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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
14
And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive.
7
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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":"To prevent anyone from interpreting His statements as mere derision or attributing malice to Him, Christ cites the words of the prophet, affirming the truth of His message: “The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them,” He declares, “which says, You shall hear with your ears, and shall not understand; and you shall look with your eyes, and shall not see.” Notice that the prophet similarly admonishes them with precise wording. He does not state, “you will not see,” but rather “with eyes you will look, and you will not see”; nor does he say, “you will not hear,” but “by hearing you shall hear, and you shall not understand.” The reason for their misunderstanding lies within themselves, as they have shut their ears, closed their eyes, and hardened their hearts. They not only failed to hear but could scarcely do so. The Lord explains this is due to their refusal to turn back so that He might heal them, highlighting their particular malice and intentional withdrawal from Him. He expresses this to draw them in, to provoke a change in them, and to demonstrate that if they were to turn to Him, He would provide healing. It’s akin to someone thinking, “He does not wish to see me,” but if worthy of honor by that person's presence, one would instantly extend favor in return. He conveys this to indicate the pathway to reconciliation. Therefore, the Lord states, “Let them not turn, that I may heal them,” suggesting that they still have the opportunity to turn, repent, and find salvation. He performs all acts, not for His own glorification, but for their redemption. If He had not wished for them to listen and be saved, He could have remained silent instead of teaching in parables. Yet, He stirs their attention through the very riddles He speaks. For it is written that God does not desire the death of the sinner, but that he should turn and live (See Ezekiel 18:23)."},{"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 communicate through parables: those who observe do not truly perceive, and those who listen fail to comprehend. Thus, the prophecy of Isaiah finds its fulfillment in them, stating, ‘By hearing you will hear, that is, you will perceive but not understand; and when you see you will see but not perceive.’ This refers to those who linger by the shore, distanced from Jesus, and, due to the clamor of the waves, struggle to grasp the message being conveyed. The prophecy of Isaiah thus applies to them: By hearing you will hear and not comprehend, and through their sight, they will see and yet not perceive (Isaiah 6:9). This is a foreshadowing for the crowds who gather on the shoreline and are unworthy of receiving the Lord's message. Therefore, we will approach Jesus along with the disciples to seek clarification of the parable, ensuring we are not among those who have eyes and ears yet remain unresponsive."},{"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":"The prophecy of Isaiah finds fulfillment in them… While this prophecy had partial realization among the obstinate Jews before, it is now completely realized among these individuals. It is fulfilled, indeed fully realized. As it is written, By hearing you will hear and will not comprehend, and by seeing you will see and will not perceive. With physical hearing, you will receive instruction, yet the spiritual truth will remain elusive, akin to those who are willfully deaf in their spirits; and with physical sight, you will witness signs, yet you will not grasp the truth, similar to those who are willfully blind in their spirits. The prophet then provides the reason for their experience."},{"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":"The prophecy of Isaiah is being realized in them; this statement is derived from Isaiah 6:9-10, based on the Septuagint translation. Originally, these prophetic declarations were directed toward the Jewish people present during the time of the prophet. However, the disposition of the Jews remained unchanged during the era of Christ and the apostles, just as it had been in the times of their ancestors. Their hearts were hardened, preventing the divine message from taking root within them. Similar to their forebears, they were spiritually deaf, unable to hear the sacred truth, and they closed their eyes to avoid witnessing the miraculous deeds of their long-anticipated Messiah, who was present yet unrecognized by 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":"It is clear that I do not judge them out of hostility, as demonstrated by the prophecy of Isaiah, which states, \\"Hear with bodily hearing, and ye shall not understand, neither shall ye understand, and see with the eyes, and ye shall not see.\\" They have chosen to close their ears, shut their eyes, and harden their hearts."},{"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 straightforwardness and clarity, even the disciples struggled to grasp its significance. Upon the Saviour's return to the apostle Peter's residence in Capernaum, they did not hesitate to request clarification. This inquiry revealed the strong impact the parable had left on them, awakening a desire for deeper understanding. In response, the Saviour graciously provided the apostles, who would carry on His mission, with a thorough explanation of the parable. When questioned about His use of parables to communicate with the people, the Saviour indicated that this form of teaching was the most effective method for imparting wisdom to those who, ‘who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, nor understand.’ As the prophet Isaiah articulated, ‘the heart of these people is hardened, and they hear with their ears, and shut their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts.’ Thus, it was hoped that these vivid images would remain etched in their minds, providing a pathway for future reflection and deeper comprehension when they are in a more receptive disposition. Only to those chosen disciples was the privilege granted ‘to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,’ enabling them, as proclaimers of these sacred truths, to receive a clearer interpretation of the outer symbols of the parable."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After the Lord had sent away the crowds, He entered a house and was alone with His disciples. Those gathered around Him, along with the twelve apostles, approached Him and inquired, \\"Why do You speak to them in parables?\\" He replied, \\"It is because to you it has been granted to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been given; they exist in the outer realm, and all things are conveyed through parables. The reason I speak to them this way is that those who see do not truly see, and those who hear do not truly hear or comprehend. The prophecy of Isaiah is realized in them, as it states, 'By hearing you shall hear, and not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive.’ This prophecy (Is. 6:9-10), cited by the Evangelist Matthew as per the translation of the LXX, was initially directed at those in Isaiah’s time. The contemporaries of the Savior were no better than their forebears; in fact, they exhibited greater obstinacy, remaining spiritually deaf and blind to the proclamations and deeds of their Messiah. Yet the disciples of the Lord, who had their spiritual eyes and ears awakened to receive the teachings of eternal life (John 6:68), were favored by Him with special recognition compared to the righteous from the Old Testament: \\"Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous individuals have longed to see what you see and have not seen, and to hear what you hear and have not heard.\\" This, as St. John Chrysostom elaborates, refers to the manifestation of Christ in the flesh, His miracles, His voice, and His teachings."}]}
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