6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, 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 8:6-10 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here we have the disciples’ question, and our Saviour’s reply: their inquiry is concerning the sense and signification of the parable, they own their ignorance, and desire better information. It is no shame for the best of ministers, yes, for the best of men, to acknowledge their own ignorance of the mysteries of religion; and to attend upon the means of instruction, in order to their further information. In our Saviour’s answer, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, etc.
Observe, 1. That the doctrines of the gospel are great mysteries.
2. That it is an invaluable privilege rightly to understand and know gospel mysteries.
3. That this privilege all are not sharers in, and partakers of, but only those to whom it is given.
4. That it is a righteous thing with God to give such persons over to further blindness and ignorance in spiritual things, who willfully reject the truth, and shut their eyes against the evidence of it.
The Pharisees had all along shut their eyes, and said, they would not see; and now Christ closes their eyes judicially, and says they shall not see.
BURKITT | Luke 8:1 | Luke 8:2-3 | Luke 8:4-5 | Luke 8:6-10 | Luke 8:11-15 | Luke 8:16-18 | Luke 8:19-21 | Luke 8:22-25 | Luke 8:26-40 | Luke 8:41-42 | Luke 8:43-48 | Luke 8:49-56 | KJV Comm