MATTHEW 13:13–14 “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.”

KEYWORD: God desires that we submit to His plan and learn from Him, so we can become faithful stewards of everything He has entrusted into our hands.

It is clear that whatever you do not give attention to understanding and preserving will eventually be lost. If you have labored to build something that you desire to last, would you willingly hand it over to someone who shows no concern for preserving or expanding it? Certainly not.
Many families have seen their wealth disappear simply because it was handed over based on affection rather than proven responsibility and ability. This teaches us something important: although God loves us deeply, He is not indifferent to the purpose and vision He has for His kingdom. He desires that we submit to His plan and learn from Him, so we can become faithful stewards of everything He has entrusted into our hands.

In essence, whether you grow in Christ or gradually lose what you have received is closely tied to your response. God always does His part faithfully. He reveals, He teaches, He calls. The question is whether you will respond rightly to what He has shown you.
Or will you be like those described in the opening scripture? They see, but do not perceive the deeper meaning behind what they see. They hear, but do not truly understand what they have heard. Over time, their lack of attention and response dulls their spiritual senses, until truth no longer makes the impact it once did.

As a believer, have you ever spent time wondering why another brother or sister seems to keep increasing in grace, wisdom, and spiritual strength, while your own life appears stagnant?
Perhaps the wiser step is to humbly ask what they are doing differently. You may discover that they are simply responding to instructions you once considered too small or too demanding to follow. You may notice their consistency in prayer, their commitment to meditating on God’s Word, and their deliberate effort to apply what they hear.
Such people have made a decision: they intend to grow and not decline. Do you desire the same outcome? Then you can make a different response today. Shalom.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that there have been areas where I have been blind to Your truth and deaf to Your voice. Today I ask that You open my eyes and ears so that I may perceive the deeper meaning of what You reveal to me. Help me to walk in the fullness of Your light and glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
MATTHEW 13:15-17
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”*