Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus' disciples asked Him, “Why speak you unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirteen of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus answered His disciples, “they seeing see not” where we read:
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not;
and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
The verse reads, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not;” Matthew began with the word, “therefore” which means “wherefore, then and by the means” “speak I” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to them” which means “to the multitudes” “in parables” or “with narratives which are fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God's kingdom are figuratively portrayed and are earthly stories with heavenly meanings”: “because” or “since and on account that” “they seeing” which means “the multitudes discerning, perceiving, discovering and understanding” “see not” or “the multitudes do not discern, perceive, discover or understand”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples the reason He spoke to the people with “earthly stories that have heavenly meanings” was because even though they appeared to “see” or perceive the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, they actually do not.
The verse continues, “ and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matthew added the words, “and hearing” which means “and are endowed with the faculty of attending to, considering, understanding and perceiving” “they hear not” or “the multitude do not attend to, consider, understand and perceive”, “neither” which means “no and in no way” “do they understand” or “do the multitudes perceive, join together in mind nor understand or comprehend”. Matthew shared how Jesus said although the multitude “hears” the words He proclaimed, they had no ability to perceive or comprehend what He was saying.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how there were many people who saw Jesus and heard His words but had no idea about what He was saying. There are many people in the same position today. The word of God goes forth, the gospel is presented and the announcement of the Kingdom of God is proclaimed, but many people say, “I don't get it”. This is what Jesus was saying to His disciples. God desires to have a loving relationship with every person who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus, and Jesus came to die for their sins so they might have a relationship with God the Father. However, many simply ignore Him, reject Him or refuse to understand that God's Kingdom is at hand. May all who read these words understand Jesus' desire for them to “see and hear” these things and be willing to yield their lives to understand and comprehend them today.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples those who are “seeing” but “see not”, “fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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