Bulletin Article for August 18, 2019

Ears That Don’t Hear; Eyes That Don’t See

by Micky Galloway

Matthew 13:14-15, “And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.”

Solomon said long ago, “That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The condition Jesus described has existed throughout the ages as the quote from Isaiah’s time indicates.

Why is it that some see and understand and others don’t? John Calvin foolishly claimed God is the cause of unbelief. “Sometimes he states, in a dark manner, what might be more clearly expressed; and sometimes he explains his mind fully, without ambiguity and without metaphor, but strikes their senses with dullness and their minds with stupidity, so that they are blind amidst bright sunshine” (Commentary on the Gospels on Matthew 13:11). He goes even further to claim, “Christ declares that there are certain and elect men, on whom God specially bestows this honor of revealing to them his secrets, and that others are deprived of this grace. No other reason will be found for this distinction, except that God calls to himself those whom he has gratuitously elected” (Ibid.). What foolishness! If this is so, God acts with partiality and we know that isn’t so (cf. Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25). When Jesus was alone with the disciples He explained why some just don’t get it. He is responding to their question, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10; cf. Mark 4:10). Jesus answered, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 13:11-12).

“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Nothing miraculous here! Some wanted to know and understand. They were searching to know how men would be saved in God’s kingdom. Jesus had taught, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). This is how He could say, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, there! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). And, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36). All who were willing to submit to the rule of God in their hearts may become citizens in His kingdom (cf. Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9).

“But to them it is not given” (to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven). Mark describes these as “them that are without” (Mark 4:11). Jesus DID NOT “strike their senses with dullness and their minds with stupidity, so that they are blind amidst bright sunshine.” No miracle here! Some simply did not want to know. The man who reasons like the world is described as the “natural man, carnal” (I Corinthians 2:14; 3:1). He is looking for something that is derived from his emotional or sensual experiences. Such reasoning considers the revelation of God as “foolishness.” Consequently, he “cannot” know the mysteries of the kingdom. No amount of evidence will convince one who does not want to see; one who already has his mind made up! “But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them” (John 12:37-40). “They could not believe” implies that it was impossible. In the previous reference John had quoted from Isaiah 53, connecting Jesus with the Suffering Servant of his prophecy (52:13-53:12). Now he quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10 showing that the same stubborn attitude that existed in Isaiah’s day existed in the minds of those who rejected and crucified the Lord. Preconceived notions often result in a rejection of overwhelming evidence. The proverbial expression, “the same sun that melts butter hardens clay” is true. The more evidence Jesus presented, the more obstinate they became. These didn’t get it because they didn’t want to.

Jesus described the disciples as truly blessed because they wanted to know! “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not” (Matthew 13:16-17). The prophets of old sought and searched diligently to understand the things that are now being explained to the disciples; even the angels desired to understand these things (cf. I Peter 1:10-12). Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). The disciples desired to know the things of God. The Lord is always willing that we should understand and be saved if we are willing to humbly submit (John 7:17; I Timothy 2:4; Matthew 23:37; Mark 16:15-16; John 3:16-19; II Peter 3:9).

What is the condition of your heart? Jesus said, “For whosoever hath” (the man who has spiritual understanding because he wants to know and do the things of God), “to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not” (the man who lacks understanding because he is unwilling to accept the evidence), “from him shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 13:12). “He that hath ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). Isn’t it interesting that even Jesus exhorted people to listen to His words with understanding and submissive hearts that they may be blessed?