David Bahn – Reflections

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I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Matthew 13; Psalm 78; Isaiah 37; Jeremiah 5.

Matthew 13:1-17

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”

¹⁰ Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 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.
¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
¹⁵ For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

My Masters of Divinity Thesis was an examination of Matthew 13, with the title, “Why Do You Speak to them in Parables?” A Look at Jesus’ Use of Parables in Matthew 13. Well…that is at least close to the title. I studied specifically the question of the disciples, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” I also studied Jesus’ answer: “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. Indeed in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled,” quoting the passage about dull hearts, closed ears, and unseeing eyes. 

Jesus spoke in parables to fulfill prophecy. This is what God had ordained by speaking these words through his prophet Isaiah. It would surely come true. As soon as it was spoken it was bound to happen. Sadly, moreover, the prophecy was about the faithlessness of God’s very own people!

Psalm 78 is an overview of Israel’s history – sad as it was in so many ways. You would think they would learn. Time after time they receive God’s blessings, grow complacent, lapse into faithlessness and apostasy. Time after time they repent and God restores them, only to have the cycle repeated again and again.

Ours may not be blatant gross outbursts of sin. We may not rob banks, abuse children, or live licentiously. God may not have to call us back from such faithlessness. But we’ve already learned from Jesus (Matthew 5) that to call a brother a fool is tantamount to murder. And to look upon a woman lustfully is the same as committing adultery. We have spoken words we ought not to have spoken in fits of rage, and done things in a season of weakness that are far from God’s laws.

Perhaps our lives are a mirror of Israel’s. We hear but do not hear. We see but do not see. We have dull hearts.

Thankfully, however, that’s not the whole story. For God determined to redeem a wayward and erring Israel. While we were still sinners Christ died for the unjust. We have been saved.

So just as the disciples had to do, draw near to Jesus and learn what these parables mean. Take heart that he is sowing good seed. Rejoice that he will be the final judge. Know in your heart that he knows who is his.

And who are his? Those who yearn for his redemption, who seek to live under his reign and rule, who trust in his promises, and have seen and heard – through the witness of Jesus’ disciples – Jesus’ words of grace and truth.