"Familiarity breeds contempt" – a statement with proverbial character in the English language. Jesus Christ did not speak English during His earthly ministry, so He used different words to express this human tendency.

He did so after reading from the scriptures on the Sabbath in the synagogue in Nazareth, the town where He grew up: "No prophet is accepted in his own country" (Luke 4:24).

Jesus came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and to announce its "nearness" (Mark 1:14-15). But His own people, the Jews, did not accept Him (John 1:11).

Jesus' countrymen and their ancestors were not the only ones to exhibit this tendency. Shortly before his death the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to tell him that this tendency would also be present among the called-out ones:

"The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The "mysteries of the kingdom of God" are an integral part of sound doctrine. Knowing those mysteries helps us understand how God is carrying out His great plan of salvation for mankind. 2000 years ago Jesus said that this understanding was not given to His fellow Jews. Only the called-out ones receive this understanding (Matthew 13:11).

Since only the called-out ones are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, they are also the only ones who can share those mysteries with others and participate in the "cycle of the gospel" through which God works to call people (Romans 10:13-17).

For some 20 years or so now we see a growing tendency among the called-out ones to look to those who are not called in an attempt to better understand "sound doctrine". But those who are not called are incapable of expounding the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

The fall festival season is at hand with its wonderful symbolism. We have heard that symbolism preached for many years. It is familiarity to us.

How thankful are we that we can understand and see the things that God’s prophets and kings desired to see (Luke 10:24)?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!