What is Kabbalah? - Tree of Life
c) "The glory of G-d is to conceal a matter". It is well known that when something or someone is readily accessible then that person/object is taken for granted; people have a tendency to value those things which are difficult to access. Thus, to uphold reverence for Kabbalah it was concealed from the masses and taught secretively only to the deserving few.
d) It was considered a violation of the mystic's relationship with G-d to share his knowledge of Kabbalah with others. Those privileged to learn Kabbalah felt that they were being aloud entry into the private chambers of their King's palace. To then go and inform others of what the King revealed to them was to dishonour the King. (Perhaps this behaviour can also be compared to one that informs others about his intimate relationship with his wife. This would clearly be seen as cheapening the relationship and as disrespectful to the spouse.) In fact, the Zohar questions - albeit merely to stimulate discussion and to conclude with an answer in the affirmative - whether Ezekiel was a true prophet on account of him having disclosed so much of what G-d had revealed to him of the spiritual realm.
e) 'It is not befitting for someone wearing sackcloth to enter the king's palace.' Kabbalah is the most sublime of Torah teachings, bringing a person in direct contact with the G-dly realm. For an unrefined person - especially one who still sins and acts indulgently - to enter this most sacred realm is disrespectful. (Thus, if an ordinary person set out to study Kabbalah he would have been viewed as arrogant, believing himself pure enough to enter such a sacred realm.)
f) Because Kabbalah discusses unusual and transcendental matters, beyond sensory experience, an arrogant person may come to doubt, or even reject, the entire Torah on account of the 'bizarre' and 'unbelievable' claims made by the Kabbalah as to the nature of reality. Thus, to prevent heresy, Kabbalah was only taught to the humble person with an unwavering faith in G-d and Torah.
g) "The secret of G-d is for those that revere Him". 'Practical Kabbalah' or 'Kabbalah Ma'asit' in Hebrew, if in the wrong hands, can be of serious spiritual and physical danger to both the practitioner and the people he attempts to affect through the usage of such things as the pronunciation of Divine names, writing of amulets, binding of angels with oaths, and dream questions. The eminent master of Kabbalah, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, forbade the use of Practical Kabbalah.
However, the Zohar, the same central Kabbalah text quoted above as restricting the study of Kabbalah, states that toward the Messianic age the Zohar will be revealed and the Jews will leave exile with it in mercy.
