Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 4 Study # 2
June 16, 2020
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(164)
NASB
22 "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has [
anything] been secret, but that it would come to light.
23 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
- I. The Overall Import of the Parable.
- A. It has to do with the purpose of "a lamp": to shine light throughout the room.
- B. It has to do with the purpose of "hiding" things and "making things secret": to be revealed and to be exposed by light.
- C. It has to do with whether, or not, "ears" exist for genuine "hearing".
- II. The Larger Context.
- A. Prior to this parable is the "mystery" revealed by the "fundamental parable": that fruitfulness is determined by the condition of the "landing places" upon which seed falls; and that those "conditions" simply exist as a fundamental part of the way things are; the seed is the Word of God.
- B. After this parable is the "mystery" revealed by the caution that "the measure one chooses is what determines what is measured to that one" with the consequence that those who possess get more and those who do not possess have even what they possess taken away.
- C. Thus, this parable stands between "fruitfulness by reason of established conditions" and "what actually determines those conditions". This "in-between" parable, then, sets forth a most basic reality: what is currently "hidden" and "secret" will have its "day in the light" so that it will make understanding possible for those who have eyes/ears to receive the light.
- III. The Details Continued.
- A. In the translation, the question mark at the end of the first sentence is created because the meti at the beginning of the sentence is an interrogative particle that expects a negative response.
- B. "...for not a hidden [thing] is (exists) except for the purpose that it might be made manifest, neither comes into being a carefully hidden [thing] BUT that it should come into a manifest state".
- 1. Both of the words "hidden" and "manifest" are repeated for the sake of emphasis.
- 2. The issue is that "hiddenness" is a prerequisite for clear "manifestation".
- a. The background for this "hiddenness" theme.
- 1) Jesus was teaching in parables (4:2).
- 2) The disciples did not understand two things.
- a) What the first parable meant (4:13). Luke 8:9 clarifies that it was the content of the first parable that they did not understand.
- b) Why Jesus was resorting to parables "to teach many things" (4:2 and 4:10). Matthew 13:10 clarifies that it was Jesus' decision to teach in parables that they did not understand.
- 3) Thus, it was the "hidden truth" (the mystery of The Kingdom of The God) that was being kept from "those who are outside" (4:11) that caused the disciples to ask Jesus their questions and is the issue of Jesus' teaching that "The Lamp comes to make manifest". A parallel to this reality is expressed in Daniel 12:4 and 12:8-10.
- a) The "hidden" revelation(s) is/are required to be expressed in words before those words can be understood because other factors hinge upon the words whose meanings are not clear: prophecy uttered before the time of the fulfillment is the biblical apologetic for the identity of Yahweh as the One true God (Isaiah 46:9-10). When the fulfillment comes, the meaning of the prophetic words is "made manifest".
- b) The historical "coming of The Lamp" (Jesus, The Lamp (Revelation 21:23 and 22:5)), came as The Word (John 1:14) to be The Light of the World (John 8:12) and to generate disciples who would become "the lights of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16; the themes in this text are the same as Mark's text ) by virtue of their impact in the world by word and deed.
- b. Jesus is saying that "hiding things" is an action taken so that when they become "unhidden" there can be a "manifest" (clear) grasp of those "hidden" realities.
- c. The strong implication is that there are some things that are "kept back" ("hidden") because there are certain other things that must become clearly understood before these things.
- d. "The Lamp" is "The Word" and certain particulars must be "set in place" in the darkness so that when "The Lamp" is set upon its stand the "illumination" will be significantly impactful. The indisputable fact regarding "words" which have a meaning that is "hidden" in the beginning, but made clear later "when the Lamp comes", is established in every discipline known of man: word upon word, line upon line, paragraph upon paragraph; etc. [Example: the process of learning Hebrew as an English speaking, 20th century, American; there are many English words which have "meaning" only as other words bring the light to bear upon them. Having words without understanding is necessary for understanding].
- C. "If any one possesses an ear to hear, let him hear".
- 1. It is fundamentally the "point" of an "ear" to allow hearing unto understanding.
- 2. But, many "ears" have already been "plugged" (Isaiah 35:5; Zechariah 7:11) so that the ear-function is denied.
- a. This is an intentional reference backwards to Mark 4:9-12.
- b. It is a continuing revelation that the lack of ability to hear is rooted in a prior, evil, commitment (Luke 11:34 and John 5:44). Lust for the approval of men is deadly beyond degree (Galatians 1:10).
