Matthew 13:10-17
10 The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
11 He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.'
14 Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see.
15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.'
16 "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
17 Amen, I say to 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.
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I've gone through phases where I've thought that I'm smart enough to figure out God's word on my own, as if God's kingdom were only available to those smart enough to solve an intellectual puzzle.
The reality is that knowledge of God is a gift from God. It has nothing to do with how smart I might think I am, how smart I actually am (which is less), or even how hard I try to understand. It's a gift granted at God's discretion. Christ puts it very simply when the disciples ask about the parables:
Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
Why is it granted to some and not others? I can't understand that, and I can't worry about it either. The Lord's ways are far above mine. What I CAN do is lay down my pride, understand that knowledge of the Lord is a gift, and ask the Lord to continue giving to me, and show me what He wants me to do with my gifts.
