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.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field

 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 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

We are in chapter 13 of Matthew's Gospel, in which Jesus introduces the telling of parables into His ministry, beginning with the parable of the Sower.  Yesterday we read that Jesus put forth another parable to them, saying:  "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 tells us 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."   It adds that 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 (in the image of the birds of the air).   Both parables speak of the explosive and mysterious growth of the Kingdom, both within us and among us.  (See Luke 17:21; in Greek, both meanings are suggested in Jesus' statement).

All 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.  We're given another meaning to the use of parables.  Tremendous mysteries are included in them, truths of which Jesus has told the disciples that "many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it" (Wednesday's reading).

What do we read in the parables?  What do we hear?  Can we relate to these stories that tell us about the kingdom of God?  We have seen how others have understood them:  the powerful growth of the Kingdom from a small seed (Jesus' word) expanding to all the known world in a remarkably short time via the Apostles.  The leaven (yeast) measured into the meal (or flour) changes the entire chemistry of the flour itself, its enzymes doing their work in secret and hidden ways we can't easily observe -- but we see their effects.  In fact, the Greek word for leaven is ζύμῃ/zyme, from which we get the word "enzyme" (which means literally "in leaven").   In fact, this mysterious process is also found in other images given by Jesus, particularly wine, which requires enzymes for fermentation.  The image of the leaven in the meal and the "new wine" that needs "new wineskins" given earlier in Matthew's gospel (see this reading) really mirror one another in this aspect of transformational energy that mysteriously changes the complex of the whole.  The "wine" suggests to us that it is this new covenant with Christ that enables the mysterious work to take place.  Our faith in the word (the "seed") connects us to this force that produces growth, expanding within us and among us, "in our midst."  We have endless examples of how this process works, in the community of the Church and all of its history, in the stories of Scripture.  St. Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus is one example.  The transition we see in the disciples from their beginning with Jesus and throughout His ministry, perhaps most clearly given to us in the stories of St. Peter, teach us what changes and transformations of character occur.  The expansion of the Church itself tells us about the far-reaching effects from one small seed, growing even today in nations where one would not expect such growth.  But perhaps for the purposes of this blog, we may consider the growth in us over the long haul, the entire period of our lives, as we grow more deeply enmeshed in our faith, coming to share a dependency upon God where once we depended on other externals in our lives.  To experience God's hope and love helps us in ways that other things we rely on cannot, and the growth of a person in this light produces a creative fruition that can't be estimated -- revealing fruits that are hidden until this "enzymatic" work in us manifests the secrets of potential in the true self created in Christ.   The Kingdom grows as the field that grounds our life and being, connecting us in the present time to its eternal reality, intersecting present life with the life of the age to come (Galatians 1:1-4).  These are deep mysteries in which we are allowed to participate through the saving ministry of Christ, His death and Resurrection.   The gifts of the Spirit are an example of how that Kingdom grows in people, the field and ground of our being working in us, giving us glimmers of our participation in it, and it in us.   Let us consider a golden mustard seed, and the tremendous shelter it may give for even the birds of the air, or the leaven that enlivens the whole of the flour.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed

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 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 our recent readings in Matthew's gospel, we have learned about Jesus' use of parables. First, on Tuesday, we read the first parable we're told, the parable of the Sower. Next, on Wednesday, Jesus explained, in answer to His disciples questions, why He spoke to the multitudes in parables. In Thursday's reading, He explained the parable of the Sower to His disciples. In yesterday's reading, we were given a new parable in Jesus' teaching, a parable used to illustrate yet another aspect of the Kingdom He is bringing into the world. This is the parable 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. When the wheat sprouted, so did the tares. But all will be left to grow together until the harvest, so that the good wheat is not uprooted with the tares. Then the wheat will be gathered into the barn, while the tares will be bundled and burnt. In today's reading, Jesus (via Matthew's gospel) gives us yet more parables.

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." I quite love the parable of the mustard seed, and in the telling of this parable on top of the two we have already read, we are given yet another aspect of the kingdom. First, we were taught about the good seed sowed by the sower, the word, and the different types of soil in which it may grow or not. Next was the parable that taught that wheat and weeds, good seed and bad, will grow next to one another -- both resembling each other. Now, here we have another aspect of the kingdom -- its phenomenal growth. While the seed may find difficulty in this world, and there is bad seed as well, its growth is unanticipated, tremendous -- so that even the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. What looks like a small beginning will produce great things. My study bible points out that the two parables given today illustrate the startling success of God's Kingdom. "A few weak fishermen will convert the whole world because of the divine power of the gospel."

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." Not only is the word, the gospel message, filled with the power of promise and growth, it also acts within: it leavens with its own message and strength, to heal and save and transform. Of course this is how it works within us, and also among us. It's power is both of growth and transformation. In such short verses, we are given the tremendous illustrations of the mustard seed and the leaven, which have fueled thousands of years of understanding and expression. In themselves, these words are a poetic illustration of the power of Christ's word!

All 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." Again, we have a poetic illustration of these very words: these two verses are in themselves a great prophecy, and the quotation teaches us the power of the few parables we've read about this week: the fruits they produce extend in infinite blessing -- to things "kept secret from the foundation of the world" and into the future to continue to reveal to our understanding the aspects of the kingdom not yet known to us.

Psalm 78:2 gives us the beginning of Jesus' quotation: "I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old." But let us consider all of His words: "I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." The parables continue to open up to us things we need to learn and know and understand. The growth of the Church, the growth of faith within ourselves, a complex world where wheat and tares seemingly look alike and are impossible to separate before Judgment -- so that the good crop is not uprooted, the transforming power of its leaven: all of these illustrations will continue to reveal to us an understanding about the Kingdom coming into this world, and our part in it. In 2,000 years of history we have not exhausted these illustrations nor their application to the way the world works and the power of the gospel in it, even as the world changes and grows and we enter into a new millenium. And there is more: the "things kept secret from the foundation of the world" are also revealed. Through Christ's word, we see into the ancient Scriptures of the Old Testament, and new things are also revealed to us there that were not apparent to its earlier readers. This is the nature of inspired Scripture. It applies to time in a timeless sense: that is, what is used to explain to one understanding continues to reveal and enlighten to those who will come later -- and those who come later find new meaning and light in what was written of old. This is the nature of mystery -- and at the very heart of Jesus' words in His use of parables. The mysteries open to us, but only if we have ears to hear. What we hear and see really depends on what we have within us: thus, we come back once again to Jesus' illustrations about the Kingdom -- it is the leaven, the tiny grain as small as a mustard seed, the substance that will continue to grow and support, and to transform, and build our understanding. When Jesus explained His use of parables, He said: "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." In the abundance of Scripture, it is this leaven, the grain of mustard seed, that illuminates more for us, and continues to do so. In next week's readings, Jesus will also teach us of the tremendous value of the word we have been given, and what we may exchange for its worth.