Reading: Numbers 5-6; Mark 4:1-21
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables” – Mark 4:11 (KJV)
Parables were often used by Jewish rabbis to illustrate a point or clarify their teaching, but Jesus used them to conceal the truth from those who would not believe. Jesus used parables to provide revelation and understanding to those who would believe, while making His words unintelligible and incoherent to those whose heart was hardened against Him.Those inside are those who do the will of God, those who have repented of sin and believed in Jesus Christ as the messiah. Those without are those like the scribes, who reject Jesus Christ through unbelief as the Messiah. They do not see their sin and therefore do not repent. They do not look at the works of Jesus and teachings of Jesus and see the truth about Jesus. They simply reject Him. “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” – Luke 7:30 (KJV)
This situation is a great reminder that those who do not know Jesus will not understand many things we believe, teach, and say in the course of our fellowship with other Christians. We should not be discouraged; this has always been true. Rather than becoming frustrated, we need to thank God for making these things known to us and then find effective ways to introduce others to the grace of Jesus Christ to open their eyes to the same mysteries that one day everyone of them can partake of that truth. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” – 2 Perter 1:3 (KJV)
Prayer: Father, thank You for revealing heavenly secrets to us through the mysteries of the kingdom which has become an open book to us who believe in You, in Jesus Name.
Pastor Alfred Samuel