February 15, 2022

The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ

Matthew 13:11

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

The Lord is speaking in this verse, He is answering the question the disciples asked him in verse 10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? There is an interesting tidbit here to consider.

In verse 10 they asked, Why speakest thou unto them, in response He said, Because it is given unto you. His followers were concerned with them, He was concerned with you. The Lord does not speak the parables for them, but rather for you.

This is how it happens. A preacher is preaching an old-fashioned Bible based message that is striking to the core of an issue. He is preaching as Abraham Lincoln said, “When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.” The preacher is fighting bees, he is “hitting a lick,” the mule is getting loose”, however you want to describe it, he’s doing it. The message is insightful, thought provoking, fresh, and relevant. Then the temptation hits. “I hope so and so is listening.” “I hope that my spouse is hearing this.” “This will get that one!” The mind begins to think of all the other people in the congregation that need the message.

When this happens, the purpose of the message is missed in the life of the one it is supposed to affect - you. When Nathan the prophet of God told King David a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man’s one sheep, David became invested and pronounced the judgment of death upon that rich man. Then Nathan said to the king, Thou art the man (II Samuel 12:7). David was the you. But he thought it was for the them.

The next time the temptation comes to think others need the message, remember you are the you. As for the them, the Lord will deal with that.

As far as the parables are concerned. They are given to God’s children that we may know the mysteries of His Kingdom.

Until Next Time,

William T. Howe, Ph.D.