Mark wrote about Jesus, “when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables”, and in chapter four and verse twelve of his book, Mark shares how Jesus said to the disciples,“seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand” where we read:
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;
lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
The verse reads, “That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;” Mark began with the words, “that seeing they may see” or “so discerning, perceiving, looking upon and gazing the people who are without may discern, perceive, look upon and gaze”, “and not perceive” which means “and still not understand, perceive, discern or know”; “and hearing they may hear” or “and being endowed with the faculty of hearing, attending to, considering and perceiving the people without could attend to, consider and perceive”, “and not understand” which means “and still not perceive, attend to or comprehend”. Mark shared how these people had the capacities to “see” and “hear” what He was saying about the Kingdom of God, but they could not understand nor comprehend it.
The verse goes on to say, “lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Mark continued with the words “lest at any time” which means “whether or perhaps and in no way” “they should be converted” or “the people who are without would turn to the worship of the true God, return and go back to the love and obedience of God”, “and their sins should be forgiven them” which means “and the people's mistakes, errors, missing of the mark and violation of the law of God would be sent away from, kept no longer, be departed and leave those people”. Mark shared how Jesus said if these people did “see” and “hear” Jesus, they would “turn back in obedience to God” and their “sins” would be “forgiven” them.
When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus does not want people to perish in their sins. He desires for them to “see” and “hear” the principles of God's Kingdom, and although they have the capacity, many people “refuse” and “reject” the teachings of Jesus. A lot of people are this way today. Their words are similar to this, “I just don't get it” or “I just don't believe it”. Those who make these responses have the ability to “see and hear” Jesus, but do not. John the apostle wrote, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (See John 3:19-21) The reason people do not “see” and “hear” Jesus is because they love their evil deeds, and until they yield themselves to God and be obedient to His word, they shall never perceive and understand the principles of the Kingdom of God.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus asked His disciples, “how then shall you know all parables?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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