233. Knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom.

'The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables? He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." - (Matthew 13:10-11) The kingdom of God is a mystery, just as it is said of Christ who is 'the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints'. - ( Colossians 1:26). Had not the coming of the kingdom of God on earth been a mystery, the disciples would not have misunderstood it to be the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. - (Acts 1:6) The ambiguity (vagueness) remained because the kingdom of God was always understood to be the one in the heavenly realm, as often mentioned in Scriptures, but as a kingdom in the earthly realm, was seldom mentioned in Scriptures by anyone before, other than Daniel, until John the Baptist came preaching : "Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is near ( meaning coming onto earth)." - Matthew 3:2. Daniel spoke about another kingdom that was coming when infact both the northern kingdom of Israel was exiled to Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah was exiled to Babylon. He said to Nebuchadnezzar: "In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (on earth ) that will not be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all other kingdoms and bring them to an end but it will itself endure forever." -(Daniel 2:44) If we have come to know about this kingdom and its secrets, it is because the 'revealer of mysteries' (2:29) has revealed it to us as well, just as he had revealed it to Daniel. (2:19) Hallelujah! Jesus too rejoiced that the mystery was being revealed to his disciples. 'At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." - (Luke 10:21) It takes a child like faith to believe in this mysterious kingdom but the wise and the learned cannot believe it exists because they are not 'certain of what they do not see'. (Hebrews 11:1) How can one believe the secrets of the kingdom of God without first believing that the kingdom of God actually exists on earth in the unseen realm? That is why Jesus told Nicodemus: "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" - (John 3:12) What then are the secrets of the kingdom of God ? Just as knowledge about the existence of any nation on earth is not enough, if we wish to migrate to that nation but we need to know the laws of that nation governing immigration and naturalization, to become a citizen of that nation, even so we need to know the laws governing the kingdom of God. Just as we cannot enter a nation illegally but will be deported if caught, though we may claim to be a citizen, having lived there for many years, even so many assume to be citizens of heaven just because they have been attending Church for many years, though they never entered through the proper channel of rebirth. Therefore, Jesus declared: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit." - (John 3:3-5) Only those who have entered the kingdom by the Spirit, can understand the secrets of the kingdom revealed in the word of God; about its culture, growth, value, virtues etc ... Many couldn't understand the parables of Jesus because it was not meant for all to understand as Jesus himself said, "This is why I speak to them in parables: '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 ... But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." - (Matthew 13:13-16) Amen