Thought for the Day Fridagy 21 July 2023

 Matthew 13:12-15

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.  ¹⁴ This fulfils 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.  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.’ 

In verses 14 and 15 from today’s reading, Jesus is quoting directly from the Old Testament book of Isaiah (ch6, 9-10).  Paul quotes the same passage in Acts 28:26-27.  It made me think that if this specific passage appears not once, but at least three times in the bible then it must be important.  I followed this up by searching the bible to see if it appeared anywhere else and found over a hundred references about people who hear and do not understand and see, but still don’t believe. 

For everyone who attends a service of worship on a Sunday or any other day, most ministers or worship leaders will probably have spent quite a bit of time preparing their order of service which will include a sermon/message/reflection.  Bearing in mind today’s extract from scripture, it suggests that we won’t all get the message that the minister intends us to get. Some may take different things from the lesson.  Some may get a lot out of it, some may take very little from it.  Some may be so pre-occupied with what’s going on in their day to day lives that they might take nothing at all from it.  Exactly the same situations arose in biblical times, in the Old Testament, during the ministry of our Lord and during the ministry of the Apostles following the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

Worship for many of us will just be that hour on a Sunday morning.  We should pray for the ability and willpower to set aside this time for spiritual things and to open our hearts for the teaching and message prepared for us.  Our reading tells us that any knowledge we gain will be a foundation for more knowledge to be built upon. If we are unable to listen, even the knowledge we have will be taken away.   

Prayer - Father, thank you for sending Jesus to live the truth, speak the truth, and reveal the truth so that we might know your will and your love more clearly. Open our eyes and hearts and reveal to us your truth as we seek after Jesus by searching your Scriptures and listening to the preaching of your word.  Open our ears to hear your voice and to understand the truths that are hidden in your word.  May we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and be used by you to advance your kingdom in this life and in ways that you find acceptable. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.