Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear”, and in chapter thirteen and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples, “many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see” where we read:
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
The verse reads, “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them;” Matthew began with the words, “for verily” which means “because and since truly, surely and certainly” “I say” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” which means “to the disciples”, “that many prophets” or “a large amount of one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration especially concerning future events and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “and righteous men” which refers to “people who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined and are innocent, faultless and guiltless” “have desired” or “have longed for, lusted after and coveted” “to see” which means “to understand, comprehend and perceive” “those things” which refers to “the principles of the kingdom of heaven” “which you see” or “that the disciples understand, comprehend and perceive”, “and have not seen” which means “and the prophets and righteous men have in no way” “seen them” or “understood, comprehended and perceived the things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven” . Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples many of the “righteous men” and “prophets” of old wanted to “perceive and understand” the principles of the kingdom of heaven, but were unable. However, the disciples of Jesus were granted that privilege.
The verse goes on to say, “and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.” Matthew continued with the words, “and to hear” which means “and to be given the faculty of hearing, perceiving, understanding and comprehending” “those things” or “the principles of the kingdom of heaven” “which you hear” which means “that the disciples were given the faculty of hearing, perceiving, understanding and comprehending”, “and have not heard them” or “and were unable to hear, perceive, understand and comprehend them”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples that “righteous men” and “prophets” were not able to “hear” the principles of the kingdom that were granted to the disciples of Jesus.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the disciples of Jesus were in an advantageous position that not even “righteous” people or “prophets” were given. Jesus' disciples could know the principles of God's kingdom and the saving grace of Jesus Christ because He was among them. Those from the past were not so advantaged. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ, and when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they are given the ability to know the principles of the kingdom of heaven as well.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “hear … the parable of the sower”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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