… the secrets of the kingdom of heaven…
Summary: To understand the parables of Jesus requires that we trust what he is telling us.
Matthew records this conversation with Jesus:
“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.’” (Matthew 13:10-11)
There are two things about this exchange that are important to understand. The first is that parables are a kind of code. The second is that understanding this code reveals the “secrets of the kingdom of heaven.”
Throughout history, people have been attracted to secrets. About half the adventure novels ever written probably include the word “secret” in their titles. Understanding the secrets of anything is pretty cool. Understanding the secrets of heaven is life-changing.
So why would the secrets of the kingdom be given to some and not others?
Actually, they are free for the taking. Anybody who wants them can have them. The challenge is that to see and understand these secrets, a person has to approach them in a certain way. Decoding the secrets Jesus has to share is a matter of how you look at them and him.
The 1951 movie called, “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” was the story of the earth being visited by an alien spaceship. When the alien (Michael Rennie) steps out of his ship he is carrying a gift that would allow humans to study life on alien planets. In a sense, it is the key to understanding “the heavens.”
In the story, if people had seen the space envoy as a potential friend, the gift would have been seen as a gift. As it turned out, the people around the spaceship were suspicious. They saw the space visitor as a threat and their response was to try and kill him. In the process, they destroyed the gift.
In a similar way, our Lord came to earth with a gift. He offered us the knowledge of eternal life. Sadly, some saw this as a threat and their response was to kill the messenger. Jesus, of course, is more than just a messenger. He is also the secret that he spoke about. He is the secret of the kingdom of heaven.
Application: Trust Jesus.
Food for Thought: How can we know if we are looking at Jesus in the right way?
How can we know if we are looking at Jesus in the right way?
I’m not quite sure how to answer properly. I may have to spend more time this morning in scripture. …….
So the first step for me is make sure im not looking at trash. That my eyes are looking in the right direction I’m looking at Jesus and His word.
Tim,
It is interesting how you framed your answer.
Step 1: Look to Scripture.
Step 2: Look away from trash.
Well said! We can’t do both. We have to choose.
T has come up with the most sound answer. Staying in His Word, keeping our eyes on Him, and not being influenced by the world are the keys. Staying busy in His work also helps me to keep from straying and being blind to the Truth. 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Great verse, JEC!
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
More and more I am convinced that the battle is between self and God. When Paul writes “give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord” he is repeating something that is pointed to by Scripture many times. To give our “selves” is to give up “self.” Our mission is to love God above all else and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:37-40). By focusing on God and others, we align ourselves with God’s will.
11-25-2022, How can we know if we are looking at Jesus in the right way?
Truths from God about Jesus are spiritual discerned by those who seek Him. Revealed by the Holy Spirit. Look at Peter who denied Jesus 3 times and a short time later thousands came to know Jesus as Peter spoke not in his power but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-45, While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
1 Thessalonians 1:5, for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Corinthians 2:14, The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Ron,
Thank you! I especially like the 1 Corinthians 2:14 passage. The “natural” person does not accept the things of the Spirit. They cannot “see” the good.
To refer back to the Genesis 3:5 passage, Satan enticed humanity with the promise that “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Yes, we can know good and evil but we cannot always tell the difference. The spiritual person sees the good in God, the “natural” person, as Paul calls them, can only see things that cause evil; doubts, dark imaginings, worry, fear, and threats.
I found 2 Kings 6:17 to be an interesting passage. Elisha does not ask God to show or prove His power over the forces of men. Instead He prays, asking God to open the eyes of His servant so the servant can see what was already present. The Lord opened the servants eyes to reality so he could see what Elisha could see. They were always surrounded by our Omnipresent God’s, powers for good, but the servants eyes could only see the physical.
Kind of like we cannot see in the dark but cats see 20-20 at night.
2 Kings 6:17, And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Good stuff here. I have nothing to add. If we are looking at Jesus the right way we will be looking at the Jesus of the Scriptures. God’s word explains the eternal word to us. John 1: 1 – 5, 14.
Thanks, brother!