Matthew 13:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You may argue that if they did not perceive the truth, it was essential for them to open their eyes. Indeed, if their blindness were a natural condition, it would be fitting to seek clarity; however, since their blindness was voluntary and stemmed from their own choices, He did not merely state, “they see not,” but rather, “seeing they see not.” This indicates that their lack of vision was rooted in their own moral decay. They witnessed Him driving out demons and remarked, “He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons” (Luke 11:15). They recognized that He guided them towards God and acted in accordance with divine intent, yet proclaimed, “This Man is not from God” (John 9:16). In this way, they contradicted what they had both seen and heard.

This passage addresses the issue regarding those who claim that the unrighteous are inherently designed by God as such. They assert that Christ Himself indicated, "To you it is given to know the mysteries, but to the Jews it is not given." Engage with God on behalf of those who express this viewpoint: God has created all people with the inherent capacity to comprehend spiritual truths, for He illuminates every individual who enters the world; however, our own choices can lead to our spiritual blindness. This concept is also highlighted here.

This is the reason I use parables when speaking to them; they look but do not perceive, and they listen but do not comprehend, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah which declares, ‘By hearing you will hear, that is, you will hear distinctly but not understand; and when you see you will see distinctly but not perceive.’ This refers to those who remain at the shore, distanced from Jesus, and because of the tumult of the waves, they cannot clearly hear the message being communicated. The prophecy of Isaiah is realized in their midst: By hearing you will hear but will not grasp, and by gazing with your eyes you will see but will not truly understand (Isaiah 6:9). This is foretold concerning those crowds who linger at the shore, unworthy of receiving the word of the Lord. Thus, we will approach Jesus along with His disciples to seek clarification of the parable, so we are not counted among those who possess sight and hearing but lack true understanding.

When they observe the wonders I carry out with their physical eyes, they shut their spiritual eyes; and when they listen to my words with their physical ears, they close their spiritual ears, leading to their complete unbelief. To illustrate that He refers to spiritual blindness and deafness, He further stated: ‘nor understand.’ Understanding involves perceiving and hearing with the soul. Since they listened but failed to comprehend, it was both just and wise to communicate with them through parables—just, because their willful negligence rendered them unworthy of receiving pure teachings; wise, because by challenging the comprehension of divine mysteries, they would incur a more severe judgment upon themselves.

If Jesus proclaimed, "Wherefore I speak unto them in parables, that seeing they see not," it may not solely be the Jews' misunderstanding, but rather the manner in which Christ communicated that led to their confusion. Here, He articulates, "Wherefore I speak unto them in parables, that seeing they see not." This suggests that the issue was not with Christ's clarity, but with those who, despite listening, were unwilling to truly hear. Their inability to understand His parables stemmed not from His choice of expression, but rather from their own lack of insight. Consider how they witnessed the wonders performed by Moses; did they truly perceive them? If they had, would they not have shown reverence for God, the Creator of such wonders?

Thus, I convey my messages through parables so that, while they may perceive with their physical eyes, they do not use their spiritual vision, for they willingly shut it; and although they hear with their ears, they are not inclined to listen with their spirit, as they choose not to comprehend, and thus they remain ignorant, unworthy, and incapable of understanding. Their spiritual blindness and deafness stem from their own moral decay. They witnessed me casting out demons and asserted that ‘He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons’ (Luke 11:15); they listened as I guided them to God and acted in complete accordance with God’s will, yet they claimed ‘This man is not of God’ (John 9:16). They behaved in opposition to what they witnessed and heard, leading me to permit them to reach a state of utter insensitivity to the truths that could save them.

After Jesus had shared the parables, His disciples approached Him, inquiring, ‘Why do you teach them in parables?’ Christ replied, ‘I use parables because while they see, they do not perceive; and while they hear, they do not comprehend or grasp the meaning. They are not truly blind or deaf, but have been misled by their false instructors, the scribes and Pharisees, which has dulled their ability to recognize the signs they have witnessed and the lessons they have received.

Despite its remarkable simplicity and clarity, even the disciples struggled to grasp its significance. Upon the Saviour’s return to Simon Peter’s home in Capernaum, they eagerly sought an explanation. This inquiry demonstrated that the parable had profoundly impacted them and stirred a thought within them that yearned for understanding. The Saviour readily provided the apostles, who would be the future bearers of His mission, with a thorough elucidation of the parable.

"Seeing they see not": Consequently, should they not have opened their eyes if they remained blind? If this blindness were inherent to their nature, it would have been appropriate for them to see; yet since this affliction was chosen and stemmed from their own volition, He did not merely state, "seeing they see not," but rather: "seeing they do not see," indicating that their blindness arose from their own moral decay. They witnessed Him casting out demons and attributed His actions to Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. They recognized that He led them towards God and performed everything in accordance with divine intent, yet declared, "He is not of God" (John 9:19).