Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul was being kept under guard in Rome, and “when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, ...”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul referred to Isaiah's words, “Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive” where we read:
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand;
and seeing you shall see, and not perceive:
The verse begins, “Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand;” Luke began with the words, “saying, go unto this people” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming, travel or take a walk or journey toward this particular population gathered who are of the same stock and language”, “and say” or “and utter, declare and proclaim”, “hearing you shall hear” which means “and having an organ or sense of giving audience, the people will be endowed with the faculty of hearing, attending to, considering, understanding and perceiving”, “and shall not understand” or “and will in no way perceive or have the knowledge of those things that pertain to salvation”. (See Isaiah 29:10,14; 42:19,20; 66:4) Luke shared how “Paul” referred to “Isaiah's” words concerning people who would hear the words of salvation, but would not receive or perceive the truth of them.
The verse goes on to say, “and seeing you shall see, and not perceive:” Luke continued with the words, “and seeing you shall see” which means “and perceiving, discerning and discovering, people will discern mentally and with their mind's eye”, “and not perceive” or “and not in any way be acquainted with or behold by experience”. Luke how “Paul” continued “Isaiah's” words which included being able to “see” the things of the Kingdom of God, but never experiencing what they are all about.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to the words of the prophet “Isaiah” where God revealed to him that people would “hear” and “see” the things of “God's Kingdom”, but never actually experience them for themselves. They might say something like, “I hear what you're saying or I see what your showing, but I just don't get it”. God designed people with an ability to choose or reject His gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus. God offers redemption of sins through the death of His Son Jesus upon a cross, and anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Those who understand and “come” to Him will be received for all eternity, however, those who refuse Him will be as those who do not “hear or see” even though they have been exposed to the everlasting salvation and truth of God.
Next time Luke shares how Paul referred to how Isaiah wrote, “the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or 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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