I'm convinced Matthew 13 is the most important chapter in all the Bible.
The mission of Jesus as a man was two-fold. One was to become satisfactory payment for our sin. For this, I'm eternally grateful.
The second part of His mission was to impart to a select few the Mysteries of the Kingdom, or His original discipleship curriculum. He passed these teachings on in the context of a rabbi/disciple relationship and later commanded His followers to impart these mysteries to others, even as they went to the ends of the earth.
An example of this cryptic teaching:
The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.
In Matthew 13:33 we find this wonderful, enigmatic Mystery; one of Jesus' original seven. But contrary to popular belief, it cannot be accurately solved without further information from its author. I say this though I'm fully aware that virtually every commentary and parable expert believes they have it right.
Let's revisit the earlier verses in Matthew 13. It's obvious that the disciples quickly realized Jesus was speaking to the multitudes in cryptic speech. So cryptic, that no one could understand the meaning of this public discourse. Jesus' own words in Matthew 13:11 confirmed that He was purposefully concealing the meanings of the Mysteries. This fact is ignored by most believers, mainly because they cannot fathom a Jesus who consciously withheld information from anyone. But the truth is revealed in verse 11. He did just that.
Yet by showing how the first two parables were 'explained' to the disciples (13:19-23; 13:36-43), Matthew gives us a peek behind the curtain. We should not fail to realize that the disciples NEEDED the explanations to understand them. Nor should it be overlooked that the explanations were given to them alone. But what about the other five Mysteries? Why didn't Matthew give us those explanations as well? Are they any less cryptic?
Obviously, the Parable of the Leaven is at least as enigmatic as the Sower and/or Wheat and Tares. We have a woman. Who is she? She takes leaven. What is this leaven? She hides it? (a rare Greek word is used for hiding the leaven here (BTW, no evidence has been found for the use of this particular word in association with baking in the Greek language)) Into three separate pecks of flour? And does this until it's permeated with the leaven?
Now many commentators will say that only certain parts of this parable should be interpreted. This seems a little too convenient. Pinning down who the woman is, what the leaven is, why she 'hides' it, who or what the three pecks are, and what it means to be completely leavened is a very difficult problem, especially if one tries to explain them all in concert. Many commentators will give an explanation for one or two of the parts and then say that the other parts were just given to support the one or two they've been able to explain. Yet when Jesus explained the Sower and Wheat and Tares, He explained each part. Are we to assume that the other Mysteries are any different?
Those attempting to interpret this parable are ignoring one simple fact. Jesus emphatically stated, that with His speech, He was concealing the Mysteries. With Jesus' explanations of the parables (as in 13:19-23 & 13:36-43) we can know and understand the Mysteries. Without them (as in the other five) we are left as was the multitude; without knowing.
I can hear some of you now. "If the other Mysteries needed explanations and if these explanations were actually given to the disciples by Jesus, Matthew would have surely recorded those as well. And since he didn't give us the explanations, then obviously, we should interpret them for ourselves. They must not need them."
Arrogance in this matter (thinking we can interpret the Mysteries without seminal help) has caused us to miss the whole point.
Most all Christians think the Gospel of Matthew is a biography, supplied for information's sake. Church Historian Eusebius (275-339 CE) would not agree. Instead, the Gospel of Matthew was created as a teaching manual, designed to teach the Mysteries of the Kingdom in accordance with 28:19. I've come to firmly believe that we've seriously underestimated the earliest Christians.
To be continued.
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