Please forgive the length of scripture posted. it may be more than needed for this particular posting but it won't hurt us to read a little extra. 
Lev 11:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
Lev 11:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Lev 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
Lev 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Lev 11:8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
There are two requirements mentioned, BOTH of which must be met, for an animal to be considered clean. This post is only in reference to the one "chewing the cud"...partly because it is less controversial and also (In my opinion) easier to be understood.
What "chewing the cud" represents in spiritual terms is something along the lines of "Don't just hear it and think you've got enough out of it. You'd better pull it back up and seek for more understanding".
I propose that the practice of seeking greater understanding from something ALREADY heard... is what changes someone from being part of "the multitudes" into being part of "the disciples"...and qualifies us for greater revelation.
Case in point:
Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
...
Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Perhaps you thought (like I did) that these disciples were the 12 disciples... but Mark tells a more clarifying version
Mar 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
Mar 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Mar 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
...
Mar 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
I'd actually asked God "How did he know that the people standing in front of him were those to whom it was 'given to know' ?". You might think "Jesus just knew everything" and perhaps you're right. But if what I'm saying is correct, then the simple act of them hearing then seeking out Jesus for deeper understanding of the same topic is what let Jesus know they could handle more...and is what caused them to be referred to as disciples by the bible. Keep this in mind as you read the gospels and see if it holds true.
Lev 11:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
Lev 11:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Lev 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
Lev 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Lev 11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Lev 11:8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
There are two requirements mentioned, BOTH of which must be met, for an animal to be considered clean. This post is only in reference to the one "chewing the cud"...partly because it is less controversial and also (In my opinion) easier to be understood.
What "chewing the cud" represents in spiritual terms is something along the lines of "Don't just hear it and think you've got enough out of it. You'd better pull it back up and seek for more understanding".
I propose that the practice of seeking greater understanding from something ALREADY heard... is what changes someone from being part of "the multitudes" into being part of "the disciples"...and qualifies us for greater revelation.
Case in point:
Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
...
Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Perhaps you thought (like I did) that these disciples were the 12 disciples... but Mark tells a more clarifying version
Mar 4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
Mar 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Mar 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
...
Mar 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
I'd actually asked God "How did he know that the people standing in front of him were those to whom it was 'given to know' ?". You might think "Jesus just knew everything" and perhaps you're right. But if what I'm saying is correct, then the simple act of them hearing then seeking out Jesus for deeper understanding of the same topic is what let Jesus know they could handle more...and is what caused them to be referred to as disciples by the bible. Keep this in mind as you read the gospels and see if it holds true.
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