The Mystery Of The Kingdom Of GOD Has Been Given To You

"When the crowd went away, some who were around HIM with the Twelve asked about the parables.

HE answered them, 'The mystery of the kingdom of GOD has been given to you.  But for those outside, everything comes in parables, so, that, the more they see, they don't perceive; the more they hear, they don't understand; otherwise they would be converted and pardoned.'" - Mark 4:10-12 

(The mystery of the kingdom of GOD has been given to you.  JESUS reminds the disciples who are there with HIM, receiving from HIM the word of GOD, that they owe it to GOD's grace.  GOD HIMSELF has chosen them to receive and transmit the proclamation of the kingdom.  Instead of pausing to ponder over such generosity, we might take the phrase in its opposite sense and ask: Has GOD then wished that others neither see nor understand?

The more they see, they don't perceive;...  This verse quotes an important text of Isaiah 6:9 which will be recalled in John 12:40 and Acts 28:26.  To understand, we must remember that the prophet used a grammatical form proper to Hebrew and difficult to translate into English.  More or less this is what GOD says to the prophet: "Harden their heart, speak so that listening they do not hear."  It should be understood in this way: "You will only succeed in hardening their heart, you will speak, but in fact they will listen without wanting to understand."  In no case does GOD wish anyone to be mistaken or remain in ignorance.

Everything comes in parables.  Those who have not been called to meet CHRIST, or who once called have refused, live in a world "outside," where they are not without the light of GOD, but such comes to them in "parables," which means through many intermediaries and human limitations.  The Gospel, then, brings light even to one who has not taken the step, but is adapted to its capacity, since such a person lives in a world of half-truths.)

On-Sight