As many of you know, Jesus frequently spoke in parables. On one occasion he was asked the question, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (Matthew 13:10) The answer Jesus gave is not what we would expect. Here is his answer, "Because, it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been given." Wow! Jesus says that there are certain truths which have been given to his followers and kept from others who were listening to him teach.
To explain this further, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9 where it says, "Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand." This message comes as a pronouncement as judgment against a people who have a habit of not putting into practice what God has taught them. And so this pronouncement of Jesus, rather than being a means of clarifying truth is meant to hide the truth. God does not put up with our obstinance and disobedience forever. He warns us in a parallel passage in Luke 8:18 that we should pay attention to how we hear. "For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."
So how has your listening been? Do you really listen to God with an ear to hear and a will to obey. Or do you listen carelessly, not paying much attention. If it is the latter, Jesus himself says that you will not receive more as far as spiritual knowledge is concerned, and even what you have will betaken away. That can't be a good thing.
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