He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.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.
Matthew 13:11 · WEBKJVRead the whole chapter →
Where you find this verse
From this verse, the Word reaches
The Scripture echoesIsaiah 6:9-10
Jesus explains the parables with Isaiah's commission: a people who closed their own eyes cannot see.
“He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.”And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”
The same threadDaniel 12:9
Understanding is sealed only until the time God appoints, so the veil is temporary and not a final verdict.
“He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
In parallel withMark 4:33-34
Mark gives the same scene from the other side: the crowds received parables, and the disciples received the explanation.
“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
That reaches back to this verse
The same thread (this verse)Proverbs 25:2
Jesus applies the principle to His own teaching: the mysteries of the Kingdom are given to some and not to others.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
In parallel with (this verse)Mark 4:33-34
Matthew records the reason Jesus gave for the parables; Mark records the private explanation He gave afterward.
“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”