Week 37 Matthew 13
This passage is an odd and not-too-clear message the Lord gives to his disciples when they wonder why he teaches using parables.
Before answering Jesus goes on a bit of a tangent about a teacher teaching his students. What Jesus says makes it seem like the teacher just arbitrarily designates selected students to have a special audio-visual capacity to dope-out what he’s saying. But he (nastily) withholds this hearing-and-seeing from the rest of the class.
I keep reading. The Lord quotes Isaiah who said that people don’t hear or see because their heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. That makes it sound like a student’s choice.
I keep reading. A bit farther down Matthew says that the Lord was aiming to explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world. Which makes it seem like the Lord wanted to clarify things – not muddy them up.
I keep reading to where it says anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand. Which doesn’t make it sound like the Lord has fated me to blindness & deafness.
So I end up modifying my first reaction (blaming the Lord for my blind & deaf indifference). It sounds like my own dopiness is boomeranging back on me.
It’s still a tough passage to manage. But it’s a reminder: am I reading something that makes the Lord seem ghoulish? Then keep reading.
Note: quotes from Matthew 13:11 (NIV) 13:35 43 (NLT)