kingdom secrets (Mt 13:1-23)

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Psalm 112; Ephesians 4:1-10; Matthew 13:1-23

"'Why do you speak to them in parables?' And he answered them, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given...'"
(Matthew 13:11)

Honestly, this section has always bothered me - especially when Jesus pulls out Isaiah's prophecy to make his point. The point in Isaiah 6 was that Isaiah was specifically to preach to people who didn't believe so that they wouldn't believe "'lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them" (Mt 13:15; Isaiah 6:8f).

In trying to hone in on some application today I was focusing on the themes of "secrets" and "understanding." Jesus' conclusion as he explains the parable to his disciples is "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word (of the kingdom) and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case, a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty" (v. 23).

And again in his private discussion about parables with his disciples he says, "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (v. 13). And again, the quote from Isaiah concludes, "lest they... understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them" (v. 15).

Jesus is telling these parables of the kingdom to the crowds gathered by the sea. He has left the house where he stretched out his hand toward his disciples saying "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." The parables are for those who understand. They illustrate for those who are receptively listening to Jesus, who to some degree "get it". His disciples are those who have repented "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (3:2;4:17), who have left all to follow him, who went out proclaiming the kingdom is at hand (10:7), who are thus doing the will of God. They, unlike the Pharisees, have recognized and received the voice, and the good and mighty works, of the king.

There is a sense in which by themselves parables are like riddles. They clarify and increase understanding for those that have a context for the illustration, for those that are already in the story, as it were. If I were to tell a brief story about a snow day and infer in it some of the difficulties and joys of it to someone who had not only never seen snow but had never heard of it, my story would make no sense - the point would be lost.

"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (v. 11). Some of the great stories include people who stumble upon a secret but don't know what it's about - finding a treasure map, but not knowing where the place is; intercepting a time or a name in a phone call or radio transmission but not knowing just where or what is about to happen; or misinterpreting a snippet of information about someone and publicly ruining their reputation... But for those who are following Jesus, who are in his story, the parables give greater understanding and encouragement, as well as greater assurance within the mystery itself.

Today I welcome this parable and Jesus' explanation as a confirmation and encouragement to continue listening and following him, not as "try harder" or even principally as a warning against shallowness or worldly distractions; to continue trusting and being receptive to Jesus, the good, compassionate Healer King. Matthew is clear that at this point Jesus is affirming his disciples and not making it easy for those who don't / won't believe.

Today let us rejoice that Jesus has called us and spoken to us. To the degree that we have embraced and followed him, thanks be to God. Where we haven't, rather than trying harder and "plowing up the soil" and "pulling out the weeds" - let us turn to him, be still and listen. Rehearse and give thanks for what you do know about him and his kingdom. Be thrilled with, in awe of, deeply grateful to, your king - and I think we'll find ourselves more receptive, hearing more and understanding more, and bearing fruit that he, one day, will harvest.

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it" (vs. 16-17).

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
(Psalm 112:1-2)