I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world

 

 Another parable He put forth to them, saying:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."  Another parable He spoke to them:  "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."  

 

All of these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

"I will open My mouth in parables;

I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

 - Matthew 13:31-35 

 

In chapter 13 of Matthew's Gospel, we are introduced to Jesus preaching in parables to the multitudes.  First He gave the parable of the Sower; in the following reading He explained to His disciples why He has begun preaching in parables.  Then, in Thursday's reading, Christ explained to the disciples the meaning of the parable of the Sower.   In yesterday's reading, Jesus gave another parable, that of the Wheat and the Tares:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.  So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?'  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'  The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'  But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

 

 Another parable He put forth to them, saying:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."  Another parable He spoke to them:  "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."   My study Bible comments that the mustard seed and the leaven represent the disciples who, according to Theophylact, began as just a few men, but "soon encompassed the whole earth."  These also stand for faith entering a person's soul, which causes an inward growth of virtue.  This soul will become godlike, and can receive even angels (the birds of the air who nest in its branches).  

All of these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:  "I will open My mouth in parables;  I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."  Matthew quotes from Psalm 78:2.  Let us note at once the importance again of mysteries, of things that are hidden, or kept secret.  It's a reflection of Christ's teaching to the disciples regarding the purpose of the parables, in Wednesday's reading.  When asked why He spoke in parables, He told 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.  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.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."

The parables given in today's reading, Jesus describes the growth of the kingdom of heaven in two ways.  The tiny mustard seed grows to an astonishingly large bush or tree, so sturdy the birds of the air may nest in its branches.  This is a dynamic, explosive growth outward, expansive, and reaching up, and also creating strength.  But the leaven in the dough tells us of a different kind of growth, one that is inward, permeating, expanding to include all that is, and to change its substance, transforming from within.  If we look at the whole of today's reading, and also Christ's remarks to the disciples regarding knowing the mysteries of the kingdom, we understand that what Jesus is revealing is an entity that exists in way that is not apparent to all, that is hidden.  Nevertheless, its growth is explosive, within us and among us (Luke 17:20-21).  This kingdom is a reality among us and within us; it is not simply a set of rules or laws, neither is it a theory, nor is it an abstraction, something we think or believe "in principle."  It is dynamic and growing, and at the same time it is transforming -- and its influence and permeation grows by degrees in that transforming power, until the substance of the whole is changed.  Its growth works through a mysterious power, one we do not control.  But we do give our consent, and we may also be active in protecting this reality and its growth in our lives and within ourselves.  We must nurture and grow it through the pursuit of spiritual matters, the "good treasure" of the heart, and protecting the heart from evil influence and the seeds sown by "an enemy" (see yesterday's reading, above, in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares).  This unseen Kingdom is both dynamic and explosive in its action; it transforms as it works from within.   We will see its effects, but its work is its own hidden dynamic.  We must just give it good soil, good ground, and respond to trials with endurance.   In the end Matthew says that Christ's teaching in parables is fulfilling the words of prophecy:  "I will open My mouth in parables;  I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."  In the Psalm, those things kept secret from the foundation of the world tell of the spiritual history of Israel, her struggles and her inconstancy to faith, and eventual king chosen from the tribe of Judah, and a shepherd.  So God's work in the world continues in this hidden way, in the fulfillment of a Shepherd born in Bethlehem of Judea, and the hidden Kingdom whose gospel He preaches and proclaims to the world.  But it is known and understood only to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.