Mat. 13:13 ... "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
In this chapter Matthew records a series of seven parables of Jesus to demonstrate various features of the kingdom of God which was soon to be established. The occasion was one when "great crowds gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach, (v.2). Although Jesus often resorted to parables as a form of instruction, it seems that on this particular day He used it exclusively, for we are told that "all these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, He said nothing to them without a parable," (v.34). It was rather unusual for Him to limit His approach to one form of teaching, and His disciples were somewhat puzzled over it. At one point they asked, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" (v.10). Jesus answered them with the statement quoted above, (v.13).
Jesus' objective was not to mystify people with cryptic expressions or enigmas to point them in conflicting directions. His purpose was rather to make plain to them the truth that could save them. There were, however, those who came to Him for other reasons than to hear truth. They were men of evil heart who only wanted to debate, ridicule, and try to destroy Him. It was with a view to them that Jesus couched the great principles from God in the form of parables. His enemies would not bother to try to penetrate their simple surface and discover the meaning within. But the sincere, truth seeking disciples would. It was unto the latter that He exclaimed, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear," (v.16). In other words, Jesus was following His own directive: "Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you," (Mat. 7:6). He was presenting to those who were appreciative His great lessons in protective verbal coverings.
It has always been true that there are people who see but do not see, and who hear but do not hear. And neither seeing nor hearing, they never understand. The "seeing" in this context does not refer to visual perception. Neither does the "hearing" refer to audient ability. Jesus' opponents saw and heard the same things His disciples did. What Jesus was talking about was minds that are open to receive and believe the truth, that are sympathetic and will accept the truth with joy unto their salvation. Those are the people whom the Lord will bless with the precious gift of understanding and the ability to apply it with wisdom.
Our prayer to God should always be that He help us guard ourselves from hardening our hearts to the point where we can no longer see or hear the truth. Our concern must be to find out what creates such an obdurate mind and resist its formation within us. Jesus in this chapter points out three factors in the Parable of the Sower. First is our exposure to God's enemies, who persistently work to pick the truth out of the minds of prospective disciples, (v.19). Second is having a mind so shallow that truth cannot penetrate it far enough to take permanent hold, (vs. 20-21). Third is being more interested in worldly treasures that bring temporary pleasure, but then vanish forever, than in spiritual treasures that bless the owner both now and forever, (Mat. 6:19-22). Beyond these factors which hinder the assimilation of truth, others are revealed elsewhere in the New Testament so that we might be careful to avoid them. Self-righteousness and pride, for example, were the two major mental barriers that blocked the truth from the Pharisees and scribes. Foolishness and levity are sometimes denounced as things that prevent people from apprehending truth. Prejudice, malice, and moral perversion are other forces that disable people from receiving truth and benefiting from it.
