HEALING FOR A DULL HEART - Matthew 13:10-17
HEALING FOR A DULL HEART - Matthew 13:10-17
What Does it Say? v12, 15 The disciples ask Jesus why he speaks in parables. Jesus answer that those who understand will understand more. Those who don't understand will loose what they have because their hearts have grown dull and non receptive. If they understood and turned toward God, He would heal their eyes to see and ears to hear.
What Does it Mean? At first glance what Jesus is saying here does not sound fair. The nation of Israel had turned away from God, their descendants were taught to follow rules without a relationship with God, and their spiritual understanding has become dull. The disciples had followed Jesus and been spiritually healed, so they could hear what He was saying and understand. The prophets and righteous people that wanted to understand in verse 17 lived in a time before Jesus was there to explain it to them. We now have the Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth (John 16:13). Jesus heals those who have a soft heart, so they can hear what He is saying and see what He is doing. I am personally so grateful that God has chosen to open my eyes so I can understand what God is saying. This was not always the case. I grew up in a christian home and reading the Bible was an important part of our life as a family. I never read it for myself, when I did it seemed totally irrelevant for anything that I was interested in. I believed the gospel because that is what I was taught, but the Bible seemed like nonsense to me. When I started to attend a women's Bible study and heard the other women talk about a relationship with God and share what God was saying the them in their personal time alone with God, I was interested and read the Bible myself. Gradually over time, God has healed my eyes and ears and almost every time I read my Bible I hear and understand what God is telling me and see how it applies to me. Ask God to help you understand what he is saying to you. Don't be discouraged if you don't understand, keep asking and keep seeking. God is relational, compassionate, and definitely relevant for every situation. His word is His love letter to you. Ask God to give you a ready heart. Come to him ready to hear what he has to say. Ask him for understanding.