Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull

 

 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"  He answered and said to the, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  

 

"Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

     'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, 

    And seeing you will see and not perceive;

    For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

    Their ears are hard of hearing,

    And their eyes they have closed,

    Lest they should see with their  eyes and hear with their ears,

    Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

    So that I should heal them.'

 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

 

- Matthew 13:10-17 

 

Yesterday we read that, after a confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 

  And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"  He answered and said to the, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."  My study Bible says that the mysteries of the kingdom are not simply obscure concepts or some religious truths only for the elite.  Additionally, the understanding the parables is not simply an intellectual process.  Even the disciples find this message hared to understand.  While Jesus taught the same message to all, my study Bible adds, it's the simple and innocent who are open to its message.  

 

"Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:  'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their  eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.'  But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom's commentary on Christ's use of this passage from Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10) that this prophecy does not mean God causes spiritual blindness in people who would otherwise have been faithful.  It's a figure of speech common in Scripture that reveals God as giving people up to their own devices (as in Romans 1:24-26).   It means that God has permitted their self-chosen blindness (compare Exodus 8:15, 32 with Exodus 10:20, 27).  They didn't "see and not perceive" because God spoke through Isaiah, but rather Isaiah spoke because he foresaw their blindness.

So what makes a person "blessed," with "eyes to see and ears to hear?"  Why is it that some have this capacity while others don't?  Surely it comes down to a matter of a heart that is open, or at least one that longs for the things of God.  Moreover, Jesus says to the disciples that "many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."  How is that possible?  It seems to suggest that they are the ones who are fortunate to be called at this time to this Kingdom, in the presence of Christ as incarnate human being.  It is Christ coming into the world and calling those who respond that makes this possible.  And so, we should think ourselves, that we are fortunate to have what so many of our spiritual ancestors that fill the pages of the early books of the Bible did not have, Christ.  We are the ones who reap the benefits from God's grace and mercy, the ministry of Jesus Christ, and especially His Passion, death, and Resurrection.  In Pentecost, the energies of God make themselves known and present in the capacity of the disciples to suddenly be understood by all in their own languages.  God's presence has made itself more closely manifest to us than to our spiritual forbears.  And yet, so many would dismiss even this.  In a fashionable or modern setting, how many people consider the wisdom of Christ and what it adds to human life?  One thing we can certainly discern from the parable of the Sower, even before we get to Christ's explanation (in tomorrow's reading), is the value of the word.  That is, the true blessedness of the seed He's sowing, the thing He offers to all of creation?  How many cherish that word, and understand that it is gift to help us to grow, and to reap a spiritual harvest through discipleship in our own lives?  We are taught to care about many things, and to chase after the things which we consider make life good and livable.  But how many of us seek this word -- nurturing the seed it plants within us -- as a highest priority, that can change the quality and meaning of everything else, and shape values in our lives?  For not only does it seem we need discernment to understand the parable, but the parable is teaching us that it is Christ's seed, the Sower's word, that rewards us with real discernment and spiritual values in the first place.  So, in this consideration, we can begin to see what it means that people's hearts have grown dull.  For, indeed, if such is the case, how will we know what's good and what to value?  How will we know and learn what's worthwhile to pursue, or even what to teach our children?  If our hearts have grown dull, we might miss altogether the things that save our souls, nurture them, and make them grow and expand.  Let us take His words seriously.  

 

 

 

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred

 

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was one the land facing the sea.  Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that 

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,

And hearing they may hear and not understand;

Lest they should turn,

And their sins be forgiven them.'"

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some  a hundred."

- Mark 4:1–20 

 

On Saturday, we read that, after Jesus had appointed the Twelve, they then returned and went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.  And then he will plunder his house.  "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."  Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was one the land facing the sea.  Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  We observe that two important things happen at this stage of Christ's ministry in Mark's Gospel.  Just as the multitudes grow so large in following Him that Jesus has to have a boat kept ready in case the crowd threatens to crush Him, Jesus has appointed twelve from among His disciples who will also become apostles, to be sent out in a future mission.  Secondly, we get today's reading, this beginning of preaching in parables.  Both the appointment of the Twelve, and now this first parable, seem to be signs that Christ wants to call those out of the multitude who will truly be His followers (He who has ears to hear, let him hear!), and that the numbers of those who gather to hear will only grow.  Here, as in the other Synoptic Gospels, Jesus begins with the parable of the Sower.  My study Bible calls parables stories in word-pictures, which reveal spiritual truth.  All of the Scriptures, but especially the Gospels, are filled with parables; they are images drawn from daily life in the world to represent and communicate the things of God.  My study Bible tells us that parables give us glimpses of God whose thoughts are not our thoughts and whose ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that  'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.'"   As Jesus indicates by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10, a listener must have spiritual ears to hear -- and even then not all have the same degree of understanding.  He isn't using parables to blind the people or to lead them to punishment, my study Bible explains.  Rather, it teaches us that we're responsible for our own lack of receptivity.  If people have grown dull and insensitive, they become unwilling to accept the message of the parables.  Therefore, as my study Bible explains it, the parables of Christ are meant to open the eyes of His hearers to the truth and lead them to produce the fruits of righteousness, in the same way that the prophets like Isaiah had a mission to open the eyes of Israel to see the acts of God.  Parables challenge the hearer and call for faith to perceive the mysteries of Gods' kingdom, my study Bible says. This insight doesn't come through mere intellectual understanding, but rather is a communication of faith in the Person, words, and deeds of Christ.  In John's Gospel, Jesus teaches, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).  Through His parables, as my study Bible puts it, we are meant to be drawn past the door of the Kingdom of heaven, to love and know God, and believe in God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness -- so that we might order our lives according to God's Holy Word.   In John chapter 12, Jesus quotes from this same prophecy of Isaiah, but in the context of the lack of faith, despite all of the marvelous works Christ has done (see John 12:37-41).  So, we're not to understand this as saying that God causes spiritual blindness in those who would otherwise have been faithful.    Rather, again we are to understand from several places in Scripture, that God gives people up to their own devices and self-chosen blindness (see Romans 1:24-26).  It's important to note that to "hear" Christ is to be on the road to healing, and that the emphasis here is once upon on the therapeutic character of this ministry.  Repentance is akin to healing, so that we become the "good ground" for the word.

 

 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some  a hundred."  Here, Christ reveals Himself as the promised Messiah.  He is the Sower, who has been foretold in Isaiah 55:10-13.  The primary importance of this identity is such that this parable is always offered first before the others.

 

My study Bible also notes on this parable that contrary to certain teachings that a person is permanently saved at the moment one professes faith (a view which was never held by the historic Church), the teaching of Jesus is clear that it is possible to believe for a while and then fall away.  Even the word sown in their hearts may be taken away, and others who receive it with gladness may endure only for a time.  Moreover, we observe that the cares of this world, and the desires for other things, can choke this word sown in the heart.  This is not a case of lack of belief, but rather that it becomes unfruitful.  And this is something in particular to watch, for Christ does not expect us simply to believe and then not live our faith.  It is this condition of lack of spiritual fruit that He declares to be one in which the word of God is choked by thorns so that it yielded no crop.  So, according to the parable and Christ's teachings here, the word of God only reaches its fullness when it bears spiritual fruit, produces a crop that pleases God.  We need to live our faith, not merely hold particular ideas about its truth.  I was recently listening to a  podcast in which a priest pointed out that people are perfectly capable of holding particular beliefs, but nonetheless acting against them or otherwise not in accordance with them.   If this weren't perfectly possible, he said, there would be no such thing as hypocrisy.  Jesus Himself alludes to this many times, perhaps most powerfully in His grand critique of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.  His greatest criticism is of their hypocrisy.  In Matthew 15, Jesus quotes from Isaiah again:  "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (see Matthew 15:8-9; Isaiah 29:13).  In each of these instances Christ isn't asking simply for faith so much as He's demanding a faith that lives through our choices and actions in the world.  Jesus makes this clear also in the conclusion of the parable, when He explains, "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some  a hundred."    These statements of praise for an abundance of spiritual fruit borne from good ground make it clear that what Christ desires is a kind of expression of active faith in the world, something that is produced from our faith.  That is, from living our faith.  If we take a close look at the parable of Judgment, that of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46), we'll see that the sheep and goats are separated not on the basis of faith, but on the basis of the expression of faith, either in what they have done or haven't done.  These expressions of faith come in the form of compassion and mercy, akin to the character of Christ, and the nature of the grace which we receive from God and creates communion with God.  As such, we can see the true living of our faith as an expression which seals, creates, and expands that communion.  This is very important, because the very nature of our faith reveals our God, and "what manner of spirit" we are of (see John 9:49-56).  This is Christ's only definition of "good ground" in the parable, the ground that produces the spiritual fruit in abundance, to greater or lesser degrees possible for each one.  So let us consider for today what "spiritual fruit are.  In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, judgment is based on acts of compassion extended to those who belong to Christ, as part of the communion of Christ, and in particular to the "least of these My brethren," in Christ's words.  St. Paul names the following as fruits of the Spirit:  "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22-23).  These apparently surpass obedience to a law, for "against such there is no law."  Let us also pay attention to the communion in Christ created by such acts, as the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches (Luke 10:25-37).  As that particular parable also illustrates, and Jesus makes clear in the parable of Judgment, it is acts of compassion that benefit the "least of these" we should keep in mind, for this is what Christ stresses for us.  Each of these factors:  kindness, charity, mercy, compassion, humility in serving "the least" in the ways we can, the fruit of the Spirit named by St. Paul, and all the ways in which we build and secure the communion of Christ among us reveals who we are, and how we live our faith.  Let us be the good ground for Christ's word.