Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
November 28, 2010
Luke 8:16-21
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom”

Introduction 

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
 17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

1. God has perfect knowledge of His kingdom  v10a

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

2. There are many mysteries we don’t know about the Kingdom v1, 9-11, 16

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

3. God communicates His Word, His ways to us  v1, 4, 16-17

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
 17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

4. What is God’s Word?  The powerful, spoken expression of His will, resulting in the execution of His commands.  His Kingdom comes wherever His will is done. Creation, Jesus, new Heaven and Earth.  He decides, speaks, things happen.

When His Word is spoken to us, the purpose is knowledge of His will, faith, relationship, salvation.  The Word of God has a positive and beneficial result.

5. How does God communicate His Word to us?

a. Preaching

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

b. Parables

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

6. Some understand and receive  v9-10

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God...
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Jesus had chosen the disciples to understand and communicate the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to other tribes, and even to successive generations, so He was going to make sure they understood.

7. Some do not understand and refuse  v10

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

The seed along the path in Matthew - it bounced off because they didn’t understand.

8. What enables a person to understand?  v10

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

A mystery religion is any religion with an arcanum, or secret wisdom. In a mystery religion, an inner core of beliefs, practices, and the religion's true nature, are revealed only to those who have been initiated into its secrets

What is this gift from God to help us understand these mysteries?

a. Spiritual aptitude from the Holy Spirit  John 16:13

13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth

b. Desire  v9  “What does it mean?”

John 7:17
17 “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine...

c. Having a teacher available to teach, guide, answer questions  v11

Jesus was their teacher,  11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

A Jedi learns the ways of the force.  A disciple sits at the feet of a master.  Paul went into the wilderness for 3 years to be instructed by the Holy Spirit.

Explains how intelligent, rational human beings can see things so differently.  “They don’t ‘get it’”.

2 Corinthians 2
 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things 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 know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

No desire, no Holy Spirit, not listening to the teacher, no revelation, no understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom.

9. We are responsible for what we hear  v18

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

10. Receiving the truth opens the door for more truth

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

11. Refusing the truth causes the loss of even the little bit revealed

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Romans 1
 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

So   18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

12. There is a fellowship of understanding the truth, the mysteries of the Kingdom  v19-21

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Conclusion