When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ’ (Mark 4: 10-12)

Are there insiders and outsiders in faith? Here Jesus seems to say so. Are there some who know mysteries and others who do not?

Jesus also seems to say that the parables are designed to obscure rather than to illuminate. He quotes from Isaiah 6: 9-10 to make this point.

The Greek translated above as secret is musterion. This can mean secret, mystery, hidden. It also carries the sense of being implicit, or not explicit, or not obvious.

Most of us are attracted to insider information. Most of us are flattered if we know something not widely known. I wonder if Mark was like us? Or perhaps this translator of Mark?

The Greek might be rendered as something closer to: "He said, "You have been given subtle insights into divine power, those outside are fulfilled through parables."

This treatment suggests not so much insider privilege as different roles, perhaps even different needs.

The Isaiah quote may be a good example of the subtlety of which Jesus spoke. More on it tomorrow morning.