QT 9/7/2024 Matt 13:10-12, Using God's knowledge for his purpose

Matthew 13:10–12 (ESV) —

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 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. 12 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.

 

NOTE: One of the false philosophies is Gnosticism. It teaches that there is secret knowledge that God has hidden away and only certain people are allowed to know these truths. Satan used this appeal in the garden when he told Eve that after eating the fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, she would be like God have special secret knowledge.

 

In many errors, there is often a truth hidden and exploited. There is no secret knowledge hidden away for the few, but there is knowledge given to all who seek that knowledge. One cannot know a person without spending time with that person. One cannot know God without spending time with God, reading his word, praying, and obeying. But as one spends time with God, the Lord opens up our eyes to knowledge, called the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. They are not really secrets. They are just not understood by those who put no effort into knowing God. Anyone can know these secrets, but you can't know them without a relationship with God. Otherwise, the knowledge doesn't grasp them or move them.

 

But there is another side to the revealing of the word, is that God calls us to be accountable. The possession of knowledge requires us to use it.

 

1 Corinthians 2:7–13 (ESV) — 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

 

Luke 8:18 (ESV) — 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

 

The passage in Luke seems to imply that if we do not use the knowledge that God has given, it will be taken away. God requires us to be faithful to the gifts he has given us.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing with the knowledge that God has given me?
2. Am I using what God gave me for his sake, or am I wasting it?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that this week I would truly seek you, and you would use my gifts to make an impact on men and women for the kingdom. Give me the words, wisdom, and insight to develop connections with the lost.