Kingdom Principle: Seeds; Part II
Locate in Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15

After Jesus finished teaching the parable of the sower to the multitudes and when He was alone with His disciples He took the time to explain it to them. However before He revealed the meaning of this parable He started by telling them, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand’” (Luke 8:10). I love how the Amplified records this, “He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend” (Luke 8:10 AMP).

People were coming from all around to listen to Jesus teach. However, because of the condition of their hearts they continually heard Him without listening, saw what He did without perceiving, nor were they willing to receive His message. He commented that a prophecy about them had been fulfilled, “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them’” (Matthew 13:14-15).

God’s Knowledge is Progressive

Kingdom Principle: Seeds; Part I
Locate in Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15

Throughout scripture we find Jesus teaching in parables. Fortunately for us, when He was alone with His disciples, He spent time explaining these things. Much of what He taught were Kingdom principles. By looking at these parables and their explanation we gain insight into the workings of the Kingdom.

Perhaps the most important parable to understand is the parable of the sower. Jesus Himself confirmed this when the disciples asked its meaning, “Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” (Mark 4:13). In other words, this parable is a key that unlocks the others.