Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”
Reasons for speaking in parables. Matt. 13:10-17.
The ‘disciples’ here are not merely the twelve, according to Mk. 4:10 came to Him alone, and wanted to know his reasons for speaking in parable. “The disciples did not see just what was meant by this story of the sower, Lk. 8:9, Mk. 4:13 though they saw that it is intended as a comparison or parable to illustrate some religious truth. And parables in general were apt to be obscure unless the application was given, they wondered why the teacher was employing them.” Broadus John A. Jesus was surrounded by great and excited crowds, this was after the Scribes blasphemously accused him of league with Beelzebub. Matt. 12:24
- According to Godet “The design of Jesus is first of all to show that is not deceived by the sight of the crowd, which is apparently so attentive; then to put the disciples on their guard against expectations which such a large concourse might have in their minds…”See His approach after feeding the five thousands Jn. 6:5-15, 24—35, 55-66, also his approach to the great multitude in Lk. 14:25-35.
- Matt. 13:11 “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given”
- As we said earlier, these seven parables of Matt. 13, called “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (v. 11), taken together, describes the result of the presence of the Gospel in the world during the present age, that is, the time of seed-sowing which began with our Lord’s personal ministry, and ends with the “harvest” (v. 40-43)” C. I. Scofield.
- Our Lord set forth views as to the true nature of the result of the gospel presence-“such as its partial acceptance among men, its small beginnings and gradual spread, its allowing the wicked to live on in the world mingled with its subjects until the end-which the mass of the Jews were not spiritual-minded enough to comprehend, nor humble enough to receive.” Broadus John A.
- ‘Mystery’ is Paul’s favourite application to the great fact that the Gentiles were to share in the salvation of the gospel on equal terms with the Jews, a fact always before kept in silence and secrecy, but now manifested by God and to be everywhere proclaimed. Rom. 16:25-26, Eph. 3:3-10, Col. 1:24-28, 1Tim. 3:16.
- There are other ‘mysteries in the scriptures: The mystery of Israel’s blindness Rom. 11:25, the mystery of translation of living saints 1Thess. 4:14-17, 1Cor. 15:51-52, the mystery of the Church as the bride Eph. 5:28-32. It continues
