Posted by Chris on 1/8/2007, 3:48 am I was asked by a friend to start looking at the word Mystery, and find out a definition from Bible usage, and have started by looking at the definitions given in the concordance. Collecting the list of references, and am now working through them individually looking at the context of each one. Young’s analytical concordance definition: What is known to the initiated Englishman’s:- Secret, of the previously un-revealed truths of God and His Kingdom. Now to find out what I can from the context:- Occurrences one, two and three are in the first three gospels, (Matt. 13:11, Mar. 4:11, Luk.8:10) and are the same. Looking at the verse in Matthew and it’s context, chapter 12 reveals the hardness of heart, and unbelief that the Lord was surrounded by, He was rejected both as prophet, priest and King, and accused of doing what He did in the power of the evil one, which He reveals to be blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, for which there could be no forgiveness. Then at the end of the chapter his Mother and Brothers arrive calling for him to come out to them, and reading Mark 3:21 & 31 it was with the express purpose of seizing Him and taking him away, because they thought that He was ’beside Himself. So, an horrendous picture of betrayal and rejection is revealed here, which is significant in relation to the change that comes into His ministry, for He then begins to speak to the multitude in parables, which contain the mysteries of the Kingdom, but need interpretation in order to be understood. His reaction at the end of chapter 12 is significant, because after refusing to respond to the expressed desire of His family to see Him, ‘He stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.‘(Mat 12: 49 & 50) This reveals not only that He knew the reason for the visit of His family that day, which was contrary to the will of God, but also reveals the reason why He revealed the truths of the Kingdom to His disciples, because they were doing the will of His Father. Note: The action of His family here remind me of the reaction of Peter, to the news given to the disciples on the way to Jerusalem, that the Lord was to be betrayed, suffer pain, humiliation and death there, “... Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. ’ (Mat 16:22) and our Lord’s reaction, “ .. He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (23) Both reactions, those of His family and Peter’s, were born, probably, from concern for His safety, knowing the reactions of the leaders of the Jews who were plotting to have Him put to death. But it was of the flesh, and the flesh cannot please God, it was contrary to His plan and purpose, and would have been a snare if allowed to have it’s way. In relation to the parables too, I think of the fact that the natural man cannot discern the things of the spirit for they are foolish unto him, he needs the Living Word by His Spirit to reveal the truths of the written Word to him. Thank you
81.151.48.95
Hello there,
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The Strong’s definition for the word Mystery = [Gr. musterion from ’muo’ (to shut the mouth) a secret or mystery - through the idea of silence]
These are the definitions given of the word itself in the Greek.
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Chris
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