Daily Word - Do You Want To Understand? Really? - Matthew 13:10-17

Scripture:
Matthew 13:10-17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 Then the disciples (A) came up and asked Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" (B) 11 He answered them, "Because the secrets [a] of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, (C) but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has, [more] will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. (D) 13 For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, (E) and hearing they do not listen or understand. (F) 14 Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
yet never understand;
and you will look and look,
yet never perceive. (G)
15 For this people's heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn back—
and I would cure them. (H) (I)
16 "But your eyes are blessed (J) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear! (K) 17 For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn't see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn't hear them. (L)
Footnotes:
Matthew 13:11 The Gk word mysteria does not mean "mysteries" in the Eng sense; it means what we can know only by divine revelation.
Cross references:
Matthew 13:10 : Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 6:1;
Matthew 13:10 : Mt 13:35; 15:15; 21:33;, 45; 22:1; 24:32;
Matthew 13:11 : Mt 11:25; 19:11; Jn 6:65; 1Co 2:10; Col 1:27; 1Jn 2:20;, 27;
Matthew 13:12 : Mt 25:29; Lk 8:18; 19:26; Jn 15:2; Jms 4:6;
Matthew 13:13 : Dt 29:4; Is 42:19-20; Jr 5:21; Ezk 12:2;
Matthew 13:13 : Mt 15:10; 16:12; 17:13; Mk 8:21;
Matthew 13:14 : Is 6:9; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26-27; Rm 11:8;
Matthew 13:15 : Is 6:10; Mt 15:8; Heb 5:11;
Matthew 13:15 : Is 6:9-10;
Matthew 13:16 : Lk 10:23-24;
Matthew 13:16 : Mt 16:17; Jn 20:29;
Matthew 13:17 : Jn 8:56; Heb 11:13; 1Pt 1:10-12;

Reflection:
Jesus told his disciples that not everyone would understand his parables. Did Jesus mean to say that he was deliberately confusing his listeners? Very likely not. Jesus was speaking from experience. He was aware that some who heard his parables refused to understand them. It was not that they could not intellectually understand them, but rather, their hearts were closed to what Jesus was saying. They had already made up their minds to not believe. God can only reveal the secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges the need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge us. If we approach them with the conviction that we already know the answer, then we, too, may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand. God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit. If we want to hear and to understand God's word, we must listen with godly fear and reverence. Do you believe God's word and do you submit to it with trust and reverence?

Prayer For The Day:
Holy Spirit, fan the flame of God's love within me and consume me with your fire, that I may grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and ever seek to do his will. May my heart never grow dull and may my ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ.