Scripture to Read: Luke 8:9-10
Jesus shared His parable, but it was obviously not easy to understand, for God had Luke record this in Luke 8:9–10, “His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’” The disciples were struggling because this parable did not make sense to them. Jesus told them that God had granted them the privilege of knowing the mysteries of God, but that this would not be granted to many. God had Matthew record it this way in Matthew 13:14, “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive.’” Jesus had quoted the prophecy in Isaiah 6:9 where God had Isaiah record this, “He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’” The reason the disciples would understand is that they had already chosen to follow Christ. But those who were lost, still dead in the trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1–3), had hardened their hearts and were unable to understand God’s Truth (Ephesians 4:17–19). Hearing from our Lord depends totally on the condition of our hearts and never on the condition of God’s Word. God is about to reveal more to us as we study Luke 8:11–15.
Challenge & Application
Why did Jesus tell the disciples, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” and what do we learn from this?
Why would some see but not see and hear but not hear and what does God teach us from this?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!