The Mysteries of the Kingdom

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given; for whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing the do not hear, nor do they understand … But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matthew 13:10-13, 16; see also Mark 4:10-12)

There are those who are ready to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; and there are others who are not. What is the difference? In another place, Jesus put it this way:

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. (John 7:17)

If you are willing to do the Father’s will, you are ready to know the mysteries of His kingdom. If you are not willing to do His will, you will not understand His kingdom because it is about His rule and reign, and His righteousness — His way of doing and being right. That is why Jesus preached, in His foundational Sermon on the Mount, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Parables reveal who is willing to do the will of the Father, and therefore who is ready to know the secrets of His kingdom. Those who are ready will understand the parables; those who are not willing to obey are not ready to know and therefore will not understand.

If you are willing to the Father’s will, you are ready to know the secrets of His kingdom, and the parables of Jesus are for you.