Matthew 13 12

Matthew 13:12 kjv

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Matthew 13:12 nkjv

For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Matthew 13:12 niv

Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Matthew 13:12 esv

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Matthew 13:12 nlt

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 12 Meaning

Matthew 13:12 enunciates a divine principle concerning spiritual understanding and responsiveness to the truth of God's Kingdom. It declares that to those who possess genuine receptivity, understanding, or a humble beginning of faith in God's word ("whoever has"), more divine truth, insight, and grace will be granted, leading to an overflow of spiritual richness. Conversely, those who lack spiritual receptivity, actively reject, or neglect the truth ("whoever does not have"), even the superficial knowledge or opportunities they once seemed to possess will be withdrawn, resulting in further spiritual impoverishment and darkness. This verse explains the parabolic teaching method as both a revelation to the open-hearted and a concealment from the hardened.

Matthew 13 12 Context

Matthew 13:12 is embedded within Jesus' discourse on the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. It immediately follows the disciples' question in Matthew 13:10, asking why Jesus speaks to the multitudes in parables. Jesus' response in verse 11 explains that understanding the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" is given to His disciples but not to the others. Verse 12 then elaborates on the underlying spiritual principle for this distinction. It directly follows the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-9), serving as the foundational rationale for why different hearers respond so differently to the same divine message. The verse also echoes the hardening of hearts prophesied in Isaiah (Matt 13:14-15), highlighting the consequence of rejecting God's truth: a removal of even perceived understanding. Historically, this marked a shift in Jesus' public ministry, where parables became a means to separate the genuinely receptive from the indifferent or hostile crowds, challenging the prevalent belief that knowledge of God was automatically inherent by being part of the chosen people.

Matthew 13 12 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): A strong explanatory conjunction, indicating a reason or logical progression. It explains why the mysteries of the Kingdom are given to some and not others, connecting directly to the previous verse (Matt 13:11).

• whoever has (ὅστις ἔχει, hostis echei): Not referring to material wealth, but to spiritual possession—a responsive heart, a measure of spiritual understanding, receptivity to divine truth, or an initial acceptance of Jesus and His message. The verb echei is present active indicative, denoting a continuous state of possessing or actively embracing.

• to him more will be given (δοθήσεται αὐτῷ, dothēsetai autō): The verb dothēsetai is future passive indicative, implying God as the ultimate giver. The "more" refers to an increase in spiritual insight, grace, knowledge of Kingdom truths, and deepened understanding. It's a divine reward for responsiveness.

• and he will have abundance (καὶ περισσευθήσεται, kai perisseuthēsetai): The verb perisseuthēsetai is future passive indicative of perisseuō, meaning to superabound, overflow, excel, or have more than enough. This indicates an exponential spiritual growth, not just an addition, but a overflowing measure of divine blessing and revelation.

• but whoever does not have (ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει, hostis de ouk echei): Refers to those who lack spiritual receptivity, have hardened hearts, reject the truth, or neglect what they have heard. This "not having" is often a consequence of willful refusal or spiritual indifference.

• even what he has (καὶ ὃ ἔχει, kai ho echei): A paradoxical statement. This does not imply literal possession that is taken away. Rather, it refers to any superficial understanding, perceived spiritual privilege, basic exposure to the truth, or potential for understanding that these unresponsive individuals might have appeared to possess.

• will be taken away from him (ἀρθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, arthēsetai ap’ autou): The verb arthēsetai is future passive indicative of airō, meaning to take up or take away. This describes a divinely ordained consequence: the capacity to comprehend, the opportunity to receive further revelation, or even the basic light they might have had will diminish, leading to deeper spiritual darkness or judgment.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance": This forms a divine law of spiritual multiplication. Active reception and diligent application of spiritual truth lead to progressive and overflowing understanding and blessing. It highlights God's generosity towards those who engage with His truth.
  • "but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him": This expresses the severe consequence of spiritual apathy or rejection. Spiritual light, opportunities, and even a superficial grasp of truth can be withdrawn from those unwilling to embrace or utilize it, leading to spiritual deprivation and increased blindness. It underscores the responsibility that comes with exposure to truth.

Matthew 13 12 Bonus section

This principle is a spiritual law of compounding or atrophy: spiritual muscles, like physical ones, grow stronger with use and wither with disuse. It underscores divine justice, where receptivity is rewarded, and resistance results in deeper spiritual consequences. The "having" and "not having" are not determined by God arbitrarily but by humanity's posture towards the initial light given. The Jews, who possessed the Law and the Prophets (the "has"), yet rejected Jesus, eventually lost their privileged status as keepers of the Kingdom truths, which was then extended to Gentiles. This verse implies that exposure to truth is a double-edged sword: a potential for immense blessing or a catalyst for judgment, depending on the response. It serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and a profound encouragement for eager pursuit of God's wisdom.

Matthew 13 12 Commentary

Matthew 13:12 encapsulates a fundamental principle of God's economy of revelation: spiritual truth and understanding are not static possessions but dynamic realities that either grow or diminish based on one's response. It is a divine mechanism for discerning genuine spiritual hunger from superficial interest. To those who respond with an open, humble, and obedient heart ("who has"), God grants an ever-increasing measure of revelation and spiritual insight. This abundance enriches their faith and equips them for greater Kingdom participation. Conversely, to those who approach truth with indifference, hardness, or outright rejection ("does not have"), even the limited exposure or apparent understanding they might possess is eventually removed, leading to increased spiritual ignorance or judgment. This verse is not about God being arbitrary, but about the natural spiritual consequence of a heart's posture towards divine light. Practically, it encourages active engagement with Scripture, prayer, and obedient living, knowing that these foster growth, while neglect or defiance leads to spiritual decline.