Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 13:11

"And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." — Matthew 13:11 (ASV)

It is given—A better translation is it has been given, signifying a special act of God.

To know the mysteries—The Greek word for "mystery," like "parable," has passed into modern languages and has changed in meaning. Strictly speaking, it does not mean what we sometimes imply—for example, when we speak of the mystery of the Trinity as a truth no one can understand, or something "awfully obscure" (the definition from Johnson's Dictionary).

Instead, a "mystery" in this context is a truth that was once kept secret but has now been revealed to the initiated.

Based on our Lord's teaching up to this point, the "mysteries of the kingdom" may refer to several concepts. These include the new birth of water and the Spirit (John 3:5), the future judgment to be exercised by the Son of Man (John 5:25), and the power of the Son of Man to forgive sins (John 9:6). They also include the new ideas—and no other word expresses it so well—which He had proclaimed regarding the Sabbath (John 12:8), as well as fasting, prayer, and alms (John 6:1–18).

Because these ideas had caused offense, the Teacher, for the time being, resorts to a method of more public, or exoteric, instruction.