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Parables
Matthew 13:10 And the taught ones came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
Yeshua’s answer is that the mysteries of the Kingdom of YHWH is given through Parables and Illustrations. See a post from Isaiah 7, explaining how it is the same with Prophecies, it is an illustrative language, almost like a secret language. Sometimes the meaning is closed or hidden (sealed) on purpose, and the meaning will reveal itself later. Other times the disciples had to ask the meaning, and then it seemed so obvious. We have to listen like innocent children and absorb what is given, not with our own thoughts or ideas, as many times the Truth is just simple and clear as day.
In verses 14 and 15 Yeshua quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, ““And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’”
Yeshua also quoted this from Psalm 78:2 in Matthew 13:34-35 “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Elohim of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to little children“
Click here to see posts from the old testament, hinting what is causing the spiritual blindness..
Kingdom of Heaven or God, Translation Issues
Matthew 13:11 “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
When reading the book of Matthew, there is one big contrast that stands out immediately after coming out of reading the old testament. Nowhere in the old testament, have we learned or read that people go to Heaven. Instead, what we have learned so far is : people go rest in Sheol after they die physically, until they are resurrected and judged. If you are judged as sinful/unrighteous, your soul is destroyed. There will be a new earth, a “Kingdom” where the resurrected will live, but it never says Heaven. As a matter of fact, the book of Matthew is the only book that says “Kingdom of Heaven” (click here for the blueletterbible search results). All the other gospels, talk about Kingdom of God (YHWH).
Matthew thus makes it confusing.. as you read verses like 5:12 “your reward is in heaven“, 5:20 “enter the kingdom of heaven“, 6:20 “store your treasure in the kingdom of heaven“, 8:11 “you will eat with Abraham, Isaac and Jacom in the kingdom of heaven” and 11:12, “since the time of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven has drastically advanced“. It is said, that the gospel of Matthew was written for the Jewish audience in mind, as they rather speak of Heaven instead of God, together with not using His Name at all.
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” There are many prophecies about the Messiah that will be King. This is why Yeshua taught so much about the Kingdom, what is is like and who will be allowed to live there.
Matthew 13:31-32 “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Matthew 13:41-42 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Those who do not belong in the Kingdom, will be removed.