Open The Word | Fungua Neno

⏱️ 5 minutes.

Hello dear brothers and sisters,

Today, let’s look at Jesus’ in expectations in the growth in understanding of his disciples:

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?”
— Mark 4:13

This was Jesus’ response to His disciples, who had earlier asked Him about the parables:

And when He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
— Mark 4:10

Mark previously mentioned that Jesus was teaching many parables. This helps us understand that the parable of the sower was not the only one He shared with them:

And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,
— Mark 4:2

In Jesus’ response, we see His expectation of what the disciples should have already known. When He rhetorically asks, “Do you understand this parable?” He implies that this should have been clear to them. Furthermore, He highlights that their lack of understanding in elementary matters raises questions about their ability to grasp more complex teachings. Essentially, Jesus asks, “If you can’t understand this simple parable, how will you understand the other parables, which may be more complex?”

In this question, we see an implicit expectation for the disciples to grow in their understanding. The author of Hebrews echoes a similar sentiment regarding different levels of spiritual teaching:

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of teaching about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
— Hebrews 6:1-2

The author of Hebrews refers to these as elementary teachings. He even calls the believers infants for not being able to grasp deeper spiritual truths:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
— Hebrews 5:12-13

Here, we also see the expectation that they should have grown to a level where they could teach others. Instead, they were still dependent on the elementary teachings.

As believers, we must understand that there is an expectation for growth. We are not meant to remain as spiritual children. We are meant to grow from one level to another, continually desiring to know God more and to grow in spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. This is what the apostle Paul prays for the Colossians:

For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God.
— Colossians 1:9-10

In his prayer, the apostle Paul introduces what spiritual maturity looks like: walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every aspect of life.

Oftentimes, we misunderstand what spiritual maturity looks like. Some think it is about praying loudly, displaying more emotional expressions during worship, tithing more, or attending church more frequently. Others associate it with speaking in a soft, calm demeanor. However, this is not how the apostle Paul describes spiritual maturity.

The word of God teaches us that spiritual maturity is about living according to God’s will. First and foremost, we need to know what His will is:

On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
— Ephesians 5:17-18

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.
— Romans 12:2

Knowing God’s will involves discernment, which comes from understanding His word. The author of Hebrews mentions this as well:

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.
— Hebrews 5:14

The spiritually mature have trained their senses to discern good from evil. This means their speech, actions, prayer, worship, and everything they do are pleasing to God, as they follow His instructions in the Word. They neither add to nor take away from what is written in the Word of God:

Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
— 1 Corinthians 4:6

This is what we see in Jesus’ question to His disciples about understanding the parable. Jesus expects us to grow as believers. Let us not settle for milk but desire to grow in knowledge, understanding, and spiritual wisdom.

I pray that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will.