Lectionary Calendar
Monday, April 28th, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Amplified Bible

Matthew 13:11

Jesus replied to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Mysteries;   Sermon;   Wisdom;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Mysteries;   Mystery;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fuller Revelation;   Privileges;   Revelation;   Special Privileges;   The Topic Concordance - Disciples/apostles;   Healing;   Knowledge;   Parables;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jesus christ;   Kingdom of god;   Mystery;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Elder;   Mystery;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Mystery;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Book;   Ezekiel;   Mystery;   Parable;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Mystery;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mss;   Mystery;   Parable;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Discourse;   Doctrines;   Ear (2);   Fig-Tree ;   Illustrations;   Last Supper;   Mystery ;   Mystery Mysteries;   Necessity;   Obscurity;   People;   Teaching of Jesus;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Kingdom, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven;   Mystery;   Parable;   Sower, Sowing;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Chamber;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Jesus christ;   Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Mystery;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Kingdom of God (of Heaven), the;   Mediation;   Mystery;   Parable;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 16;   Every Day Light - Devotion for May 27;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,
King James Version (1611)
He answered, and said vnto them, Because it is giuen vnto you to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heauen, but to them it is not giuen.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
And Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
New Century Version
Jesus answered, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he answered, & said vnto them, Because it is giuen vnto you, to know the secretes of the kingdome of heauen, but to the it is not giue.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus answered and said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Berean Standard Bible
He replied, "The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Contemporary English Version
Jesus answered: I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others.
Complete Jewish Bible
He answered, "Because it has been given to you to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it has not been given to them.
Darby Translation
And he answering said to them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not given;
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus answered, "Only you can know the secret truths about God's kingdom. Those other people cannot know these secret truths.
George Lamsa Translation
He answered and said to them, Because to you it is granted to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not granted to them.
Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "The knowledge about the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Lexham English Bible
And he answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to those people it has not been granted.
Literal Translation
And answering, He said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but it has not been given to those.
American Standard Version
And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Bible in Basic English
And he said to them in answer, To you is given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Hebrew Names Version
He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
International Standard Version
He answered them, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it hasn't been given to them.Matthew 11:25; 16:17; Mark 4:11; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 John 2:27;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
He replied and said to them, Because unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given.
Murdock Translation
And he answered, and said to them: Because, to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He aunswered and sayde vnto them: because it is geuen vnto you, to knowe the secretes of the kyngdome of heauen, but to them, it is not geuen.
English Revised Version
And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
World English Bible
He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He answered and said to them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given.
Weymouth's New Testament
"Because," He replied, "while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of the Heavens, to them it is not.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he answeride, and seide to hem, `For to you it is youun to knowe the priuytees of the kyngdom of heuenes; but it is not youun to hem.
Update Bible Version
And he answered and said to them, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Webster's Bible Translation
He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
New English Translation
He replied, "You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.
New King James Version
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.
New Living Translation
He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
New Life Bible
He said to the followers, "You were given the secrets about the holy nation of heaven. The secrets were not given to the others.
New Revised Standard
He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, he, answering, said, Because, unto you, hath it been given, to get to know the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, - whereas, unto them, hath it not been given.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given.
Revised Standard Version
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.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He answered and sayde vnto them: it is geve vnto you to knowe ye secretes of the kyngdome of heve but to the it is not geve.
Young's Literal Translation
And he answering said to them that -- `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He answered and sayde vnto the: Vnto you it is geuen to knowe the mystery of the kingdome of heauen, but vnto them it is not geuen.
Mace New Testament (1729)
to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed.
THE MESSAGE
He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it. I don't want Isaiah's forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don't hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don't see a thing. The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won't have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won't have to look, so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.
Simplified Cowboy Version
He nodded in understandin' and said, "You can understand these stories, but some cannot. These stories reveal the true nature of God's Green Pastures.

Contextual Overview

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea [of Galilee]. 2But such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat there [positioning Himself as a teacher], while the whole crowd stood on the shore. 3He told them many things in parables, saying, "Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field]; 4and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. 5"Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. 6"But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7"Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. 8"Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. 9"He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words." 10Then the disciples came to Him and asked, "Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Because: Matthew 11:25, Matthew 11:26, Matthew 16:17, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 25:14, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 35:8, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10, Luke 10:39-42, John 7:17, Acts 16:14, Acts 17:11, Acts 17:12, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 4:7, James 1:5, James 1:16-18, 1 John 2:27

mysteries: Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 15:51, Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 3:3-9, Ephesians 5:32, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 1:27, Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:16

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:4 - General Deuteronomy 29:29 - revealed Judges 14:14 - they could 1 Kings 10:1 - prove him 1 Kings 10:3 - told her 2 Chronicles 9:1 - questions Job 15:8 - the secret Job 17:4 - General Psalms 49:4 - parable Psalms 78:2 - dark sayings Psalms 119:66 - Teach me Psalms 119:99 - than all Proverbs 3:32 - his Proverbs 8:9 - General Proverbs 9:9 - General Proverbs 14:6 - knowledge Proverbs 18:1 - seeketh Isaiah 8:16 - among Isaiah 29:11 - I cannot Isaiah 32:3 - General Ezekiel 34:11 - search Daniel 11:33 - understand Hosea 6:3 - if Hosea 14:9 - wise Zechariah 11:9 - I will Matthew 3:2 - for Matthew 4:17 - kingdom Matthew 13:18 - General Matthew 13:36 - Declare Matthew 13:51 - Have Matthew 16:15 - But Matthew 20:17 - took Matthew 24:3 - the disciples Mark 4:26 - So Mark 10:32 - And he Luke 10:21 - revealed Luke 11:36 - the whole John 3:3 - he cannot John 8:32 - ye shall John 9:37 - Thou John 15:15 - all John 16:25 - proverbs John 17:8 - I have 1 Corinthians 12:8 - is given 1 Corinthians 14:2 - howbeit 2 Corinthians 3:14 - their Ephesians 3:4 - ye may Colossians 4:3 - the mystery 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - they received 2 Timothy 3:7 - learning James 1:17 - good 1 John 5:20 - and hath Revelation 1:20 - mystery Revelation 2:17 - to eat Revelation 17:9 - here

Cross-References

Genesis 13:9
"Is not the entire land before you? Please separate [yourself] from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left."
Genesis 13:14
The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had left him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are standing, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
Genesis 19:17
When they had brought them outside, one [of the angels] said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, or stop anywhere in the entire valley; escape to the mountains [of Moab], or you will be consumed and swept away."
Psalms 16:3
As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
Psalms 119:63
I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.
Proverbs 27:10
Do not abandon your own friend and your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ's return] approaching.
1 Peter 2:17
Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He answered, and said unto them,.... Christ was always ready to give an answer to his inquiring disciples, concerning his ministry, and his conduct in it; which shows great respect to them, and condescension in him:

because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: by the "kingdom of heaven", is meant the Gospel, which treats of the kingdom of heaven, and of things pertaining to it; of the saints' meetness for it, which is the regenerating and sanctifying grace of the Spirit; and of their right to it, which lies in the justifying righteousness of Christ. The "mysteries" of it intend the sublime doctrines thereof; such as relate to the Trinity of persons in the Godhead, to the incarnation of Christ, and the union of the two natures, human and divine, in him, eternal predestination, redemption by Christ, satisfaction by his sacrifice, justification by his righteousness, and pardon through his blood, the resurrection from the dead, c. things, though clearly revealed, yet may have difficulties attending them, and which are not very easily solved: now to know and understand the great truths of the Gospel, spiritually, savingly, and experimentally, is not from nature, or to be acquired by men's industry, but is the gift of God's grace, flowing from his sovereign will and pleasure a favour which the disciples of Christ, as a chosen people, receive from the Lord, and which is denied others:

but to them it is not given; to the wise and prudent, to the Scribes and Pharisees, to the multitude, to the bulk and generality of the people, to the rest that were blinded. Mark calls them "them that are without"; who are not in the number of God's elect; nor within the covenant of grace, nor among the disciples of Christ; referring to a common way of speaking among the Jews, who used to call the Gentiles, all without their land, "they that are without"; and indeed all within themselves that despised the rules and judgment of the wise men i: but Christ here calls the wise men themselves such. Now our Lord, who was privy to the secret and sovereign dispensation of God, who, of his own will and pleasure, had determined to give a spiritual and saving knowledge of divine things to some, and deny it to others, made this the rule of his conduct in his ministry; that is to say, he preached in parables to some without an explication, whilst he spoke plainly to others; and, if in parables, yet gave them an interpretation, and an understanding of them.

i Vid. T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 24. 2. & Gloss. in ib.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Christ, in these verses, gives a “reason” why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10.

Matthew 13:11

The mysteries of the kingdom - The word “mystery,” in the Bible, properly means a thing that is “concealed,” or that “has been concealed.” It does not mean that the thing was “incomprehensible,” or even difficult to be understood.

The thing might be “plain” enough if revealed, but it means simply that it “had” not been before made known. Thus the “mysteries of the kingdom” do not mean any doctrines incomprehensible in themselves considered, but simply doctrines about the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of the new kingdom of the Messiah, which “had not” been understood, and which were as yet concealed from the great body of the Jews. See Romans 16:25; Romans 11:25; Ephesians 3:3-4, Ephesians 3:9. Of this nature was the truth that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles; that the Jewish polity was to cease; that the Messiah was to die, etc. To the disciples it was given to know these truths. This was important for them, as they were to carry the gospel around the globe. To the others it was not “then” given. They were too gross, too earthly; they had too, grovelling conceptions of the Messiah’s kingdom to understand these truths, even if communicated to them. They were not to preach the gospel, and hence our Saviour was at particular pains to instruct his apostles in the system which they were to preach. The Pharisees, and Jews generally, were not prepared to receive the system, and would not have believed it, and therefore he purposely employed a kind of teaching which was intended for his apostles only.

Matthew 13:12

Whosoever hath ... - This is a proverbial method of speaking.

It means that a man who improves what light, grace, and opportunities he has, shall have them increased. From him that improves them not, it is proper that they should be taken away. The Jews had many opportunities of learning the truth, and some light still lingered among them; but they were gross and sensual, and misimproved them, and it was a just judgment that they should be deprived of them. Superior knowledge was given to the disciples of Christ: they improved it, however slowly, and the promise was that it should be greatly increased.

Matthew 13:13

Because they seeing, see not - Mark Mark 4:12 and Luke Luke 8:10 say, “That seeing, they may not see etc.;” but there is no difference.

Matthew simply states the “fact,” that though they saw the “natural” meaning of the story - though they literally understood the parable - yet they did not understand its “spiritual” signification. Mark and Luke do not state the “fact,” but affirm that he spoke with this “intention” - implying that such “was” the result. Nor was there any dishonesty in this, or any unfair disguise. He had truths to state which he wished his “disciples particularly” to understand. They were of great importance to their ministry. Had he clearly and fully stated them to the Jews, they would have taken his life long before they did. He therefore chose to state the doctrines so that if their hearts had been right, and if they had not been malignant and blind, “they might have understood them.” His doctrines he stated in the best possible way, and it was not his fault if they did not understand him. By little and little, in this way, he prepared many even of the Jews to receive the truth; by the only possible way of ever gaining access to their minds. It was, moreover, entirely proper and right to impart instruction to his disciples which he did not “intend” for others.

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled ... - This place is quoted substantially from Isaiah 6:9-10. It was literally fulfilled in the time of Isaiah. In the time of Christ the people had the same character. Like them, they closed their eyes upon the truth, and rejected the divine teaching. The words of Isaiah were therefore “as well fitted” to express the character of the people in the time of Christ as in that of the prophet. In this sense they were “fulfilled,” or “filled up;” that is, “a case occurred that corresponded to their meaning.” See the notes at Matthew 1:22. It is not by any means intended that Isaiah, when he spoke these words, had any reference to the time of Christ. The meaning in both places is, that the people were so gross, sensual, and prejudiced, that they “would” not see the truth, or understand anything that was contrary to their grovelling opinions and sensual desires; a case by no means uncommon in the world. See the passage more fully explained in my notes at Isaiah 6:0.

Waxed gross - Literally, “has become fat.” This language is commonly applied to “the body,” but is also used to denote one who is stupid and foolish in mind. Here it means that the people were so sensual and corrupt that they did not see or understand the pure spiritual principles of the gospel.

Lest they should see ... - Lest they should see their lost condition as sinners, and turn and live. The reason given here why they did not hear and understand the gospel is, that their “heart” was “wrong.” They “would” not attend to the things that belonged to their peace.

I should heal them - Should pardon, sanctify, and save them. Sin is often represented as a disease, and the pardon and recovery of the soul from sin as “healing.”

Matthew 13:16

Blessed are your eyes ... - That is, you are happy that you are permitted to see truth which they will not see.

You are permitted to understand the spiritual meaning of the parables, and in some degree the plan of salvation.

Matthew 13:17

Many prophets and righteous men ... - They wished to see the times of the Messiah.

They looked to it as a time when the hopes of the world would be fulfilled, and when the righteous would be happy, John 8:56. “Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” Compare also 1 Peter 1:10-12; Hebrews 11:13. So Isaiah and the prophets looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as the consummation of their wishes and the end of the prophecies, Revelation 19:10. The object always dearest to the hearts of all righteous people is to witness the coming and advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Compare Revelation 22:20.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 13:11. It is given unto you to know the mysteries, c.] By mysteries, here, we may understand not only things concerning the scheme of salvation, which had not yet been revealed but also the prophetic declarations concerning the future state of the Christian Church, expressed in the ensuing parables. It is not given to them to know the purport and design of these things - they are gross of heart, earthly and sensual, and do not improve the light they have received: but to you it is given, because I have appointed you not only to be the first preachers of my Gospel to sinners, but also the persons who shall transmit accounts of all these things to posterity. The knowledge of these mysteries, in the first instance, can be given only to a few; but when these faithfully write and publish what they have heard and seen, unto the world, then the science of salvation is revealed and addressed to all. From Matthew 13:17, we learn, that many prophets and righteous men had desired to see and hear these things, but had not that privilege - to them it was not given; not because God designed to exclude them from salvation, but because HE who knew all things knew, either that they were not proper persons, or that that was not the proper time: for the choice of the PERSONS by whom, and the choice of the TIME in which it is most proper to reveal Divine things, must ever rest with the all-wise God.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile