Mat 13:10-17, Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Revealed.

Class Outline:

Wednesday March 5, 2025

MAT 13:10-17. 

 

MAT 13:10

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?”

 

Why in parables? This is new; and the result of His rejection.

 

MAT 13:34

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.

 

MAR 4:11

“To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,”

 

MAT 13:11

Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

 

Mysteries (plural): secrets only known to the initiated. Various mystery cults existed. 

 

Through Christ, a mystery that reveals far more than any mystery to that time could have, that revealed the only way of eternal life, victory over death, and a blessed life, was now shared to the ordinary person.

 

The mystery, secret, would be opened to anyone; poor, rich; outcast, accepted; Gentile, Jew; male, female; barbarian; wise, simple. The mysteries would be the entrance into the kingdom, union with the King, and a full knowledge of the way of the kingdom along with the gifted power of God to walk it.

 

The OT prophets saw the coming King and the institution of His kingdom.

 

Not everything was kept secret, but the result of the rejection of the King was hidden from the prophets - the church.

 

MAT 13:12

“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

 

What the “haves” have is faith in Christ. Their faith has given them eyes and ears to see and hear.

 

Christ says that more will be given. Learning of Him and His plans and ways will only increase (EPH 4:13). 

 

Whoever does not have are obviously the Pharisees and anyone else who has rejected Christ.

 

MAT 13:13-14

"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

 

Parables are judgment upon them.

 

This is because their meaning does not lie on the surface.

 

ISA 6:9-10; God’s judgment upon unbelief - blindness and deafness. 

 

The parables do not promote obduracy, they only make it easier to remain obdurate, and so to lose what one already has. 

 

MAT 13:16-17

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.  17 "For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

 

Blessed are the eyes and ears of the faithful. No one can take away their seeing and hearing their Lord. “He who has ears, let him hear.” 

 

Then, the mystery is reiterated. Many desired to see what you see.

 

1PE 1:10-12

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time [“what or what manner of time”] the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.

 

“There is an incredulous wonder running through these NT reflections on the privilege of those who live at the time when God’s saving purpose comes to fruition.” [France]

 

The mystery is the interregnum (church and all her blessings in Christ, including Christ Himself).

 

EPH 1:18-23

 

The life and the way of the kingdom, of the King, has been given to the church. To all, no matter their socioeconomic background, status, race, gender, education, nor any other earthly things. 

 

This is stated so clearly in Eph 3.

 

The veil is taken away in Christ. 2CO 3:14-18. 

 

Application:

 

As a believer, now that the veil is taken away and now that you have eyes to see and ears to hear, look into the mirror of God, look intently into His Word, and see and hear. Search the Scriptures. Question and dig, but do so with humility. Pride is the surest way to learn a whole lot and get nothing. 

 

Learn to love asking for insight and wisdom in prayer, humbly so. JAM 1:5. Do so consistently, every day.

 

Do what you see and hear. 

 

We live in a privileged age and are a privileged people. Do not conform to the world, do not be shallow with God’s Word, do not seek deceitful riches - be good soil, understanding all things.