The Secret of the Kingdom
The secret of the kingdom of God has
been given to you…(Mark 4:11)
1
Heaven on Earth
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)
2
Parable of the Sower
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he
was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, it
was trampled on and the birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have
much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil
was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants
were scorched, and they withered because they had
no root or moisture. Other seed fell among thorns,
which grew up and choked the plants, so that they
did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil.
It came up, grew and produced a crop, some
multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred
times." 3
Jesus Explains the Parable
The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along
the path, where the word is sown. When anyone hears the message
about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes
and snatches away what was sown in their heart so that they may not
believe and be saved. This is the seed sown along the path.
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and
at once receive it with joy. They believe for a while, but since they
have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution
comes because of the word, in the time of testing they quickly fall
away.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but
as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, the
deceitfulness of wealth, riches and pleasures, and the desires for
other things, which choke the word making it unfruitful, and they do
not mature.
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and
good heart, who hear the word, understand it, accept it, retain it, and
by persevering produce a crop, some thirty, some sixty, some a 4
hundred times what was sown."
Only for Insiders
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others
around him asked him about the parables. He told
them, “The secret(s) of the kingdom of God
(Heaven) has been given to you, (but) not to them.
(But) to those on the outside everything is said in
parables. Whoever has will be given more, and they
will have an abundance. Whoever does not have,
even what they have will be taken from them. This
is why I speak to them in parables:
5
The Callous Heart Won’t Receive
"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing,
they do not hear or understand. 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, be forgiven
and I would heal them.
6
Those Who Understand Are Blessed
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and
your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you,
many prophets and righteous people longed to see
what you see but did not see it, and to hear what
you hear but did not hear it.
7
Understand the Master Parable
Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you
understand this parable? How then will you
understand any parable? "Listen then to
what the parable of the sower means: The
farmer sows the word.
8
Satan Robs the Hard-Hearted
Some people are like seed along the path,
where the word is sown. When anyone
hears the message about the kingdom and
does not understand it, the evil one comes
and snatches away what was sown in their
heart so that they may not believe and be
saved. This is the seed sown along the path.
9
Skimmers Won’t Last
Others, like seed sown on rocky places,
hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
They believe for a while, but since they have
no root, they last only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the
word, in the time of testing they quickly fall
away.
10
Distractions Will Choke It
Still others, like seed sown among thorns,
hear the word; but as they go on their way
they are choked by life's worries, the
deceitfulness of wealth, riches and
pleasures, and the desires for other things,
(which) choke the word making it unfruitful,
and they do not mature.
11
How to Obtain
But the seed on good soil stands for those
with a noble and good heart, who hear the
word, understand it, accept it, retain it, and
by persevering produce a crop, thirty, sixty,
or even a hundred times what was sown.
12
Some Get a Little, Some Get a Lot
...some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred
times what was sown."
13
It Must Be the Main Thing
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay
jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it
on a stand, so that those who come in can
see the light.
14
You Have to Dig
For there is nothing hidden that will not be
disclosed, and nothing concealed that will
not be known or brought out into the open. If
anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
15
Watch How You Hear
Therefore consider carefully what you hear
(and) how you listen.
16
The Secret Revealed
The measure [of thought and study] you give
[to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of
virtue and knowledge] that comes back to
you--and more [besides] will be given to you
who hear. Whoever has will be given more;
whoever does not have, even what they
think they have will be taken from them."
17