Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Jesus’ answer cannot legitimately be softened: at least one of the functions of parables is to conceal the truth, or at least to present it in a veiled way. In fact, it is entirely possible that the first word in Jesus’ response (left untranslated in NIV) is “because.” The disciples ask, “Why do you speak, etc.?” and Jesus replies, “Because the secrets of the kingdom have been given to the disciples but not to the others listening to me.” “The secrets [lit., “mysteries”; GK 3696] of the kingdom” are divine plans or decrees, often passed on in veiled language, known only to the elect and usually relating to events of the end time. For these secrets to be “given to” the disciples suggests that to them certain eschatological realities are being revealed.

What is revealed is not who Jesus is, the nature of God, or the power of love (all of which have been suggested); rather, Jesus is revealing that the kingdom of God, especially as foreseen in Daniel, has in fact entered the world and is working, although secretly, among humankind (see comment on Mk 4:11–12).

The antithesis of v.12 is proverbial and repeated elsewhere (25:29; cf. Mark 4:25). It warns against taking spiritual blessings for granted and serves to increase gratitude and a sense of privilege among those who continue to enjoy them. What is lost in the second part of the antithesis is one’s standing as the expected subject of the kingdom (cf. 8:11–12).