But why was it given to His disciples and not to the crowds? In order to explain this, we need to understand the words Jesus quoted (Matthew 13:14-15) from the Hebrew prophets (Isaiah 6:9-10). Isaiah lived in a time of sin and was surrounded by people with hardened hearts, expressed in their refusal to repent and return to God and follow His ways. This explains their spiritual blindness and inability to perceive and understand. Jesus referred to both the prophet Jeremiah (7:11) and Isaiah (56:7) and with it drew a parallel to His own time and the condition of the people's hearts involved in false ways of worship in the Holy Place (Matthew 21:13). He quoted Isaiah's words (Isaiah 29:13) when pointing out the deficiency in the hearts of the religious leasers who abolished the Word of God by traditions (Matthew 15:1-9). Hence, the verdict that they are 'blind guides' (v 14). They cannot see themselves and therefore cannot guide others. The judgment of God on their condition of proud and stubborn hearts was spiritual blindness, the inability to understand divine truth. What applied to the time of Jeremiah and Isaiah, applied to such people in Jesus' day and applies to us today. Humility is the key to escape spiritual blindness and understand God's truth. God gives grace only to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5). Repentance is for the humble who then receive grace; hardened hearts are of those who are proud, and therefore, those whom God resists. Greatness in the Kingdom was illustrated by Jesus through the humility of a child (Matthew 18:1-4; see Q5). Note how Jesus quoted Psalm 8:2 when referring to child-like humility for true worship (Matthew 21:16). Once humility is lost, grace is lost too. Repentance requires humility. His disciples, as many other humble Jews at the time, and later Gentiles, received the Kingdom with humility; they repented and turned to God and received healing and spiritual sight through the Messiah and His Message. Their humility opened their hearts, ears and eyes to understand, hear and see! The same applies to us today: humility gives us grace. It is not that God doesn't want to reveal Himself and His word to humanity. It is rather the case that proud hearts blind people to the truth. It is was symbolic act to besmear a blind person's eyes in order to make him see, as a sign of judgment on those whose proud hearts prevent them from seeing spiritual truth (see John 9). It is an allusion to Isaiah besmearing people's eyes in judgment for their pride and rebellion (Isaiah 6:9-10). Jesus came to reverse that judgment and give grace to the humble by giving them spiritual sight.

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Jesus spoke several parables explaining the nature of God's Kingdom and how people should relate to it. Humility in repentance and child-like teachability are the first steps to understanding God and His Kingdom. Not only did Jesus quote Isaiah 6 to explain the reason why He spoke in parables, He also quoted a verse from Psalm 78 to explain why (see Matthew 13:34-35). The 'parables' from God's mouth, and the things 'kept secret' (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:35) refer, in context, again to the condition of people's hearts regarding understanding God and His Word, and how to relate to Him properly. God's 'law' comes from His 'mouth,' to which people should 'give ear' (Psalm 78:1), that is, pay attention in order to understand. God's Word has been given to the fathers and passed on to their children and generations of offspring (vv 3-4), a law appointed by God as a 'testimony' (v 5) so people should keep it and have hope in God (vv 6-7). This spoke of God's purpose for giving the Law. However, the psalmist then goes on to warn of hearts not 'aright' with God, 'stubborn and rebellious' (v 8), refusing to walk in God's ways (v 10) and forgetting His ways (v 11). Despite God's great works for His people (vv 12-16), they chose sin and rebellion over humility and obedience (vv 17-33). Their response to their God, 'rock' and Redeemer' (v 35), was wrong because 'their heart was not steadfast with Him' (v 37). Yet God remained faithful to them (v 38) despite their bad condition of heart (vv 39ff). God had kept His side of the covenant (vv 43-55), yet His people continued in backsliding and idolatry, which had serious consequences (vv 56-64). Despite all of this, God rose up to defend and vindicate the faithful remnant of His people and chose the tribe of the messiah (Judah) and would chose a David-type messiah over His people (vv 65-72). This was fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David and Messiah of Israel from the tribe of Judah (see Matthew 2:4-6; Luke 1:30-33).

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Conclusion

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The mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven is the revelation of the nature of God's Kingdom and how He relates to humanity created in His image. It is the liberating truth that comes to those who relate to God with humility. They will understand God's word through His Messiah and be part of His people. The mysteries are, therefore, not some 'new revelations' nobody has ever heard of, or some mysterious 'secret knowledge,' but that which has been written and revealed in Scripture. It is understood by those with the right kind of heart towards God.

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God's people have always been encouraged to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8; Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Matthew 18:1-5). Once we truly understand God's Kingdom, we can live a lifestyle pleasing to God, one with spiritual sight and that is heavenly-minded.

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