“His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:9-11)
Jumping to conclusions is not the way to understand “the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” Parables explain spiritual realities, absolutes that are not physically perceived. Without prior experience in how the kingdom operates we are told “to you it has been granted to know the mysteries.”
Here goes.
Why us? Why not them? The first of the mysteries! The answers, in this case, are explained through prophecy. “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND: YOU WILL KEEP SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'” (Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:6-10)
In their case (Jews who rejected Jesus) Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled not as a random act nor capriciously, but for good reason. The Jewish nation refused to hear or see. Except for their willful choice they could have returned to God and been healed. “They have closed their eyes.” They brought the judgement of God upon themselves.
Apostle Paul also quoted Isaiah’s prophetic judgement to the Jews in Rome “who would not believe.” (Acts 28:25-27) Two mysteries (why some and not others) are explained. Those Jews became dull in hearing the truth, closed their eyes to God and refused to believe. Sound familiar? Those who have been “granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God” are those who believe and practice the truth.
Yes, I said practice. Life can be hell if we believe one thing, but act differently. Conviction and chastisement cannot be avoided when you are the one who believes in the Son of God. I love John 3:16 the “whosoever will” verse, but the following verses (17-21) shed light on the reasons men won’t and describe the ones who will. “But those who do what is true come into the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (John 3:21)
Sow the seed!
His Family Table 