Matthew 13:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They not only failed to listen, but ‘they could hardly hear.’ The Lord states this, emphasizing their refusal to return so that He might restore them, thus revealing their obstinacy in wickedness and their intentional distancing from Him. He expresses this to draw them closer, to inspire them, and to demonstrate that if they would repent, He would bring healing. Just as one might say, ‘He did not acknowledge me, which is fine; yet if he had come to see me, I would have swiftly offered him my compassion, illustrating the path to reconciliation,’ the Lord similarly proclaims, ‘And let them not turn, that I may heal them,’ indicating that they may indeed repent and attain salvation. He does not act solely for His own glory but for their deliverance.

Observe the words of the prophecy! It is not due to a lack of understanding that I have hardened your heart, but rather because it has become hardened after being soft to begin with, as all that is hardened was once soft. When the heart became hardened, they chose to close their eyes. I did not claim that God closed their eyes; rather, they closed them of their own accord. They did this intentionally to avoid repentance, so that I might not restore them. By their wicked desire, they sought to remain both unhealed and unrepentant.

The phrase ‘let them not turn back, and I will heal them’ illustrates a particular obstinacy. It signifies that if they choose to turn, He will bring them healing. He expresses this with the intention that they may find salvation, as He could have remained silent altogether. However, His actions are not solely for His own honor but rather for the purpose of their redemption.

They closed their eyes to avoid seeing, indicating that their own actions led to God blinding them. As noted by another Gospel writer, their eyes were indeed made blind. The question arises whether this blindness was intended to ensure they would never see or just to prevent them from seeing, even momentarily. This blindness filled them with self-dislike and sorrow, compelling them to acknowledge their sins and seek God devoutly. The holy Apostle Mark states, "Let them never be converted, and their sins be forgiven them" (Mark 4:12), suggesting their sins warranted a lack of understanding. Yet, through this very act, there was divine grace extended to them to recognize their transgressions and, upon turning back to God, earn forgiveness.

He explains why they fail to perceive when they look and do not comprehend when they listen: it is due to the heaviness of this people's hearts, He states, and they struggle to hear with their ears. To clarify that this hardening of the heart and the inability to hear is not merely a natural occurrence but stems from their own free will, He adds the weight of personal responsibility, saying: ‘And they closed their eyes so that they would not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts, and turn so that I might heal them.’ Consequently, those who deliberately close their eyes refuse to acknowledge the truth, engaging with teachings that are veiled in parables and enigmas.

The hearts of these individuals were hardened, influenced by jealousy and various sins; as a result, they became mentally detached. Their ears were unresponsive, and their eyes were dulled... The reference to ears and eyes pertains to the soul; being ‘unresponsive’ indicates they were spiritually deaf. “Not when they shall see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I will heal them.” The phrase ‘let not when’ can be understood in the sense that it is possible, as the Apostle mentions, “with gentleness I will correct my adversaries, so that God might grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). The Lord referenced this prophetic statement, believing it futile to preach to such a people.

Faith embraces the hidden truths of the kingdom. It enriches those who possess it, leading to an abundance of blessings; however, those who lack it will see even what they hold taken from them. This underscores the deprivation of the law due to the absence of faith. Without faith, the Jews forfeited the law that they once had. Consequently, evangelical faith is a complete gift, as the faith that is welcomed brings forth new harvests, while the faith that is dismissed also diminishes previous blessings.

Why is it that numerous individuals struggle to comprehend discussions regarding spiritual matters? The answer lies in the heaviness of their hearts. When the heart is saturated with desires for worldly pursuits, it becomes hardened, as it is expressed: ‘shrink, thicken, enlarge’. In this state, it acts like a cumbersome weight that drags down the entire soul and binds its intellect to earthly attachments. Consequently, it perceives everything within a narrow scope of lowly concerns, becoming small-minded and incapable of ascending to lofty heights, much like a bird weighed down by its own food. As it remains fixated on base interests, it becomes blind to the truths that soar above, and its entire treasure trove of thoughts becomes distasteful to it.

The hearts of this people have become dull through envy and other wickedness, and their ears are barely attentive, listening with resentment, while their eyes remain shut. Consequently, they do not perceive with their eyes or hear with their ears; they cannot understand with their hearts, all in an effort to avoid turning back so that I might heal them. However, if they chose to turn and repent, I am prepared to restore them from this grave spiritual affliction. This is why I communicate in parables—to capture their interest, stimulate their contemplation of My teachings, and awaken their slumbering conscience.

Despite its remarkable simplicity and clarity, even the disciples struggled to grasp its significance. Upon the Saviour's return to the apostle Peter's home in Capernaum, they eagerly sought clarification. This inquiry demonstrated that the parable left a profound impact on them and sparked a need for comprehension. The Saviour, recognizing the apostles as future stewards of His mission, readily provided them with an in-depth explanation of the parable. When questioned about His use of parables to address the crowds, the Saviour indicated that this method was the most effective means of conveying His teachings to those 'who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, nor understand'.

"Let them not perceive with their eyes, etc.: this explains why they rejected the gospel: the depravity and corruption within their hearts; 'they did it, saith the Lord, 'that they would not turn, that I might heal them,' illustrating their obstinacy in wickedness and their willful departure from Him. He conveys this message to draw them near, to awaken their hearts, and to demonstrate that if they repent, He will heal them, offering them the chance for salvation through their turning away from sin, emphasizing that His actions are motivated not by a desire for personal glory but for their redemption. In Scripture, sin is frequently likened to illness, while the forgiveness of sin is symbolized as healing."

After the Lord had sent the crowds away and entered the house, He was alone with His disciples. Those gathered around Him, including the twelve apostles, approached Him and inquired, "Why do You address them in parables?" He responded, "This is why: to you has been granted the understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been granted.