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SPIRITUALITY


 

 

KNOWLEDGE:  TO YOU IT IS GIVEN.  TO THEM IT IS NOT

The disciples had a great longing to learn. But they knew when they ought to ask questions.  They never asked questions in public;  "they came to Him privately." They sought the good of others first and only their own next. 

"Why do you speak to them in parables?"  "Because it is NOT given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. . .because of their evilness."  This knowledge is a gift; it is given only to true disciples.

"To him who has, to him shall be given and even in abundance.  To him who has not, from him shall be taken away, even that which he SEEMS to have.  Anyone who has zeal will receive this gift from God.  Anyone void of this zeal will not receive this gift;  these are the careless, hard to persuade. . .to such we must remain silent.  If we continue to talk to the careless, his carelessness will be aggravated.  But to him who is striving to learn, we must pour in much wisdom. 

"That is why I speak to them in parables; because they are lazy and careless."  They won't understand. Their blindness is not natural; it is voluntary and self-chosen: "Seeing, they see not."  The blindness is caused by their own wickedness. 

The Jews saw Christ driving out the devil but could not see that this power was from God.  The Jews heard Christ lead them to God and they accused Him as not of God.  The judgment made by the Jews was contrary to what their eyes saw.  They not only disbelieved but even found fault and laid snares.  They inflicted the loss on themselves by stopping their ears, by closing their eyes, by making their heart fat.

Why did they do this?  For fear of being converted. . .showing their aggravated wickedness and defection from Him.  Christ had spoken.   He who hears and understands will be saved.  He who does not understand will be lost.

The Sower went about to sow seeds. The seeds were good; but most of the soil was bad.  The seeds were not, not because of the Sower but because of the soil.  The wayside represents the careless souls who received the word but lost it.  The soil with thorny plants represent souls rich in desires; the worldly desires choked the seed.  The rocky ground represents shallow and superficial souls who easily betray the word of God.

To lose the word of God in the midst of persecution is more excusable than when there is none.  The plant was not destroyed because of  the birds nor the sun  but because "it had no roots."  It is not the thorns that killed but he who allowed the thorns to grow. 

Let us not blame the birds, thorns and rocks BUT instead blame the corrupt soul.  To be saved, let the soul carefully learn the teachings of Christ; then let him have a continual recollection of the things learned.  Next, let him have the fortitude to practice what he had learned, firstly, by having contempt for riches and, secondly, by praying for deliverance from all worldly desires. Neglect one of these and you will never progress in the spiritual life.

 

 

 

 

 

(03-02-04)

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