Sandwiched between Jesus' parable of the Sower and the explanation to His followers is the reason He spoke in parables in Matt. 13:10-17. The reason? God reveals and conceals His truth, so that believers are blessed and unbelievers get what they want and deserve. A popular idea is that Jesus spoke parables so everyone could get the point. No. He clearly says He used them to reveal truth to those who accept Him and veil it to those who reject Him.
The secrets of the kingdom are unknowable apart from God’s choice to reveal them. Jesus has complete authority regarding who will know the Father (11:27), and to determine who will know the secrets of His kingdom. The mysteries are things only God knows and reveals when He wants, which man cannot know apart from the Spirit of God. Things once hidden but now revealed. Great glorious gospel truths (Rom. 16:25-27; Eph. 3:3–9; Col. 1:27, 2:2). They got truth previous people of faith longed for (1 Pet. 1:10-12).
Sounds kind of strange that unbelievers get what they want and deserve but it is what happens in the realm of salvation. "Not given" was the reason in terms of God’s electing grace. Humanly speaking, they are condemned by their willful rejection of the only Savior, Christ Jesus. They considered the most valuable treasure worthless. Like if someone gave you a 500 lb. chunk of pure gold & you insist it is fake & throw it away. What is taken away is their presumed standing as a member of the kingdom. Jesus quoted Is. 6:9-10. Isaiah’s message was God’s tool to hide the truth from an unbelieving generation; Jesus’ parables did the same. He wasn't going to cast His pearls before swine. Judgment on Jesus rejecters began with Jesus’ withholding insight by parables.
What can we learn from Matthew 13:10-17?
1. Each person is foolish apart from God. We are so lost without Jesus. They saw but didn't see and heard but didn't hear. The light shined on them as never light shone before; they had Jesus right there but they shut their eyes. He spoke as no man ever spoke; but they took nothing in, didn’t get the heart-piercing, soul-transforming, life-giving words of Jesus.
2. All choices have consequences from God. John Piper says no one who understands wants hell. Yes, and those who do not understand do not realize the autonomy from God they crave will lead them there. When I was a kid I really wanted a pocket knife and to live on a ranch with horses. I understand we don't always get what we want. But in the arena of eternal life, in God's salvation economy, we get exactly what we want. We either want eternal life with God or not and that’s what we’ll get.
3. Every good thing we have is undeserved and comes from God. God is the Creator and absolute Sovereign of the universe. Nothing exists or occurs without His provision or permission. No one will or can choose right unless God intervenes, breaks through hardened hearts and regenerates the soul. Only then can a person respond with the faith that eludes them. We don't create faith; we receive it as an undeserved gift from God. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He is behind every positive move we make towards Him.
These truths ought to increase both our gratitude for all we have in Christ and our desire to preach the gospel to all, especially those who are not in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
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