Today's Bible reading is the 13th chapter of the Book of Matthew. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013&version=NASB

In Matthew 13 we find Jesus teaching by parables large crowds of people that had gathered by the seashore to listen to Him. There is the parable of the Sower, that of the wheat and tares, of the mustard seed, of leaven, of the hidden treasure, of the costly pearl and of the dragnet. Each have been the topic of countless lessons and sermons over the many years since He first spoke them. Today I would like to comment briefly on the question His disciples asked of Him regarding His manner of teaching and His answer.

We read in verse ten that Jesus' disciples had came to Him and asked Him why He had spoken to the people in parables. I suppose they were intrigued by this new method of speaking and wondered why it was so. His answer, in part anyway, was that they (the disciples) had "been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" but those who composed the large crowds had not. As I thought about that I considered how privileged I was to be counted among those who have been granted by God to know the soul saving and life changing mystery of Christ. Jesus went on to quote the prophet Isaiah and I could not help but see the application to the day in which we live. The people hear but don't understand. They see but don't perceive. The hearts of people have become dull. Praise God that He is still in the business of opening hearts and revealing Christ. Still causing the spiritually deaf to hear, the spiritually blind to see! To God be the glory in Christ.