14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Matthew 13:14–15 ESV)
Matthew 13:1-50 contains seven parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. These include the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-23), the Parable of the Weeds (13:24-30), the Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32), the Parable of the Leaven (13:33), the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44), the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (13:13:45-46), and the Parable of the Net (13:47-50).
Jesus explained the purpose of His teaching in parables (Matt. 13:10-13). First, He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Second, Jesus said, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Jesus concluded by saying, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” This statement is also recorded in Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:10.
Jesus spoke to the masses in parables to fulfill Isaiah 6:9-10. It was this portion of Scripture of which Jesus quoted and which is contained in today’s text.
“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive,” (Isaiah 6:9 ESV). It is biblically accurate to say that the unconverted are spiritually deaf and blind (John 9; I Cor. 2:1-14). They hear the Gospel but they do not comprehend what they hear. They see the impact of the Gospel but they do not realize what they see.
The reason is that their hearts have grown dull. To become dull (παχύνω; pachyno) means to become calloused and hard. It means lacking the ability to understand God’s truth.
Romans 8:7 (ESV) says, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
The kingdom parables serve as God’s instrument of judgment by hardening the hardened and unbelieving heart.
“We should marvel at God’s grace every time we recall that we have trusted Christ alone for our salvation. Before the Lord quickened us, we were dead in sin and had no desire at all to know or serve Him. But by His Spirit our Creator overcame this stubbornness and changed our hearts, enabling us to believe the Gospel,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Take time today to thank God for His matchless grace and remember that your deeds contribute nothing to your salvation. Have a blessed day in Christ.
Soli deo Gloria!
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