SET ASIDE WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW TO LEARN WHAT YOU DO NOT YET KNOW
After hearing and reading Biblical stories and interpretations for many years, we come to think that we know them inside and out. What we know, however, is only the literal story, or the technical facts about what happened. Religionists take pride in their knowledge of the stories and their ability to recite them from memory. This kind of experience and knowledge, however, while maybe impressive to others, is only human knowledge — not spiritual knowledge. Human knowledge actually works to our disadvantage when it comes to understanding the mysteries (i.e. spiritual truth) behind and within the literal stories. That is why it must be set aside.
In our pride we will tend to think “I know this story. There is nothing left for me to learn”. This is a killer attitude that forecloses on God’s ability to break through and teach us something new. The best way to get around this attitude is to first confess as sin our arrogance and presumption that we know everything that God knows about that story. Then, take on the attitude of a child who knows nothing but is a disciple who is eager to learn. Do this once, and then do it again and again every time you find yourself saying “I know this story”. Then maybe God will be gracious to you and open up your mind to understanding of deep, spiritual truths that He wants to reveal to you at that time. The following are a small sample of scriptures about such revelations:
Matthew 13:6-16: but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
COMMENTARY: This scripture warns about what happens when people think they know what they read/hear. Their hearts grow dull and their ears are heavy because they are using only their eyes and ears. They do not understand with their hearts.
It is to people who understand with their hearts that God speaks through parables. They will have understanding. Those who use only their natural abilities will receive only natural/literal understanding that leads them to religion. Those who listen with their hearts while reading will have deep, spiritual understanding of the mystery of God.
Matthew 13:34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.
COMMENTARY: A cursory review of red letter verses confirms that this is true. And what was not a new parable, was often an explanation of First Covenant scriptures that were misunderstood and misapplied. That Jesus did not speak without a parable confirms scriptures in First Covenant books about God speaking secrets in parables and dark sayings.
Matthew 13:10-13 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’
COMMENTARY: From these scriptures we learn that secrets will be revealed to some some people (i.e. true disciples) but not to others. New Covenant disciples received the revelations because they asked questions and listened to hear God’s voice for answers. Old/First Covenant religionists do not receive because they accept what someone else has told them and do not go directly to God for the answers. They are not curious like little children.