The Parable of the Sower

[Hatambu]

Ref: Matthew Chap. 13, v.12
I quote :To anyone who has, more will be given, and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
My problem: The Latin adage says: “Nemo dat quod non habet”, how then can anyone who has nothing be deprived of nothing?

I am sorry but this verse is to me meaningless or, at best, contradictory.

Can you plse explain?

Thank you.

 

[Fergal]

Ye think too much temporaly!!
I have given it a bit of thought and heres my :twocents:
If you take what you have quoted in context of the whole Gospel reading it becomes a little clearer. What Jesus is speaking about here is posessing the interior or spiritual life.
By nature of our humanity we have, given to us at conception and must carry for life, a temporal (worldly) one. That will be taken away from us all. We should have a spiritual life as well to run in parallel with our temporal one. The spiritual life if cultivated well can never be taken away by death and indeed will be richly rewarded by God in Heaven. Jesus is talking here about our need to posess both.

Let us look at it this way with the following little additions! I am no Biblical scholar and I am sure any other explaination that comes along on this thread will go far further than mine ever could but it is my little way of showing what it means to me.

***Then the disciples went up to him and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied 'the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has (an interior spiritual life) will be given more (blessings and graces), and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not (an interior spiritual life), even what he has (the temporal life) will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing (as God sees) and listen without hearing (the voice of God) or understanding (God’s will). So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled: ***

***You will listen and listen again, but not understand,
see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and be converted
and be healed by me. ***