Matthew 13:14-17 - Blessed are your eyes because you see

13:14,15

The prophecy given to Isaiah that the people would be ever hearing but never understanding is now quoted in full (Is 6:9,10). It is taken from the Septuagint (Greek version). The Hebrew version says “Make the heart of this people calloused” whereas the Greek version says “For this people’s heart has become calloused”. To us the Hebrew version implies that God set out to make the people’s heart calloused, whereas the Greek version says their hearts have become calloused. We think the Hebrew implies the people are innocent victims, whereas this is definitely not the case. They were guilty, and the whole of the Old Testament makes that clear. Hebrew thought sees God as being involved in absolutely everything, but this does not mean that we do not have responsibility. So sometimes the Hebrew says things that shock us, we think how can God be responsible for that? We need to adjust our thinking. Our hearts become hard because of our sin and rebellion, but this is all within God’s purpose and decree. God is absolutely sovereign.

13:16,17
When Isaiah received these words he asked God “for how long?” (Is 6:11). The how long is now over, for the disciples will see and hear. Now we know that this is reflection on the spiritual acumen of the disciples, for, like us, they were a bit thick! On their own merits they were slow to hear and understand. But Jesus was with them and He explained things. Their insight was a result of the grace of God. Jesus then says that the prophets and righteous people of old longed to see the things the disciples saw. This reminds us of 1 Peter 1:10-12.