EYES THAT DO NOT SEE, EARS THAT DO NOT HEAR. MARK 8:18.
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? (Mark8:18).
”Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear” (Jeremiah 5:21).
On the question – ‘what it means that have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?’ - God has answered Himself.
In the Bible God shows that in the innermost recesses of their hearts people are unbelieving, disobedient, stubborn, rebellious, idolaters; focused on all the other things of this world rather than on Him. Even those who call themselves Christians often do not really see who Jesus is, what He has done and what God’s promises are, instead are living in fear, doubt and unbelief.
People harden their hearts and could come to the point when there is no remedy for them anymore.
The same as in the case of the Egyptian pharaoh and other examples given in the Bible, today is nothing changed. When people harden their hearts by living according to their own understanding, feelings and without God; or only with occasional remembering Him, then naturally they become or already are spiritually blinded. Never they can understand the things of God and His Kingdom. They are not able to perceive the advice from God, which if applied, could heal their broken spirits, hearts, souls and bodies.
People pray to dead people though there is only One to whom we are allowed - in spirit and in truth - to pray, to God alone.
People bow down in front of paintings, photos and even in front of mere human beings, though we are allowed to bow down only in front of Jesus our Lord and God,- in our Spirit and Truth.
People eat ‘sanctified’ (blessed food) without understanding what that means and is that acceptable to God.
People baptise babies when God has not commanded or advised them to do so; perform many rituals; pray to Mary who is the same human being as we all are, and was just an instrument in God’s hands just as we are.
People go to churches but getting out of them, forget the very words of God – to love each other, and live their lives only for themselves gossiping, slandering, cheating, fighting etc., not looking around with a loving heart.
People live following traditions but not to that what God is saying. And many more.
They may see but never perceive which means - do not understand fully or understand in part.
Jesus said: “… this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matthew 13:15).
In that is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. Israelites, though, they sought and experienced the love, goodness, enormous help and other blessings of God - stayed rebellious and unbelieving. So it is spoken not only to them but also to all the other nations of the earth. To all who stay unbelieving and rebellious. Even when God’s works are seen overall.
Acts 14:17-24; Romans 1:19-20….
In Ezekiel 12:2 God is speaking about rebellious people. “They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”
Because of our own obstinate spirit, because we tend to rely on ourselves, trust other people more than God, we are leading our lives on our own, and so challenge Holy God. Not really a wise thing to do.
And so it is written: “God gave them - a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day” (Romans 11:8).
To all of them who reject Him, “about whom heavens declare His glory, and skies proclaim the work of His hands.’ (Psalm 19).
Any time we depart from God’s loving care and His Word, we stop seeing the truth and became blinded by all kinds of the evil of this world which is dangerous for our lives, families, peace etc...
To see and hear, ask Jesus every day to open your ears and enlighten the eyes of your heart (Mark 8:22-25). Believe, you will receive great revelations.
If more you ask if more He gives. He promised to give you Holy Spirit who will help you to understand, to see and to hear things which were hidden for you; and are hidden for the most of the world.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
With refreshing you will be revived, you will clearly see and hear. From right seeing and hearing comes all spiritual blessings and you will enter the rest of God.
“…for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10).
And try not to be in a close relationship with those who say that there is no God. Only fools say there is no God. Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1; Psalm 10:4. They can lead you away from the truth.
God’s greatest desire is that every person comes to Jesus and are saved. After submitting your spirit, heart, mind, soul, and body to HIM, take your stand and then
“lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf” (Isaiah 43:8).
Jesus said: "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. (John 16:12-14 ).
Dear child of God, make Jesus your King and Shepherd. Be filled with the Holy Spirit which your heavenly Father has sent to you in Jesus name. Jesus lives in you. Give thanks to Him, praise Him, pray and read the Bible may you are enabled to see and hear.
”And Jesus said unto them: ‘unto you (who believe) it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God: but unto them (who do not believe and reject God’s wisdom) that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted (repent), and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12).
” And Jesus’s disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be? And He said, Unto you, it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” (Luke 8:9-10).
“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13).
Do not harden your heart today and may “…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come….” Ephesians 1:17-21.
Let's pray together:
Dear, heavenly Father! We praise You and thank You for Your love for us and great promises. We pray may Your good, Holy Spirit always counsel us and give us the wisdom to see, hear and perceive it clearly.
Dear Father, thank You; in precious Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
(Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17-19; Isaiah 11:2).
Taste and see that the LORD is good
(Ps.34:8).
