There's something unique, important and essential about this parable because Jesus made a point of stressing that if you don't discern and understand this parable, how will it be possible for you to discern and understand all the parables?
One could also conclude that the information in this parable is essential because the content in all three of the synoptic gospels is similar.
2 Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),
Many times the scriptures seem difficult to understand. We look at things from a limited, earthly perspective while the writers were inspired to convey a heavenly message using human words.
Father knows those who earnestly desire and seek more than superficial understanding and has commissioned the Holy Spirit to help them discover and uncover deeper revelation and understanding regarding the Truth of Jesus Christ, the living Word hidden beneath the surface.
Jesus’ response focuses upon important perspectives that must be considered.
Firstly, Jesus primary objective was to conceal the Truth from those not chosen to ‘see’ by separating the curiosity seekers from the Truth seekers. In other words, Jesus is saying that the parables are meant to divide the crowd.
While this may seem as if Jesus denied some people access, the difference He means is not in the message, but in the response. Jesus’ teaching in parables simply divided the listeners into two distinct groups, those who would hear His Wordseed and apply it to their lives, or those who, like the first 3 kinds of people/soil who would hear His Wordseed and still not take them to heart and apply them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
The entire Bible contains allegories, metaphors, mysteries, secrets, shadows, pseudonyms and parables which are all meant to conceal Truth from the natural, nonspiritual, carnal man. It is totally impossible for the natural, nonspiritual man to discern spiritual teachings.
Even though Jesus first objective was to conceal, His second objective was to reveal the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God....
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter: but the honour of kings [those chosen] is to search out a matter.
The scriptures were deliberately written with secret and hidden meanings. The secret, hidden and concealed things are hidden for, and not from the searchers of Truth.
If you are a searcher it suggests that you are a chosen king, a functioning part of the KING of Kings (Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 19:16).
The word matter is the Hebrew word dâbâr which means “to arrange.”
Jesus gave us the dâbâr, an arranged order to follow in Luke 11:9 So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
- Ask = The Holy Spirit seems to always begin His work with a desire/craving to know.
- Seek = Investigate and explore. Our seeking often has its origin in a question that just will not go away.
- Knock = Expect the Holy Spirit to reveal and bring knowledge and understanding.
Father has blessed me to be inquisitive and a questioner and I pray that HE will also bless you with many questions.
In Matthew’s account of this parable he wrote For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Matthew 13:12
Never be content with what appears on the surface, always be prepared to go deeper, higher, further than the obvious. Never be content with less because there will always be more until the Perfect comes.
After this Jesus then goes on to explain the meaning behind this parable to his disciples.
God is always speaking His Wordseed so this parable is always relevant and in present day context.
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