Our paragraph topic is: (The disciples ask why He speaks in parables) Part 4.
Christ had spoken to the people. He told his disciples that they were chosen because to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven was given. But to the rest of the people it was not given. And what was given, more will be added in abundance. But for those who do not have, those for whom it is not given, even that which they have will be taken away. They do not understand. Their eyes have been closed. Their hearing has been blocked. And their perception is lost. They do not understand the lessons that Christ is giving them that will bring them to salvation. The evil one has blocked them from receiving the kingdom.
This is why Christ said, "In them is being fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias, who says, 'Hearing you will hear but not understand; and seeing you will see but not perceive.' " So Christ and the disciples sit and watch as the prophecy is being fulfilled. They watch as the people come and go without a hint of understanding. For they did not come for salvation. They came for an outing. They came for a show. They came to be entertained. And Christ speaks to them in parables, in stories because they did not understand the meaning of his words.
The evil one has completed his work. He has possessed the people. He controls the people such that they do his will. He has closed their ears that they cannot hear and be saved. He has closed their eyes that they cannot see the glory of Christ and be healed. He has possessed the hearts of men that darkness covers them and they unable to receive the light of Christ. Christ said, "For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their mind, and be converted, and I heal them."
We live in a world that possesses us, that takes hold of us, that demands our all. We have all sorts of new glittering gadgets that keep us drawn into this world. Carrots on a stick that keep us from waking up from the dream that we are in. We must have more money. We must have a good job. We must buy the right clothes, cars, homes, to live right in this world. The glitter of this world blinds us from the true wealth that we are given through Christ. Just as the people fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias then, we are fulfilling it today. Our churches are filled with people who consider it their weekly duty to go and listen to a pastor tell them how they do not measure up to the kingdom. After the service we go back into the dream not realizing the message that we were just given by our pastors. Yet another week goes by and we go back into the rut that we have created for ourselves, thinking that we can make our dreams come true in this world. After all we are shown in pictures, in words, in live examples others who live the kind of life we want for ourselves. We are blinded by the world, we are tricked, we are led by the carrot, and the prophecy is being fulfilled.
Scriptures pass by us, daily but we do not see nor do we hear the message. The world has taken away our sight and our hearing. We seek not the kingdom because we seek the world. And yet all that is in the world is already given to us in heaven. If we would only receive it we would understand the meaning of those that have. For they will have abundance. And those that have not, even that which they do have will be taken away. Heed the message. Open your eyes. Pray for the scales to be lifted from your eyes. Ask to have the plugs removed from your ears that you may hear, that you may perceive, that you may be healed. Seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and you will be given. And you will have abundance!
Christ had spoken to the people. He told his disciples that they were chosen because to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven was given. But to the rest of the people it was not given. And what was given, more will be added in abundance. But for those who do not have, those for whom it is not given, even that which they have will be taken away. They do not understand. Their eyes have been closed. Their hearing has been blocked. And their perception is lost. They do not understand the lessons that Christ is giving them that will bring them to salvation. The evil one has blocked them from receiving the kingdom.
This is why Christ said, "In them is being fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias, who says, 'Hearing you will hear but not understand; and seeing you will see but not perceive.' " So Christ and the disciples sit and watch as the prophecy is being fulfilled. They watch as the people come and go without a hint of understanding. For they did not come for salvation. They came for an outing. They came for a show. They came to be entertained. And Christ speaks to them in parables, in stories because they did not understand the meaning of his words.
The evil one has completed his work. He has possessed the people. He controls the people such that they do his will. He has closed their ears that they cannot hear and be saved. He has closed their eyes that they cannot see the glory of Christ and be healed. He has possessed the hearts of men that darkness covers them and they unable to receive the light of Christ. Christ said, "For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their mind, and be converted, and I heal them."
We live in a world that possesses us, that takes hold of us, that demands our all. We have all sorts of new glittering gadgets that keep us drawn into this world. Carrots on a stick that keep us from waking up from the dream that we are in. We must have more money. We must have a good job. We must buy the right clothes, cars, homes, to live right in this world. The glitter of this world blinds us from the true wealth that we are given through Christ. Just as the people fulfilled the prophecy of Isaias then, we are fulfilling it today. Our churches are filled with people who consider it their weekly duty to go and listen to a pastor tell them how they do not measure up to the kingdom. After the service we go back into the dream not realizing the message that we were just given by our pastors. Yet another week goes by and we go back into the rut that we have created for ourselves, thinking that we can make our dreams come true in this world. After all we are shown in pictures, in words, in live examples others who live the kind of life we want for ourselves. We are blinded by the world, we are tricked, we are led by the carrot, and the prophecy is being fulfilled.
Scriptures pass by us, daily but we do not see nor do we hear the message. The world has taken away our sight and our hearing. We seek not the kingdom because we seek the world. And yet all that is in the world is already given to us in heaven. If we would only receive it we would understand the meaning of those that have. For they will have abundance. And those that have not, even that which they do have will be taken away. Heed the message. Open your eyes. Pray for the scales to be lifted from your eyes. Ask to have the plugs removed from your ears that you may hear, that you may perceive, that you may be healed. Seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and you will be given. And you will have abundance!
