Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. It is a joy to search out the mysteries of the universe created by our God. How much more joyful is it to check out the mysteries hidden in His word. For, to a seeking heart, the mysteries of God are always revealed, and to a disinterested soul, even the truth in the plain words seem to elude their closed minds. We read in Matthew 7:6 - do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Bible warns us against giving treasures to those who don't value them. Let us continue and read the next verse - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. It is true that God's mysteries are hidden behind a closed door. It is also true that all you need to do, is just knock.
Secrets of the kingdom: We've all heard of the terms - Top secret, confidential, cryptography, and even of the enigma, the famous Nazi encrypting machine used in world war 2. I think many of us would agree that a kingdom has the right and privilege to keep secrets from the opposite nation. The enemy has no right to demand to know the secrets! Well, that is what the King declares in the verses given above. Jesus declares that the kingdom secrets are not for outsiders. It would have been unfortunate if there was no way that a man could enter into this beautiful kingdom of God. But, we all know that that's not the case. For those who desire to be a part of the kingdom, and even know its secrets, THE WAY has already been revealed! Just that, they can't remain an enemy, and demand to know the secrets.
Treasures of the Father: In the palace of the king, there may be many workers allowed to work and earn wages, see the splendid beauty of the place, and even enjoy some of its comforts, yet none of them can demand a share in the inheritance that belongs to the children of the King. For the inheritance rightfully belongs to the heirs. John 1:12 says, 'But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Ephesians 1 talks of the inheritance we receive when we become God's children. God's treasures of wisdom are for His own. Yet, similar to the earlier cases, there is a way in which we can be adopted into God's family.
Intimate revelations within a relationship: Ephesians 5 says Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In John 15 we read that Christ calls His disciples as friends, for everything He learned from the Father, He made known to them. To anyone outside, it remains a profound mystery. It is frivolous to complain that one doesn't share a deep relationship with a person with whom they chose to have a one-night stand! Through all the parables, God is revealing about His very self. There is no reason to question why He does that only within the bounds of a committed relationship with Him.
Today, we may have the Bible with detailed commentaries and explanations in hundreds of languages. But the above verses still remain true. The secrets of God's kingdom are still revealed only to those who are willing to be a part of it. It still remains a riddle to the outsider. God has given enough revelations for everyone in the world so that no one has an excuse. Yet, the glories of His mystery are stored up for those who desire to know Him more.
Link to the previous article: What sign can you show us? Link to the next article: What is truth?
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