ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ αποκριθεις 611 5679 V-AOP-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM οτι 3754 CONJ υμιν 5213 P-2DP δεδοται 1325 5769 V-RPI-3S γνωναι 1097 5629 V-2AAN τα 3588 T-APN μυστηρια 3466 N-APN της 3588 T-GSF βασιλειας 932 N-GSF των 3588 T-GPM ουρανων 3772 N-GPM εκεινοις 1565 D-DPM δε 1161 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N δεδοται 1325 5769 V-RPI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Mysteries (musthria). From muw, to close or shut. In classical Greek, applied to certain religious celebrations to which persons were admitted by formal initiation, and the precise character of which is unknown. Some suppose them to have been revelations of religious secrets; others of secret politico-religious doctrines; others, again, scenic representations of mythical legends. In this latter sense the term was used in the Middle Ages of miracle-plays - rude drams representing scenes from scripture and from the apocryphal gospels. Such plays are still enacted among the Basque mountaineers. (See Vincent, "In the Shadow of the Pyrenees.")A mystery does not denote an unknowable thing, but one which is withdrawn from knowledge or manifestation, and which cannot be known without special manifestation of it. Hence appropriate to the things of the kingdom of heaven, which could be known only by revelation. Paul (Philip. iv. 12) says, "I am instructed (memuhmai) both to be full and to be hungry," etc. But Rev. gives more correctly the force of instructed, by rendering I have learned the secret: the verb being muew (from the same root as musthria) to initiate into the mysteries.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:11 {To know the mysteries} (gnwnai ta musteria). Second aorist active infinitive of ginwskw. The word musterion is from mustes, one initiated, and that from muew (mu"), to close or shut (Latin, _mutus_). The mystery-religions of the east had all sorts of secrets and signs as secret societies do today. But those initiated knew them. So the disciples have been initiated into the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Paul will use it freely of the mystery once hidden, but now revealed, now made known in Christ (#Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:7, etc.). In #Php 4:12 Paul says: "I have learned the secret or been initiated" (memumai). So Jesus here explains that his parables are open to the disciples, but shut to the Pharisees with their hostile minds. In the Gospels musterion is used only here and in the parallel passages (#Mr 4:11; Lu 8:10).
