Matthew 13:11-12 - He [Jesus] answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Jesus was explaining to the disciples why He spoke in parables. He was explaining that because they were His followers, had accepted and received Him as the Son of God and believed in Him, to them was given the knowledge of the mysteries. These mysteries are the basic message that Jesus taught, that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. Without Christ these truths He spoke were only mysteries. Without Him, without His life, one has death.
Those in Christ who are given this knowledge only receive more and their life is fulfilled. Those without will not receive and their life will only seem fulfilled in this world. God is all about life...in Christ. The world is all about death. Verse 11 above speaks of life, the message of Jesus...it has been given to you. The second part of verse 12 speaks of death...even what he has will be taken away.
When we allow ourselves to be open to receiving Christ the mysteries begin to be revealed to us. I can't imagine not wanting to know a mystery. When we have received we are given more to chew on and digest...as well as share. When we show God our desire to hear and listen, He gives us more. That is life.
I was part of a conversation one day last week where one of the women made the comment that she was so glad, so honored, to be given this knowledge and that it continues to come. It's not like someone has this knowledge all at once. It's given as we need it. We were all in agreement.
For those ears that do not want to receive, what is said may make some sense, but like Jesus' parables, the true meaning will be hidden. When we don't understand the message Jesus teaches on life, it is like death. We are dead to the things of God and to His wisdom. Life or death.
These things were prophesied long before Jesus came to earth. Isaiah knew there would always be scoffers. All Jesus desires is for all mankind to open their eyes and ears, receive Him...and be healed. That's what it means to be healed...to be in Christ.
It's all about coming in childlike faith, putting aside a mind that tries to figure God out with an intellectual thought process. Seek and He will be found. Let go of those ideas that cause ears and eyes to be deaf and blind. Let Jesus heal you of these two great afflictions.
There is not too much more that I can say that might convince anyone of this basic Jesus truth. If one seeks to know the truth, asks the Lord to show them what truth is, and hungers for the knowledge of His truth, I believe He will open up eyes and ears. He is more than happy to bring salvation and the spiritual healing He gives freely. Sometimes it is more than listening in church for this message. Sometimes it will happen when you close yourself in with God and ask. All it takes is an open mind and hear to accept Christ. I pray dull hearts would disappear, ears would be opened to understand. Jesus so desires to heal...with the truth of His Word.
Matthew 13:14-15 - And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: "Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."
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