NO. 56 THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDON OF GOD

TESXT: MARK 4: 11, 12 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. (KJV)

Today I would like to give you a message about the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

Well, the Lord says of the mystery of the Kingdom of God in this passage. He says that it is for his disciples to know the mystery but not for the multitude.

In short, the Lord says that there are two kinds of the knowledge. One is the knowledge of mystery, and another is the ordinary knowledge. The ordinary is given to us when we read the Bible in such a manner.

Now, the Bible tells us another kind of knowledge as the mystery that the multitude never gets to know. It is the knowledge to be given to know things only for his disciples.

Where is this knowledge kept in secret? It is kept in the parable of the Bible. Why can I say so? For Jesus says of the mystery of the Kingdom of God together with the parables. He reproaches his disciples who do not understand the parables in the same chapter four of the book of St. Mark, where we find the word of the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

The next words should be read well.

“Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.”

We know that He said both the parables and the mystery of the Kingdom of God together. So those who understand the parables understand the mystery, and ones who do not understand the parables do not understand the mystery. And the parables and the mystery are to be interpreted by the wisdom of God. It is written as below;

1 CORINTHIANS 2: 6- 12 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucifies the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, not ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (KJV)

We are going to see the verses one by one.

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect.”

Although the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead and the laying on of hands that are written in the book of Hebrews are important, they are the basics and the teaching like milk to babies. If we stand as matured Christians, we must seek the wisdom of God.

“yet not the wisdom of this world.”

Many books of theology are probably filled with the wisdom of this world. But God says that they cannot get the wisdom of God.

“a mystery, even the hidden wisdom.”

The Bible asserts that the mystery is hidden. The ordinary people do not know of it, and if it is hidden we will not find it unless we seek it. If they say that they should not seek it or they should not take other opinions than the traditional interpretations, such saying contradicts the Word. Moreover, if they say that the other teaching than what all has already known is strange, such also contradicts the Word. It should not have been hidden, if all has already known it.

“Which none of the princes of this world knew.”

The word “this world” can also be translated as this day, that is, the day of Jesus. The princes mean mostly the religious rulers and leaders, because they are the ones who have crucified Jesus on the cross.

One of he greatest failures of the religious leaders in Jesus day is that they have not understood this wisdom and they have crucified the Lord of glory. We see the difference between those who understand the parables and mysteries rightly and others who do not in the relation of Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees. They are the majority and the orthodox, but they do not have the wisdom of God to understand the parables and the mysteries.

The same can also be said even in this time. What is this time? It is the time when they do not know the wisdom of God or understand the parables and mysteries. So, it is also the time when those who understand the parables and mysteries rightly are taken as heretical and are so persecuted.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

It is written that the mystery and the wisdom which God has hidden are beyond guess and commonsense of men. That Jesus has come as a Son of the carpenter certainly has overthrown the commonsense of the religious leaders. On the other hand there are some who have duly accepted baby Jesus.

In the end time this principle will be the same. No wonder the same will be repeated because this is of the wisdom of God. But many do not believe this word. Though it is written that God prepares the things as, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man” and God has mentioned the mystery beyond men’s guess, they do not like to accept that. On the contrary they label it as the heresy because of the difference from their interpretations.

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.”

It is written here about the way of how to understand the mystery, the wisdom of God and the parables. It is not by being acquainted with theological books and commentaries but by the revelation of the Spirit. Many do not take it seriously that the Spirit reveals the truth. They will eventually not be able to touch it.

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

We can find many kinds of interpretations on the same verses of the Bible. Much more, they differ on the hidden mysteries. But we have only one way to interpret the words of the Bible and so to understand the mysteries and the wisdoms. We often do not understand the meanings of the sentences by men because of their obscurity and difficulty. Then, we know the better way. It is to ask the writer directly. In the same way it is the best to ask God directly concerning the God’s mysteries and the parables of the Bible. That is why it is written, “we have received the spirit which is of God,” for it is also written, “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” Therefore those who believe in this and ask the Spirit will come to get the right understanding.

Let’s understand the mysteries rightly in the Lord.

End.