The beloved physician Luke 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, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared 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” where we read:
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The verse begins, “For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed;” Luke began with the words, “for the heart of this people” which means “because, since and on account that the souls or minds as they are the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors belonging to the particular human beings who do not hear or see the things of the Kingdom of God” “is waxed gross” or “is made thick, fattened, stupid, dull or callous”, “and their ears are dull of hearing” which means “and their faculties for perceiving with the mind and of understanding and knowing are heavily difficult”, “and their eyes have they closed” or “and they have shut down the eyes of their minds or faculties of knowing”. Luke shared how “Paul” continued to refer to God's words through Isaiah the prophet as he declared the “soul and spirit” of the people who did not hear or see God's Kingdom things was “thick, difficult and callous”; their ability to perceive and know with their minds was without understanding, and their ability to perceive with their minds was shut down. (See Isaiah 6:9,10)
The verse continues, “lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Luke added the words, “lest they should see with their eyes” which means “that not unless or perhaps the people would perceive with the eyes of their mind and faculty of knowing”, “and hear with their ears” or “and be endowed with the faculty of hearing, attending to and considering what has been said”, “and understand with their heart” which means “and join together in the mind or perceive the things which pertain to salvation”, “and should be converted” or “and be caused to return, revert and turn toward God”, “and I should heal them” which means “and I, God, will cure, make whole and bring about salvation from errors and sins of the people who see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their hearts”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to God's words through “Isaiah” the prophet who declared that people who “see, hear and understand” the principles of the Kingdom of God are promised to be cured from their errors and wrongs by Him, however, they refused and rejected His offer.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to God's words through “Isaiah” as he attempted to describe the “dullness and callousness” of the minds and hearts of the people who refused to believe his words about the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ His Son. God wants people everywhere to believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. If they refuse and reject Jesus as the Lord and Christ of God, they become as those who will not be cured of their sins and will be separated from God for all eternity. Those who are wise carefully study the words of “Paul” and “Isaiah the prophet” to whom he referred, and may they surrender themselves to Jesus before their eyes, ears and hearts become so “calloused” that they are without the ability to know, understand and perceive.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it”, 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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