This Is Gonna Hurt

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 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. [Matthew 13.10-12]

God's Word has a design. That design prevents it from being understood by those with no desire to listen to it or understand it. The depth of the meaning of this is beyond comprehension, but it is true. God engages those who engage Him.

In the case of Jesus, He expounded more to those who had made the conscious choice to follow Him - His disciples. He used parables for the crowds, but to those who left all to follow Him, He gave further insight and explanation.

What is most revealing is what Jesus proceeds to say following the passage above:

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. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 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.’ [Matthew 13.13-15]

If ever we have had the question why we are not healed, Matthew 13.15 answers it without obscurity. We are not healed because we do not understand. We do not understand because we do not want to. We do not want to because we do not truly follow Jesus.

Ouch. That puts a different light on things!

I would be really worried about making such a claim if Jesus Himself did not say it with clarity in Matthew 13. God help us.

Father, I need and want to examine my heart and obedience to You. I know I 'say' I want to follow Jesus, but do I really? I am not healed for a reason, and that reason, according to Jesus, is that I have not truly submitted to Him... Forgive me for my fallacy - may I be found fully submitted to Jesus as He fully submitted Himself to You on my behalf.