Matthew 13:10-12 10And after coming to him, the disciples asked, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And answering he said, “Because to you is given the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not give to those people.12For whoever has, it will be given to him and it will be in abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Matthew records the longest interlude and explanation of the parable of the four soils than any of the three Synoptic Gospels. Perhaps one reason for that is his concern to show Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture. The disciples were confused by Jesus’ stories and needed the key to unlock their meaning. Jesus explain that in the following verses before giving the meaning of the parable. What he says in these verses applies to all of his parables. His words sound both prophetic and apocalyptic.
Jesus compares two types of responses to his parables. The disciples are given the ability to understand the meaning of the parables, but those people are not given this gift. Several questions emerge from this passage. The first is the identity of those people. The unstated idea behind this passage is faith in Jesus. Jesus has dealt with two different responses to his ministry of teaching and healing: acceptance or rejection. The context implies that those who do not understand the kingdom are those who do not believe in Jesus.
A second question is the meaning of the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom. Knowledge (gnōnai) became a favorite word in the decades that followed to a heretical movement known as Gnosticism. Gnostics believed in a secret knowledge about heaven that Jesus brought. This knowledge was accessed through special revelations given to them. These ideas were later condemned by the church as heresy because they also believed the wrong ideas about Jesus.
Mysteries (mystēria) was another favorite word for Gnostics and other religious movements of the first and second centuries. The word basically means something that has been hidden and is made known through revelation. Some cultic religions were known as “Mysteries” because of their secrets revealed only to those initiated into their religion. Although these words were used by other religions, they were also used in the Old Testament and were part of Jewish vocabulary. Jesus used these words in a biblical way consistent with Israel’s prophets, who laid a foundation for later Jewish apocalyptic expectations.
Another important idea emerges from this passage found in the passive verb given. The assumption is that God is the one who gives the revelation of knowledge. God gives deeper understanding and insight to those who have faith. Those who believe in Jesus and accept his authority in their lives come to understand Jesus’ message more. But those who do not believe, Jesus’ teachings remain a mystery. Faith in Jesus is the key that unlocks the mysteries of the kingdom.
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