“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. They said yes, but I’m not so quick to answer.
The House Owner: Matthew 13:51-53
Thoughts about serving others
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Jesus asks the question, “have you understood,” for a purpose — he is willing to explain, to expand, to clarify because he’s not always going to be sitting there next to his disciples. Jesus is aware of his timeline even though his disciples have no idea how their lives will play out. The answer here is simply, “yes.” That’s not always the answer, and even though Jesus is quick to explain to them (see Matthew 16:9), in this case it seems they get the message. Perhaps it’s because the parables are short and concise. I wonder if we make things too complicated at times, confusing those who would seek Christ further if we would just stop talking and listen, ask the questions, “does this make sense?”
In reviewing several articles I found on this passage, it seems that Jesus is teaching his disciples how to teach. For example,
Perhaps the most interesting translation of this passage comes from the paraphrased edition of the Bible through The Message:
Ah, now I can say I understand with some confidence. It is interesting to review this passage in this manner as we have studied the Old Testament carefully over the course of the last 18 months. Understanding the old makes the new much more provocative, much more real and certainly much more intriguing to those who come to church to learn.