Matthew 13:14-15 TPT “The prophecy of Isaiah describes them perfectly:
Although they listen carefully to everything I speak, they don’t understand a thing I say. They look and pretend to see, but the eyes of their hearts are closed.”
15 Their minds are dull and slow to perceive, their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing, and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. Otherwise, they would open their eyes to see, and open their ears to hear, and open their minds to understand. Then they would turn to me and I would instantly heal them.”
There are many Christians who still need much healing and deliverance but yet are stuck and in agony. Why? Most Western adult Christians are like teenagers. There are 30, 40, 50, 60 year 60-year-old adults who have listening habits of a teenager. How do teenagers listen to their parents when parents speak? They tend not to listen but are more anxious about speaking their point of view, and tend not to get the point.
You need to observe how you listen. When you are especially corrected and disciplined, is your mind wandering on how to defend yourself, or are you intently listening to the other
viewpoint to learn and submit?
Why would anyone deliberately shut their eyes or ears to the truth? It is because they stubbornly believe their viewpoint or position is the truth. Such a person still does not understand the definition of “truth.” One must realize how one can be very stubborn. Most stubbornness is rooted in insecurity and not wanting to be put in a vulnerable position.
Verse 14 says Although people listen, they do not understand a thing. Why would you not be able to understand a thing? Scripture says the eyes of your heart are closed! In fact, scripture warns us that if we continue to close the eyes of our heart, any understanding we have will be taken away, and then we will become spiritual airheads.
We need to know if we are really listening and understanding. The promise in verse 15 is that Jesus said HE would instantly heal us when we turn to Him. But are we listening? Are we really turned to HIM? Or are we just pretending?
Therefore, do not define for yourself and say you are not pretending. Then you would be healed in many areas of your heart and life.
Offense, pride, jealousy, strife, and envy will make a person deliberately close the eyes of their heart and choose to show contempt and not listen to the truth, but will stubbornly hold on to their own positions of right and wrong. This is what teenagers tend to do, thinking they are invincible and know everything. Most adults are still stuck in their teenage years. So, wake up and listen to do rather than listen because you are required to do so. Otherwise, you will become a spiritual airhead who cannot understand anything. And you will wonder why everyone else is getting somewhere, and you are still on crumbs?
Additional Comments:
Many people say they are willing to listen. But since God’s ways are higher than us, HE will speak from the one you are offended, the one you despise, the one you show contempt, the one who is younger than you, the one whom you are jealous of, your nagging spouse, your mean husband, what you view as not understanding parents, and of course, your pastors.
You have to discern from the noise when God does speak to you from a person you do not want to give an ear to
Are you humbled enough to hear God from any of their mouths, or will you shut down like a typical teenager?
The point God will watch is whether you are willing to listen.
Senior Pastor Steve Kim