| Christian Life and Doctrine | February 1967 |
“Unto You It Is Given”
“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” —Luke 8:10
THESE words of our Lord are found in the Parable of the Sower, as recorded in the eighth chapter of Luke, verses 4-15. They set forth a truth which is dear to the hearts of the Lord’s people everywhere; for this knowledge of the truth, this understanding of God’s loving plans and purposes on behalf of a groaning creation, marks us, by its possession, as his children. “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God bath revealed them unto us [the church] by his Spirit. … Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”—I Cor. 2:9,12
How we rejoice in the knowledge received through the Holy Spirit! One is constantly awed and thrilled that even a babe in Christ enjoys a far clearer understanding of the divine plan of the ages, of the ransom sacrifice, of restitution, of the high calling, of the kingdom, and of the prophecies, than do the highly educated apart from the revealing power of the Holy Spirit.
How can this be? The apostle explains the matter in his letter to the church at Corinth: “Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty … that no flesh should glory in his presence.” (I Cor. 1:26,27,29) The Lord rarely calls the mighty ones of this world. No, the Lord calls the lowly, the meek, the humble; those possessing a simple, childlike faith. To these, and to these alone, he reveals the mysteries of the kingdom.
This, indeed, is a miracle. It is one of the most thrilling of all the Lord’s arrangements for his people! To know and understand these precious truths is confirmation of our sonship; it is assurance that the seed has fallen on good ground, and that it is being received into good and honest hearts. It is evidence that the great God of the universe has begun a good work in us; that he has called us, and is dealing with us as his children. Is this not a marvelous thing? Therefore we can say, with the apostle, that “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew.” (I Cor. 2:7-8) But we have the mind of Christ, and he has revealed these things unto us by his spirit. For unto us “it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”
This understanding of the mysteries of God’s plan of the ages, this knowledge of times and seasons is, of course, a source of sweet comfort and encouragement to all of the Lord’s consecrated people, and every day we turn grateful hearts to the Heavenly Father for having revealed to us his plans and purposes, especially in the present condition of the world. But the Scriptures reveal that God’s purpose in thus opening our spiritual eyes is not merely to comfort his people in troublous times.
In his second epistle to Timothy, the apostle writes that “all scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16-17) Dr. Strong suggests that the thought of this passage is that one should strive to be thoroughly equipped as a teacher. The apostle continues this in his following verses: “I charge thee therefore … preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.”—II Tim. 4:1-3
In II Corinthians 5:18 the apostle states the matter very clearly. He tells us that something else has been given unto us. He admonishes us that we have work to do. He says that “God … hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Let us notice the logical sequence of this statement. Having first reconciled us to himself by Christ, God then gave to us the ministry of reconciliation, having put in us (margin) the Word of reconciliation. The great God of the universe, he who is from everlasting to everlasting, the Creator of all things, has invited us to be associates in this great plan of reconciling the world! This grand project of reconciliation, in which it is our privilege to have a part, begins with the church in this Gospel Age. It will carry over into the thousand-year kingdom reign of Christ on behalf of the whole world of mankind, when the Heavenly Father will place at the disposal of the church all his power, wisdom, love, and justice, which are even now operating on behalf of his children. But our present part in this great work of reconciliation is to preach the kingdom, and to grow in grace and knowledge.
In the parable, the Master tells us that “The seed is the Word of God.” (Luke 8:11) And in the last verse of the parable he makes it clear that the “good ground” on which the seed fell represents those who “in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15) Thus the Lord instructs us that his purpose in planting the seed in the good ground was that it should bring forth fruit. He then continues: “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed: but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” He then concludes, significantly: “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath [used], to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not [used], from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”
Shortly after having been baptized at Jordan and tempted of the Devil for forty days, Jesus returned to Galilee. On the Sabbath he went into the synagogue, “as his custom was,” and read aloud from Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 4:17-21): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Closing the book, he said to them: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” The Lord here announced himself as the foretold Anointed One, and proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord, the period during which those who make up the members of that Anointed One may offer acceptable sacrifice for sin by demonstrating their faith in the ransom sacrifice, and following in the Master’s steps. Angered at what they considered his presumptuous words, his hearers rose up and thrust him out of the city, and would have killed him. In no wise intimidated, however, our Lord went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and continued to teach. So it went for three-and-a-half years, with our Lord preaching the acceptable year, the good news of the kingdom, enduring bitter persecution even as he went about doing good, laying down his life in sacrifice on behalf of a sinful world.
Thus did our Leader, our Captain, fulfill his consecration according to the prophetic testimony: “Lo, in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God.” In complete devotion to doing, not his own will, but the will of his Father which is in heaven, he went about telling forth the glorious message of salvation. And it is our privilege, in turn, as laborers together with him, to sow the seed, which is the Word of God; for unto us has been given the ministry of reconciliation.
But even more has been given to us! In Philippians 1:29 we read: “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Paul had many sweet memories of the little class there at Philippi, and his special love and tenderness for the brethren there shines out through the entire epistle. It is especially evident in his greeting to them: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:3-6) How well the apostle remembered that first day! This little class owed its establishment to the loving providences of the Lord. While in Troas, Paul had a vision in which a man of Macedonia appealed to him, saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” The apostle was ever alert to the leadings of the Lord. No trouble was too great, no journey too long, no promised reward too small, if perchance he might find one of the Lord’s little ones. And so it was, after a long voyage by ship, he found himself in Philippi. On the Sabbath, Paul and Silas went down to the riverside where the people were in the habit of going for prayer, and they spoke to the women gathered there. The account tells us that “a certain woman named Lydia, … which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended the things which were spoken of Paul. And … she was baptized, and her household.” We can imagine how Paul’s heart rejoiced, how the trials and the weariness of the journey fled from his bones, as he saw the seed fall gently into the good ground of Lydia’s heart and bring forth fruit so soon!
It was at Philippi, also, that another heart-warming experience was granted to Paul. Having delivered a certain young woman from the spirit that possessed her, Paul aroused the anger of her greedy masters, and he and Silas were beaten with many stripes and cast into prison, with their feet made fast in stocks. At midnight a great earthquake shook the prison doors open, and loosed all the prisoners from their bonds. After the trembling keeper of the prison had been assured by Paul that all the prisoners were accounted for, he said: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:14-34) The keeper and all his house were baptized, and joyfully joined the others in that newly formed little class there in Philippi. No wonder Paul’s heart was warm toward the Philippian brethren!
And now, from Rome, once more in chains, but still glorying in his lot, Paul is writing to his old friends at Philippi. He was anxious that those to whom it had been his privilege first to open the Scriptures should go on, and bring forth the desired fruitage. He writes: “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” And then he mentions his chains. But he hastens to reassure them: Do not feel sorry for me, brethren, for my imprisonment has encouraged the brethren here at Rome to speak forth the Word of truth without fear.
What was it that had encouraged the brethren at Rome to tell out the kingdom message? What was it that gave them courage to associate themselves openly with this troublemaker, Paul? It was Paul’s own remarkable courage, even in the face of persecution and, in the end, death. It was Paul’s own Christ-like example of preaching the truth against all opposition and difficulties. He was not one to hide his light under a bushel. Even under the weight of chains, he held high the torch of truth! And, Paul continues, this privilege of suffering for Christ’s sake will also be our privilege. “For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”—Phil. 1:29
The word “given” as used in this statement of Paul’s is translated from a Greek word which means much more than merely to present. Dr. Strong indicates its meaning as “to grant as a favor.” The Diaglott renders this passage: “Because it has been graciously allowed you not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake.” Now, to understand the mysteries of the kingdom; to see our Lord Jesus by faith in all his glory; to receive the justification that comes by faith; to have our sins covered; to come into blessed sonship to the Father; to have a part in the ministry of reconciliation—all this is to us, indeed, unquestioned favor and privilege. The world, of course, would not consider it to be “a gracious favor” to be allowed to suffer! “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor. 2:14) But we, the Lord’s people, have the mind of Christ; and we discern that to be justified, or reckoned righteous, so that our little sacrifices may be counted in with our Lord’s in filling up that which is behind of the afflictions and sufferings of Christ, is a high privilege indeed. Our joyful acceptance of these sufferings brings God’s witness to us that we are his children. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:17) We can say with Paul that we “reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18) No wonder, therefore, that the apostle so soberly, so earnestly, implores us to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”—Eph. 4:1-6
How can we hope to walk worthy of that high calling, we, who are so continually conscious of our own unworthiness and imperfections? Having admonished the Lord’s people to walk worthy of their vocation, the apostle seems to have anticipated our constraint in laying hold on this privilege, for he immediately informs us in the following verse of the only way in which we could ever hope to accomplish it. He says: “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”—Eph. 4:7
While Paul was imprisoned at Rome, the Hebrew brethren appear to have faltered in their earlier understanding and faith, and perhaps had even reverted to their former reliance on the works of the Law; for we find Paul admonishing them to give the more earnest heed to the things which they had heard, lest they should let them slip. (Heb. 2:1) We then find Paul patiently relaying the foundation blocks of their faith. He shows them that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin, these animal sacrifices having merely pictured the “better sacrifices” of the Gospel Age, beginning with the one true sacrifice for sin, the Lord Jesus. Then he urges them to enter again into that rest of faith in the finished work of Christ which had earlier been theirs.
During the course of this lesson Paul encourages them to seek the Lord’s grace in the matter. He suggests that they should “come boldly unto the throne of grace,” that they “may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) Is our faith weak? Are we always conscious of our imperfections and failings? Do we feel unworthy of our holy vocation? The only proper course for those who are perplexed or uncertain about any phase of their Christian lives is to come confidently to the throne of grace! To all who thus appeal to him through Christ for spiritual help and guidance, our Heavenly Father hearkens and, as his wisdom orders, supplies the needed grace, encouragement, and wisdom.
When we receive God’s grace under such circumstances, we receive his favor, his love, his guidance, his blessing. And with what loving bounty our Father pours out his promised blessings in our time of need! Truly do we find that his grace is sufficient for us. Only thus may we once more tightly gather about us his robe of righteousness, and hope to walk worthy of our vocation.
But to receive God’s grace does not mean merely to take in his favor and blessing. For there is a deeper meaning to this word grace—a broader implication. Our Heavenly Father does not desire us to be merely the joyful recipients of his benefits and favors. He expects us to respond to his favors. He bestows his proffered blessings to enable us to carry out our covenant of sacrifice in the perfecting of our characters, in the doing of his will, that we might bring forth fruit, with patience.
In defining this word “grace,” Dr. Strong uses such words as benefit, favor, gift. He further amplifies its meaning as “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.” This goes far beyond merely receiving! This calls for active response from those who have been blessed. The dictionary definition (Funk and Wagnall) of this word is just as eloquent. Here we are told, in almost inspired words, that grace is “the free, unmerited favor and love of God; and the influence of God operating in man to regenerate or strengthen; strength to do something, as, grace to perform a duty, or to endure affliction.”
With this understanding of the word “grace,” how meaningful are those expressions of the apostle, when he says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” In other words, the Apostle is saying, “May the blessing and favor and love of God through Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and then, through appreciation and gratitude, may it prompt active, positive, and sacrificial expression in your lives.” Truly we have been the blessed recipients of the free, unmerited favor and love of God! And just as truly should we, therefore, strive daily and diligently to show forth our gratitude to the Heavenly Father by walking in the steps of our Captain, serving the Lord, the truth, and the brethren.
How much of the free, unmerited favor and love of God have we received? Consider the apostle’s account of the marvelous faith and endurance of God’s holy prophets, and of the Ancient Worthies. Think of the relatively limited understanding of God’s plans and purposes which it was their lot to enjoy. Call to mind the mocking, the scourgings, the afflictions, and the violence which they suffered—through all of which their faith and loyalty to God never failed. Then recall that “these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” What a humbling thought!
Do we receive this “better thing” than the Ancient Worthies receive because we are better than they? Assuredly not! It is by God’s grace. Truly, unto us much has been given. Let us ever be mindful of the words of our Lord when he said (Luke 12:48), “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”