Daily Scripture

Matthew 13:12

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

This is the Savior’s response to his disciples’ question about why teach in parables. 

As I read this verse, I ask “hath what?”  What is the thing we have to “hath” in order to receive more? 

At first read, we might assume that the Savior is saying, “If you have something in abundance, then I’ll give you more. But if you don’t have it, then sorry, you’re out of luck, you can’t get it.” But that doesn’t sound like what we know of the Savior. He won’t give more to those who already have just because they have and leave others wanting because they don’t have it to begin with. 

So what is He really teaching here? Here are a couple possibilities of the things we have to have in order to understand His ways and teachings. 

1. The Spirit. The Lord is eager for us to understand and live His teachings. But we have to have the Spirit with us to recognize and understand them. 

2. Humility. If we think we know it all, then I guess we know all we’re gonna know. We aren’t open to learning more. 

3. Desire. We have to want to know more. He won’t force truth or understanding on us. 

4. Forgiveness. We have to be clean to receive what He wants to give. That only comes when we repent. 

I truly believe the Savior wants us to know all He knows and have all that He has. He paid the ultimate price for us to have that possibility. But He can only give it to us as we are ready to receive it. 

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