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Dull of Hearing – Matt. 13
Dull of Hearing – Matt. 13
After the parable of the Sower, Jesus then quotes from Isaiah:
9 He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' 10 "Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10)
In Isaiah’s day the people had closed their ears to the hearing of the Word of God that was being proclaimed to them, not only by Isaiah but all of the prophets that God sent. This continued through the days of Jeremiah and on into the days of Ezekiel. It was ‘fulfilled’ in the original times and now, with the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus, the Son of God, they are yet refusing to hear! This type of ‘prophecy’ is labeled by many as ‘typological’: the original serves as the type that gets repeated and sometimes repeated many different times in different generations.
Jesus would mention this again in a later episode recorded in John 12:37-41 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them." 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
The Apostle Paul, as he proclaimed the gospel to the Jewish leaders in Rome, also quoted this and applied it to them! Acts 28:24-29 24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; 27 For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them."' 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." 29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
Such is the nature of the Word of God. It makes us choose – we can either listen and obey or refuse and rebel. God DESIRES that it soften our hearts and mold us into holy people.
Even after we become disciples, we can become dull of hearing! After warnings and exhortation to pay attention to God’s word, the Hebrew writer warned the brethren:: “11 Concerning him [Melchizedek as high priest], we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11).
Examine yourself: have you become dull of hearing? Have you begun to close your ears unto God’s word?
Hugh DeLong
