"And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 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: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
In today's lesson, Jesus relates and explains the "parable of the sower". He explains how His gospel would be spread to many, and how some would accept it and, how some would only, more of less, pretend to accept it, and how there would be those who would reject it outright.
In this quote, Jesus makes a reference to the "mystery" of the kingdom of God. We should examine closely what is meant by that statement.
In this quote, Jesus makes a reference to the "mystery" of the kingdom of God. We should examine closely what is meant by that statement.
He said, "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: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
It appears that Jesus was telling His Apostles that the full understanding of His coming kingdom was reserved to them until He had completed His ministry and fulfilled His divine destiny through His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
The puzzling part of the quote is where Jesus says, "lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." It seems that Jesus was avoiding having those who followed Him to prematurely commit to something they did not yet fully understand. Jesus knew that there was much left to be done before the soul saving "operation" of God, the establishment of the Holy Triune by first, the coming of the Son (Jesus) and then the coming of the Holy Ghost upon the Church.~
The puzzling part of the quote is where Jesus says, "lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." It seems that Jesus was avoiding having those who followed Him to prematurely commit to something they did not yet fully understand. Jesus knew that there was much left to be done before the soul saving "operation" of God, the establishment of the Holy Triune by first, the coming of the Son (Jesus) and then the coming of the Holy Ghost upon the Church.~
NOTE: The conclusions made here are those of my own making and if anyone has a suggestion as to any other explanation of this "mystery", I would love to hear it. :)
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