Issue: Why Some Hear & Understand & Yet Others Don’t

Intro: One of the beauties of teaching through the 66 books of Scripture systematically and verse-by-verse consecutively is that you must address the hard sayings of Jesus. You can’t cherry-pick if you go through Scripture faithfully. This week I’m in Matthew 13 where Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. This issue is straightforward: Why do some people see, hear, and respond to the truth while others remain blind and hardened to the truth and reject it?

Below is the passage from Jesus’ own lips:

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

The Teaching: The disciples did then what people still do today. They asked questions. “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Mt 13:10b). Jesus’s response was straightforward—some can see and hear spiritual truth; but others refuse and remain blind and deaf to it:

¹⁰ Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

Don’t Miss This:

¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² 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. ¹³ 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. 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.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Mt 13:11-17)

Encouragement: The truth is that not all will admit the truth. Many remain blind and deaf. But another truth and great encouragement is this: Many will admit the truth, see, and hear it, and respond appropriately to it. This is why we continue to press on—because we are assured that God will grant some eyes and ears to see and hear. This is why we don’t lose hope. This is why we continue to sow the seeds of truth. Because God’s word will not return void but will accomplish its intended purpose (Isaiah 55:11).

Happy early Thanksgiving to all.