EYES THAT SEE/EARS THAT HEAR
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, “When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.” But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
Matthew 13:13-16 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Previously, Jesus taught the parable of the farmer who sows seed in his field. When He and the disciples are alone, they ask Jesus why He is using parables to teach truth. They don’t understand the parable and know the people don’t understand either. Then Jesus makes the statement in our text today and quotes from Isaiah the prophet.
Isaiah’s prophecy talks about people who have hard hearts. Because their hearts are hard, they hear but don’t understand, they see but don’t comprehend. It is possible to hear the truth preached and see God working in people’s lives and yet not understand anything that is happening.
It appears to me that we live in a culture in America that has become vaccinated from Christianity. Because we have seen so much abuse and misuse of Christianity many have allowed their hearts to become hard to the gospel of Jesus.
The truth that the Holy Spirit wants to release into our spirits is falling on hard hearts that refuse to be open.
How does a heart become hard? How do ears get so closed? How to eyes get so shut?
Oftentimes it happens gradually, and we don’t recognize we have become closed to the truth of God’s Word. Over time we have treated God’s Word casually without taking time to meditate on truth and consider how it should apply to our lives.
Often, I see people who get so busy they never stop to think about God’s truth. By being busy we keep pushing away the nudge of the Holy Spirit and just keep going the direction we want to go. After a while we don’t feel that nudge anymore.
Years ago, Cindy and I were building a new home. We sold our present home during the construction process and found a very inexpensive apartment to live in for a few months while we were finishing the new place. We didn’t realize until after we moved in, we were right near a railroad. Every night there were two trains that traveled those tracks and blew their whistles in the early morning hours.
That first week was horrible. I got foam and put it in the little window in the apartment to try to block some of the train noise. But every night we would wake up two or three times. We started to consider other options but realized we were stuck in that apartment for at least two months.
Somewhere around the fifth or sixth week we were no longer awakened by the trains passing by. We got accustomed to the sound and just blocked it out of our hearing. The trains still passed by, but our ears filtered out the noise. Our ears had become closed.
Perhaps we have heard God’s truth so many times and we no longer respond. Our lack of response hardened our hearts and dulled our ears. Before long, our spiritual ears have decided to filter out that noise as unimportant.
It is time this Easter season to pause and take a fresh look at God’s truth. Perhaps we can begin to read the story of Jesus with open eyes and ears that are listening for truth that could apply to our lives.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me today to listen to Your voice. Forgive me for the times I have ignored Your nudge. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see. Plow up the hardness of my heart and allow me to be fertile soil for truth.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”