THAT was a startling question that the Lord Jesus asked his disciples at the close of one of his longest recorded addresses: —
“HAVE YE UNDERSTOOD ALL THESE THINGS?” Matthew 13:51.
Had they been inattentive, or had they been listening in a sort of detached, disinterested way, it would have been rather awkward. Had they been ruminating on point number two while their teacher was stating point number three it would have been equally unfortunate for He inquired: — Have ye understood all these things?”
Happily they had followed His wonderful discourse with intelligent interest, for without hesitation they gave an affirmative reply.
Now shall we have a friendly, heart-to-heart talk about this? When we read our Scripture portion day by day, or when we give ourselves to the more intensive study of the Word of God, do we ask ourselves, or, to put it in a better form, do we hear the Lord asking us: — “Have ye understood all these things? “If so, do we, can we answer, “Yea, Lord?” Take for example this very chapter which is full of the most precious teaching. Let us put ourselves in the place of the disciples, let us imagine ourselves sitting at the feet of our blessed Lord, and, as we read, fancy that we are literally listening to Him speaking to us. Then comes the question. Could we reply “Yea, Lord”?
If not, what do we do? Do we console ourselves by saying “That is beyond my comprehension, I must leave it to those who know more about it,” and thus pass on to something which we consider is much more easily understood; or do we ask the Lord to open our understanding, and linger over it in His presence till we can reply as did the disciples?
Similarly, if we read an article in Edification, or some other magazine or book, do we dismiss it with the remark: “That is too deep for me,” or do we read it again and again till we do understand it?
We confess that when we were young we did not quite appreciate those speakers who were wont to say: — “I desire to be very simple so that the young may understand,” we liked to listen to some of the giants in the truth who lived in those days and whose ministry we were unable at the moment to understand, but which we determined that by the Lord’s help we would understand later.
We read years ago of a lady who took her son to a professor and said she would be grateful if he would take him in hand and judge the measure of his intelligence. The professor handed the young fellow a bone, told him to look at it for an hour and tell him what he saw in it. At the end of that time the would-be student said he saw nothing. “Look at it for another hour” said the professor; this time the lad made some discovery. “Continue,” said his teacher, and after prolonged observation the seemingly dull scholar was able to report many wonderful things that he had noticed in a dry and seemingly uninteresting bone.
We are afraid it has to be admitted that we do not always display that keenness in studying the Word of God and the things of God that is shown by many a student in analyzing the profundities of his professor; or by the youth in the commercial house in solving the problems of trade; or by the smart business lady in unravelling the numberless intricacies of her calling. They do so because they know that in the world they must either get on or get out, move up or go under. Shall we be less diligent in divine things? in the things that matter? in the things that will fit us to be men of God here, and which will enable us to lay up now that which we shall enjoy forever?
Now let us note one or two things. (1) There are some things that we never shall understand; e.g. the marvelous love of God; the knowledge surpassing love of Christ; the holy mystery of Christ’s adorable Person, but of these things we can ever know more and more and still more, and the more we know the more will our hearts overflow in praise and worship.
2. We cannot understand divine things by the natural mind for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). Let us avoid using human reason in seeking to understand the things of God.
3. We can always count upon the Lord to enable us to understand His things. In His wonderful meeting with His disciples after He rose from the dead, we are told that “then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45). In encouraging his son in the faith, Timothy, to read, to study, and to understand, Paul wrote: — “Think of what I say, for the Lord will give thee understanding in all things” (2 Tim. 2:7. N. Tr.). We have such a patient, gracious, long-suffering Teacher, who so greatly desires our constant progress in divine things.
Just before we close, let us look again at Matt. 13. Having received this encouraging answer the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: — “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” We read, we study, we enjoy, we lay up choice treasure; but we do not keep it locked up, we bring it forth. A person who has something that he or she treasures, shows it and speaks of it if with becoming modesty, with pardonable pride. In fact he can enthuse others with his own enthusiasm regarding it. Why then should we be slow to speak of the things of God? Why, when we do so, should we do so with bated breath? If we are living in them; growing by them; if we esteem such as choice treasure, “More to be desired... than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psa. 19:10); then shall we not with holy enthusiasm bring forth out of our treasure things new and old? Thus we shall show our gratitude to the Lord on the one hand, and our desire on the other hand to share the good things with others.
By the time this appears in print those of us who are still young will be thinking about our program for the winter. The line of study will be decided and attendance at the classes will be arranged, all to fit us to be more efficient in our respective vocations. Let us not forget to include the study of the Holy Scriptures, the gathering with our fellow-christians around the Word of God, and that which will enable us more consistently to follow our adorable Lord, and will maintain us in a condition of suitability to Himself, so that when He comes we shall greet Him as one well known.
May the Lord graciously give us real desire, divine energy, spiritual understanding, and Spirit-begotten enthusiasm for Himself and for His things.
W. BRAMWELL DICK.