Open Eyes, Full Hearts
Scripture: Matthew 13:11-17 [The Message]
11-15He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again:
Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
so they won’t have to listen;
They screw their eyes shut
so they won’t have to look,
so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
and let me heal them.
16-17“But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.
Observation(s): Jesus is telling stories to all who have come to listen. Speaking to His followers He says that they (uneducated and held in contempt in society) have been given wisdom about how G-d’s Kingdom works. Most can not possess this gift of understanding. One must have a “ready heart” otherwise the comprehension and intuitiveness falls away and does not flow freely. Stories create readiness to gently push people into acceptance of the Truth. Jesus says when one is not receptive to the Kingdom, they have ears and eyes that do not listen or see as recorded in Isaiah, they just don’t get it. He tells them [disciples] that they have eyes and ears that are blessed by G-d to see and hear of the Kingdom. Many saints, professed believers, and those who claim to speak for G-d would do anything to have the opportunity to see and hear, but will never have the chance.
Application(s): Is my heart ready? Are my ears and eyes open? Do I dilute myself into thinking that they [my eyes and ears] are open because I am a professed Christian? Do I have spiritual understanding of G-d’s Kingdom? When talking about the Kingdom with my family or friends do I create “readiness” or do I push to hard with my know-it-all demeanor? Am I gentle in my approach when talking about the Kingdom? When given the opportunity to be given insight have I squandered it?
Prayer: Lord, forgive me where my heart has not been receptive. I truly want to understand your Kingdom better than I have in the past. Give me open eyes and ears so that I will be receptive to the Holy Spirit in what He is telling me. Give me a gentle spirit when talking about You to others so they will have open eyes and ears. Give me a chance–to hear and see!
