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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
12
For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It is entirely plausible for one who possesses to accrue more. Conversely, it is impossible for something to be removed from one who lacks. How can this be the case? If what he lacks is taken away, what is actually lost to him? The reality is this: a person endowed with reason who fails to administer justice in a manner that honors God, and instead uses his intellect solely for temporal pursuits, appears, despite his possessions, to be lacking. Even though he may have physical sight, it could be said that he is blind. Ultimately, one who offers nothing to God is truly devoid of all."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To prevent some from falling into despair and others from becoming indifferent upon learning about the mysteries of the kingdom, notice how He illustrates that the responsibility lies with us: “For whosoever hath,” He declares, “to him shall be given and increased; and whosoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.” Though these statements may seem somewhat enigmatic, they convey a fundamental truth. Essentially, it implies that those who genuinely seek and strive to attain the gifts of grace will receive all that God intends to provide, while those who lack this yearning and effort will find that even what they possess will not benefit them, and God’s gifts will not be granted to them. “From him shall be taken away,” He states, “even that which he has.” This does not indicate that God actively removes from him, but rather that He withholds His blessings. We can relate this to our own experiences; when we notice someone listening to us with disinterest, we eventually cease our dialogue, understanding that persistence will only deepen their apathy. Conversely, when someone engages with zeal in our teachings, we are eager to share more insights with them. It is accurately noted that “and that which he has” refers to someone who, in truth, possesses nothing of value. He further clarifies His message by stating, “And from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”"},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To those who possess, even more will be added; while from those lacking, even the little they have will be taken away. This principle applies not merely as a measure of justice, but specifically concerning the apostles who placed their trust in Christ. From the Jewish people who rejected the Son of God, even the good they naturally inherited has been stripped away. Truly, those who lack the source of wisdom cannot grasp anything with true understanding."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Holy Spirit takes residence in those who are eager to learn and open to receiving heavenly truths, fostering the gifts within them. Conversely, those who have been given a glimmer of light but have failed to cultivate it will find that even the little they once possessed is entirely extinguished and withdrawn. This was the experience of the Jews; upon receiving the illumination of the law, they did not cultivate it, and when the Truth arrived, their lack of perception caused them to lose even what they had gained before."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"For everyone who searches finds. ‘Ask,’ He stated, ‘and it will be granted to you.’ Observe how the Lord shared a parable, and it was only the disciples who understood it because of their eagerness to learn. Hence, we can conclude that to those who are diligent, understanding is provided and multiplied, while from those who lack diligence and the necessary contemplation, even what they believe they possess will be taken away. In other words, if someone has even a small ember of goodness, they will snuff it out unless they nurture it with the spirit and ignite it through spiritual deeds."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"To those who possess faith, understanding of divine mysteries will be granted along with a wealth of insight; conversely, to those lacking faith, even the blessings they have received from God will be removed. Each individual is endowed with God’s gifts, varying in form and nature. Those who conduct themselves righteously not only gain this knowledge, but they also receive a generous portion of it; however, those who behave otherwise not only miss out on this wisdom, but the gifts they once held are also withdrawn from them."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Whoever truly desires and strives to attain the gifts of divine grace with a simple and humble heart that believes and listens to My word will receive these gifts abundantly. God will provide him with all things, and these blessings will increase. He will delve ever deeper into the mysteries of God, gaining greater understanding and insight. However, anyone who lacks the desire and effort to accept such grace will find himself without any gifts. Not only will he receive nothing, but what he possesses by nature—what he believes to be his rightful entitlement—will ultimately be of no value, as it lacks the life-giving blessing of God and will, in fact, bring about his condemnation. This reflects human behavior: those who refuse to listen will continue to hear nothing, while those who engage passionately will be enlightened even further. In life, the diligent work to enhance their resources and grow wealthy, but the slothful will squander all they have left."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"To him who has, more will be given\\": this reflection highlights a general truth: the diligent individual becomes increasingly prosperous, while the idle tend to forfeit what little they possess. When considered in the context of spiritual and moral assets, such as divine insight and virtue, this adage speaks to you, Apostles. The understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven that you have received allows you to explore these truths more deeply, gaining increasing clarity and embracing them more fully. In contrast, the masses would have completely lost their scant understanding of these mysteries had they not been provided with guidance that resonates more appropriately with them. In essence, those who earnestly seek and strive for the gifts of grace will receive from God, while those who lack such desire and effort will find their current holdings of little value, as God will withhold His blessings from them. It is rightly noted that what he possesses is merely an illusion of worth; for even this semblance of possession is no true possession at all."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After Jesus completed His parables, His disciples approached Him and inquired, “Why do You communicate with them in parables?” Christ replied, “I speak to them in parables because they see but do not perceive, and hear but do not comprehend. They are not truly blind or deaf, but rather their understanding has been compromised by misguided teachers, such as the scribes and Pharisees, leading them to nearly forfeit their ability to grasp the signs they have witnessed and the teachings they have received. Thus, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them, which states: ‘You shall hear and not understand; and look with your eyes, but not see; for the heart of this people has become calloused, and they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I may heal them’ (Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10). The moral depravity of many among them is so profound that they intentionally become deaf to the truth and shut their eyes to the remarkable signs before them, as if fearing that otherwise, they might turn to God and receive salvation. Nevertheless, Christ does not reject them; instead, He imparts His teachings concerning the kingdom of heaven, though only in figurative language, allowing them the opportunity to discern the deeper meanings for themselves if they so desire. For those who genuinely yearn to uncover the message hidden within the parables and the teachings of Christ, such understanding will be granted and will grow further within them; yet, those who lack such desire will remain spiritually deaf to Christ's teachings, regardless of how they are presented. The knowledge of God, inherent to humanity at every stage of spiritual maturity, will slip away from such individuals as if deemed unnecessary. However, to the Apostles—those who forsook all worldly matters to follow Christ, thus nurturing their faith in Him and a true intent to embrace His teachings—the insights granted to them allow them to perceive what others, lacking faith and yearning, hear without truly hearing and see without genuinely seeing or understanding. They are blessed with the privilege to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Despite its remarkable simplicity and clarity, even the disciples struggled to comprehend its significance. When the Savior returned to Peter's home in Capernaum, they eagerly sought His interpretation. Their inquiry revealed that the parable had profoundly affected them, stirring a thought within that yearned for understanding. Consequently, the Savior did not hesitate to provide the apostles, who were to be the future stewards of His mission, with a comprehensive explanation of the parable. \\n\\nWhen questioned about His use of parables in instructing the crowds, the Savior explained that this was the only effective way to convey His message to a people who, in the words of Scripture, \\"who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, nor understand.\\" Citing the prophet Isaiah, He noted that \\"the heart of these people is hardened, and they hear with their ears, and shut their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts.\\" He intended that these outward symbols would remain etched in their memories, providing a means for deeper understanding when they were more receptive. To the selected disciples was granted the privilege “to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,” allowing the Savior to also clarify the external images of the parable to them as messengers of these mysteries."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After dismissing the crowds, the Lord entered the house and was alone with His disciples. The apostles and others with Him approached and asked, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He replied, “The reason is that to you has been granted the understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them, it has not been given. For those outside, everything is in parables; this is so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them, which states: ‘By hearing you will hear, and will not understand; and seeing you will see, and will not perceive’ (Is. 6:9-10). This prophecy, as quoted by the Evangelist Matthew from the Septuagint, originally referred to the people contemporary with the prophet Isaiah. Not only were the Saviour's contemporaries no better than their forebears, but they were even more obstinate, remaining blind and deaf to the messages and works of their Messiah. In contrast, the disciples of the Lord, who had their spiritual eyes and ears opened to grasp the words of eternal life (John 6:68), were privileged to receive His words with a special blessing compared to the righteous of the Old Testament. He said, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Truly, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.” St. John Chrysostom elaborates this by noting the significance of Christ's incarnation, His miracles, His voice, and His teachings."}]}
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