Matthew 13 11

Matthew 13:11 kjv

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Matthew 13:11 nkjv

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.

Matthew 13:11 niv

He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Matthew 13:11 esv

And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Matthew 13:11 nlt

He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 11 Meaning

Jesus explains to His disciples that understanding the deep truths and hidden aspects of the kingdom of heaven is a divinely granted privilege specifically given to them, while it is withheld from the general crowd outside of their immediate circle. This verse reveals God's sovereign hand in revealing spiritual truth, differentiating between those who are chosen to receive deeper insight and those from whom it remains concealed. The parables serve both to illuminate and to obscure.

Matthew 13 11 Context

Matthew 13 begins the "Parable Discourse," where Jesus speaks exclusively in parables to large crowds. After Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-9), the disciples approach Him privately and ask why He speaks to the crowds in parables (Mt 13:10). Verse 11 is Jesus' direct answer to their question, explaining the purpose behind His method of teaching. This verse establishes the thematic framework for understanding all subsequent parables in this chapter: they serve to reveal truth to those chosen by God, while simultaneously concealing it from those whose hearts are not receptive, aligning with prophetic expectations of Israel's spiritual blindness.

Matthew 13 11 Word analysis

• He answered and said: This phrase (Greek: Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν) indicates a direct, immediate response to the disciples' specific question in the preceding verse. It highlights the confidential and revelatory nature of Jesus' explanation.
• Because: (Greek: ὅτι - hoti). This word introduces the reason or explanation. It clarifies the causal link between the disciples' question and Jesus' subsequent revelation regarding understanding.
• to you: (Greek: ὑμῖν - hymin). A dative plural pronoun, strongly emphasizing exclusivity. This privilege is for the disciples, not for the general populace. It sets apart the inner circle of learners.
• it has been granted: (Greek: δέδοται - dedotai). This is a perfect tense passive verb, meaning "it has been given" or "it stands granted."
  • Perfect Tense: Signifies a completed action in the past with ongoing, enduring results in the present. The gift of understanding is a settled reality for the disciples.
  • Passive Voice: Points to a divine agent. It is not something earned or achieved by human effort but is solely God's initiative and sovereign act of giving. This is a crucial theological point about divine grace in revelation.
• to know: (Greek: γνῶναι - gnōnai). An aorist infinitive, denoting an experiential and profound understanding, not just intellectual apprehension. It refers to a deeper spiritual comprehension.
• the mysteries: (Greek: μυστήρια - mystēria). Plural. In biblical terms, "mystery" does not mean something unknowable or hidden from everyone. Rather, it refers to a divine truth previously hidden by God but now revealed at the proper time to those whom He chooses. These are God's redemptive purposes revealed in Christ and His kingdom, not secret rituals or esoteric knowledge.
• of the kingdom of heaven: (Greek: τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν - tēs basileias tōn ouranōn). A characteristic phrase of Matthew's Gospel, synonymous with the "kingdom of God." It refers to God's sovereign reign and rule, inaugurated by Jesus and unfolding progressively on earth, encompassing spiritual realities, God's new order, and His divine purposes for humanity and creation.
• but: (Greek: ἐκείνοις δὲ - ekeinois de). A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast.
• to them: (Greek: ἐκείνοις - ekeinois). A dative plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to "the outsiders" or "the others" – specifically the unreceptive crowds, those who were not committed followers of Jesus.
• it has not been granted: (Greek: οὐ δέδοται - ou dedotai). The negative form of the perfect passive, emphasizing the divine withholding. Just as God grants understanding to some, He sovereignly withholds it from others, in keeping with His purposes and their spiritual condition.

• "to you it has been granted... but to them it has not been granted": This core contrasting phrase highlights God's discriminatory revelation based on divine election and the individual's spiritual disposition (though ultimately sovereignly ordained). It's not a matter of human merit, but divine will and grace for the disciples, and a consequence of hardness for the others.
• "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven": This significant theological grouping refers to the essential truths concerning God's redemptive plan and His reign that are now being progressively unveiled through Jesus' ministry and teachings. It emphasizes the hidden depth and divine origin of these truths, which require supernatural revelation for true apprehension.

Matthew 13 11 Bonus section

The concept of "mysteries" in the New Testament, as seen here, profoundly differs from contemporary Hellenistic mystery religions. In those cults, "mystery" denoted secret rites known only to initiates. However, in the biblical context, particularly in the Pauline epistles, "mystery" (like the "mystery of the kingdom" here) refers to a divine plan or truth previously hidden in God's eternal counsels but now openly revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. This revelation is public for all who believe, not exclusively for a select secret few, though reception of it still depends on God's granting grace. This divine grant of understanding does not negate human responsibility; those who rejected Jesus' clear teachings remained hardened.

Matthew 13 11 Commentary

Matthew 13:11 serves as a crucial interpretative key for understanding Jesus' parabolic teaching method and the nature of divine revelation. Jesus reveals that access to the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" is a sovereign grant from God. This means spiritual understanding is not inherently accessible to everyone, nor is it merely a result of human intellectual capacity or effort. Instead, it is a privilege given by God to His chosen ones—in this context, His disciples. For those outside this circle, spiritual truths remain veiled in parables, effectively concealing what is revealed to others. This dual purpose of parables—to reveal to the receptive and to conceal from the unreceptive—aligns with Old Testament prophecies regarding spiritual blindness, particularly in Isaiah 6. It underscores God's wisdom and sovereign control over how and to whom His truth is made known, ensuring that the revelation of the kingdom is properly discerned by those destined to grasp it, while highlighting the moral culpability of those who remain in spiritual darkness.