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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
13
Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
9
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"You may argue that if they did not perceive the truth, it was essential for them to open their eyes. Indeed, if their blindness were a natural condition, it would be fitting to seek clarity; however, since their blindness was voluntary and stemmed from their own choices, He did not merely state, “they see not,” but rather, “seeing they see not.” This indicates that their lack of vision was rooted in their own moral decay. They witnessed Him driving out demons and remarked, “He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons” (Luke 11:15). They recognized that He guided them towards God and acted in accordance with divine intent, yet proclaimed, “This Man is not from God” (John 9:16). In this way, they contradicted what they had both seen and heard. Consequently, Christ declared that He would remove their ability to see and hear. They would gain no benefit from this; in fact, they would face even harsher judgment, not only for disbelieving in Him, but also for deriding, accusing, and slandering Him. Yet, He refrains from highlighting this last point, preferring not to be overly harsh in His condemnation. Initially, He spoke to them plainly without using parables, but as they grew increasingly unwilling to listen, He ultimately began to communicate in parables."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"This is the reason I use parables when speaking to them; they look but do not perceive, and they listen but do not comprehend, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah which declares, ‘By hearing you will hear, that is, you will hear distinctly but not understand; and when you see you will see distinctly but not perceive.’ This refers to those who remain at the shore, distanced from Jesus, and because of the tumult of the waves, they cannot clearly hear the message being communicated. The prophecy of Isaiah is realized in their midst: By hearing you will hear but will not grasp, and by gazing with your eyes you will see but will not truly understand (Isaiah 6:9). This is foretold concerning those crowds who linger at the shore, unworthy of receiving the word of the Lord. Thus, we will approach Jesus along with His disciples to seek clarification of the parable, so we are not counted among those who possess sight and hearing but lack true understanding."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If Jesus proclaimed, \\"Wherefore I speak unto them in parables, that seeing they see not,\\" it may not solely be the Jews' misunderstanding, but rather the manner in which Christ communicated that led to their confusion. Here, He articulates, \\"Wherefore I speak unto them in parables, that seeing they see not.\\" This suggests that the issue was not with Christ's clarity, but with those who, despite listening, were unwilling to truly hear. Their inability to understand His parables stemmed not from His choice of expression, but rather from their own lack of insight. Consider how they witnessed the wonders performed by Moses; did they truly perceive them? If they had, would they not have shown reverence for God, the Creator of such wonders? They heard the commandments given by the lawgiver, but did they genuinely listen? Had they truly absorbed His teachings, they would have followed the law and placed their faith in the One the law pointed towards. They observed these miracles, yet in their observing, they failed to perceive their significance. Had they truly seen them, it would have brought spiritual benefit. For those who have sight, it is easier to recognize what they behold than for those who have understanding to grasp what they have heard. How could they comprehend the mysteries conveyed to them when they viewed miracles yet failed to understand their meaning? The Jews were accustomed to seeing without perceiving and hearing without truly listening; thus, God withheld from them the eyes of faith to recognize the divine wonders of Christ and to heed His living words."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"When they observe the wonders I carry out with their physical eyes, they shut their spiritual eyes; and when they listen to my words with their physical ears, they close their spiritual ears, leading to their complete unbelief. To illustrate that He refers to spiritual blindness and deafness, He further stated: ‘nor understand.’ Understanding involves perceiving and hearing with the soul. Since they listened but failed to comprehend, it was both just and wise to communicate with them through parables—just, because their willful negligence rendered them unworthy of receiving pure teachings; wise, because by challenging the comprehension of divine mysteries, they would incur a more severe judgment upon themselves."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This passage addresses the issue regarding those who claim that the unrighteous are inherently designed by God as such. They assert that Christ Himself indicated, \\"To you it is given to know the mysteries, but to the Jews it is not given.\\" Engage with God on behalf of those who express this viewpoint: God has created all people with the inherent capacity to comprehend spiritual truths, for He illuminates every individual who enters the world; however, our own choices can lead to our spiritual blindness. This concept is also highlighted here. Jesus states that those who have natural sight—those designed by God to perceive—fail to truly see due to their own unwillingness, and those who possess the ability to hear—created by God to listen and comprehend—do not hear and understand because of their will. Let me ask, haven't they witnessed the miracles performed by Christ? Indeed, they have, yet they have chosen to blind themselves and level accusations at Him, which embodies the essence of \\"seeing they do not see.\\""},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Seeing they see not\\": Consequently, should they not have opened their eyes if they remained blind? If this blindness were inherent to their nature, it would have been appropriate for them to see; yet since this affliction was chosen and stemmed from their own volition, He did not merely state, \\"seeing they see not,\\" but rather: \\"seeing they do not see,\\" indicating that their blindness arose from their own moral decay. They witnessed Him casting out demons and attributed His actions to Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. They recognized that He led them towards God and performed everything in accordance with divine intent, yet declared, \\"He is not of God\\" (John 9:19). Therefore, as they acted in opposition to what they perceived and heard, it is recorded, \\"I will take away their sight and hearing\\" (Zlat.). Not seeing, not perceiving, and not hearing implies a failure to comprehend what was communicated or performed, instead interpreting events through their own distorted lens. Thus, most of the Jews were unable to grasp the teachings and miracles of the Savior, despite having witnessed and heard them."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Thus, I convey my messages through parables so that, while they may perceive with their physical eyes, they do not use their spiritual vision, for they willingly shut it; and although they hear with their ears, they are not inclined to listen with their spirit, as they choose not to comprehend, and thus they remain ignorant, unworthy, and incapable of understanding. Their spiritual blindness and deafness stem from their own moral decay. They witnessed me casting out demons and asserted that ‘He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons’ (Luke 11:15); they listened as I guided them to God and acted in complete accordance with God’s will, yet they claimed ‘This man is not of God’ (John 9:16). They behaved in opposition to what they witnessed and heard, leading me to permit them to reach a state of utter insensitivity to the truths that could save them."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After Jesus had shared the parables, His disciples approached Him, inquiring, ‘Why do you teach them in parables?’ Christ replied, ‘I use parables because while they see, they do not perceive; and while they hear, they do not comprehend or grasp the meaning. They are not truly blind or deaf, but have been misled by their false instructors, the scribes and Pharisees, which has dulled their ability to recognize the signs they have witnessed and the lessons they have received. The prophecy of Isaiah applies to them: ‘You shall hear but not understand, and you shall look but not see; for the hearts of this people have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to me for healing’ (Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10). The moral depravity of many leads them to intentionally ignore the truth, shutting their eyes to significant signs, as if they fear that acknowledgment would lead them to repentance and salvation. Yet, Christ does not turn His back on them; He offers His teachings about the kingdom of heaven in a metaphorical manner, allowing those who truly desire to comprehend to discern the deeper meanings hidden within the parables themselves. For anyone with a genuine longing to grasp the message of the parables and Christ’s teachings, that understanding will be granted and will grow within them. However, those lacking such desire will remain impervious to Christ's teachings, regardless of how the message is conveyed; even the inherent knowledge of God that resides in every individual, irrespective of their spiritual journey, will fade away from them as if it were taken. In contrast, to the Apostles, who forsook all worldly matters for Christ and committed themselves to His teachings, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven became clear; they gained insight denied to others, who, without faith and desire, hear without understanding and see without perceiving. They were given the privilege to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Despite its remarkable simplicity and clarity, even the disciples struggled to grasp its significance. Upon the Saviour’s return to Simon Peter’s home in Capernaum, they eagerly sought an explanation. This inquiry demonstrated that the parable had profoundly impacted them and stirred a thought within them that yearned for understanding. The Saviour readily provided the apostles, who would be the future bearers of His mission, with a thorough elucidation of the parable. When questioned about His use of parables in teaching the crowds, the Saviour explained that this method was the only effective way to instruct them, for they were ‘who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, nor understand.’ He referred to the prophecy of Isaiah, stating that ‘the heart of these people is hardened; and they hear with their ears, and shut their eyes; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart.’ The Lord intended that at least these external symbols would be etched in the minds of people, hoping that when they were in a better frame of mind, these images might guide them toward a deeper comprehension that was not yet accessible. To the chosen disciples alone is it given ‘to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,' and being entrusted with these mysteries, the Saviour offered them insight into the outward symbols of the parable."}]}
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