Matthew 13:10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
To look at life from a spiritual vantage point is a daunting task without some help. God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to be able to grow in our faith and see from a spiritual perspective. In the above scripture, we see the disciples are wondering why Jesus is always speaking in parables or stories. Jesus told them they were "permitted' to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others were not. Jesus went on to say that an abundance of knowledge would be given to those who listen and look. Those who don't listen will miss what He is saying and what little knowledge they have will be taken away from them. Jesus concludes by saying "they look, but they don't see and they hear, but they don't understand."
My wife and I traveled to our son's home in Dothan, Alabama. On the five hours + trip, we tried to lessen the amount of road time, so we notice things along the way. Out of the blue, I noticed a particularly large house back from the road that I could see through the trees. I said, "Look at that huge house!" My wife looked over there, but she missed it. Sometimes we can notice things that others don't see and it is because of our vantage point. Jesus' apostles were given eyes to see things that others could not see and hear things others could hear but not understand. The great way that God has enabled us to experience His great knowledge is through His Word. The Prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 13:15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
We cannot access this great knowledge from God if we are not willing to learn it from God's Word and understand it through the presence of the Holy Spirit. All understanding that is perfect comes from our Heavenly Father who is in heaven. To understand and live our life in accordance with God's Wisdom takes effort and many are not willing to make that effort, so their eyes remain blinded to the truth. Blinded in this case is a much more serious condition because as believers we cannot grow and thrive without the truth of God. The Apostle Paul totally understood that the new converts of his day needed to be well-equipped for the new life as followers of the way and it was his desire to see them confident and informed. Ephesians 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
The world will try to compromise our spiritual vision and give us spiritual cataracts, thus limiting our sight. But our God is always showing us the way to go with a vision that is fine-tuned by a spiritual understanding that only those who have been born-again can experience. Jesus prayed this to the Father. John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
God will give us vision if we will seek Him with all our hearts. Begin the search today!!
The Pilgrimage Continues...
David Warren