Jesus’ response to the disciples’ question (Matthew 13:11) stresses how God will reveal the secrets of the kingdom to the disciples, but not to the unbelieving people. The reign of peace has not yet completely broken through (see Matthew 10:26; Matthew 12:28), so some of its aspects, especially the relationship of the Father and the Son (see Matthew 11:25–27) remain hidden.
The crowds, while admiring Jesus’ deeds, do not acknowledge him as the Messiah, so the secrets of the kingdom have not been given to them, for only knowing Jesus brings a true connection to heaven. Through John’s preaching and Jesus’ teaching, the disciples expected the kingdom that was at hand, placed their trust in Jesus, and bound themselves to him. Jesus teaches them that in knowing him they gain access to the depths of the kingdom of heaven. God gave them the key to his kingdom’s treasures by giving them faith in Jesus, as opposed to the unbelief of the crowds.
Jesus’ response to the question of the disciples regarding parables (Matthew 13:11) highlights that God will indeed reveal the secrets of the kingdom of God to the disciples, but not to the unbelieving people. The reign of peace has not yet completely broken through (see Matthew 10:26 andMatthew 12:28), and as such the different aspects thereof, in particular the central relationship between the Father and the Son (see Matthew 11:25–27) still remains a hidden secret.1
The crowds, even though they admire Jesus’ deeds, refuse to acknowledge him as the one sent by God. Therefore Jesus says that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has not been given to them. After all, without acknowledging Jesus, there can be no true connection to heaven. On the basis of John’s preaching, the disciples expected the kingdom that was at hand, and they placed their trust in Jesus. As disciples, they bound themselves to him. Jesus teaches them that in knowing him they gain access to the depths of the kingdom of heaven. God entrusted them with the key to the treasures of his kingdom by granting them faith in Jesus, which contrasts with the unbelief of the crowds.2
11 Jésus leur répondit: Parce qu'il vous a été donné de connaître les mystères du royaume des cieux, et que cela ne leur a pas été donné.