Archived Daily Manna | Rejoice Fellowship | A mission to release people to rejoice in the world.

Message: First off, a quick note about “secrets of the kingdom of heaven.” Translating the Greek word (musteria) as “secrets” is imprecise. It primarily means “mysteries”, just like the English word derived from it. Christ’s teachings are by no means a secret! Even “mysteries” is a bit misleading, though, since that word has some connotations not intended by Christ. Here, it mean people might not understand because they do not have the necessary background knowledge. Or, perhaps, they are just “deaf” to it. Why, the disciples ask, is Jesus indulging in such childish-sounding story telling? Because, he answers, the listeners are not as advanced in their knowledge — the “secrets” of the kingdom — as the disciples. His meaning becomes clearer when we understand the next sentence: “to the one who has, more will be given, . . . but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” As cruel as this sounds, we all know how true it is. Think of two students in a high school French class. One studies diligently and learns what is taught; the other goofs off, too busy texting his friends to be bothered, or simply not interested. Ten years later, our apathetic student will find that even the little French he managed to learn in high school has fled his mind; he is the one who “has not”, and what little he has is indeed taken away. Meanwhile, our star pupil will not only remember what he was taught, but is also more likely to be offered (and be interested in taking) more advanced courses. Jesus Christ sitting by shore preaching So Christ speaks in parables to help those in the beginners‘ class. People who have “ears to hear” will be able to grasp what he is saying, even if the subject is new to them. He was speaking to farmers or, at least, people intimately acquainted with agriculture; in ancient times, the percent of the population involved in food production was enormously higher than it is today. Stories about growing food and baking bread thus made his message available to the poor and uneducated. The Biblical term ( a “metonymy”, for you language buffs) “those who have ears to hear” may sound dated, but we still say a person “has an ear for French,” and it means nearly the exact same thing. Note that “an ear for French” does not necessarily refer to a native gift of higher intelligence. The stupidest person in France can speak French. Christ did not come to earth to save smart people. He came to save those who were open to his message and willing to learn. Any gift of knowledge can be developed, and any gift ignored and lost. So, Jesus speaks in parables because there are people who have ears to hear, but who are unlettered, poor, and not given to dealing with philosophical principles. He speaks so that those open to his message will understand, no matter what their education. Once they are able to understand what He is saying, they will continue to learn. They will seek, they will pray, they will listen. We are the ones who “have”, and the more we have, the more we will be given; in our minds, in our lives, in our souls. Every Bible verse we grasp makes us hunger for another. Every temptation we conquer gives more strength to withstand the next; every temptation to which we succumb weakens us. “Life is always a process of gaining more or losing more. Jesus laid down the truth that, the nearer men and women live to him, the nearer to the Christian ideal they will grow. And the more they drift away from Christ, the less they are able to aspire to goodness; for weakness, like strength, is an increasing thing.” (~ William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew.)