The Secret Message
October 28, 2020
Commentary
As the disciples noticed a change in Jesus’ method of teaching they came and asked Him why He was speaking in parables (v. 10). The Lord gave them three reasons:
To make known to them the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (vv. 11-12). This referred to truths not revealed in the Old Testament about His reign on earth. Many Old Testament prophets had predicted that the Messiah would deliver Israel and establish His kingdom on earth.To hide the truth from unbelievers (v.11). The secrets of the kingdom would be given to the disciples, but would be hidden from the religious leaders who rejected Him; “but to them it is not given”. Thus they carried a judgmental aspect.To fulfill (Isa. 6:9-10) that people would not understand his message (vv. 13-15). He preached the Word of God and many people saw but they did not understand.You are blessed because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears (v. 16). The disciples were privileged to hear and understand truths that people in the Old Testament times longed to know (v. 17). These people wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them.
Application
What did the disciples see and hear that the prophets longed to see and hear? What new insight has God given to me about himself and yourself in the last year. What spiritual truth have you applied in your life in the past month?
Matthew 13:10– 17 (NET)
10 Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. 12 For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand. 14 And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.
15 For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 “But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, 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.
Illustration: The Faithful Secret Bearer
I read in a chapter of Italian history of a poor girl in a dungeon, on a damp floor, in a dark room, with scanty fare, her life ebbing out. One year she stays, three years she stays, six years she stays; and after the sixth year there is a corpse on the marble floor. They throw it into a box and bury it in a potter’s field. It horrifies me, but when I turn over a page I read that the girl was sent to prison because she had a secret she would not divulge, and that the first day of every month an officer of the government would come in and say: “If you will give us the secret we know you possess, we will set you free.” But she steadfastly refused. What was the secret? It was connected with the honor and life of her own beloved father; and for his sake she lingered and died upon the marble floor in the dark room. Now I feel that I should like to build a monument to the noble Italian girl higher and grander than St. Peter’s Cathedral. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #3683).