Matthew 13:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But when John relating this expresses it thus, Therefore they could not believe because Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them, (John 12:39) this seems to be opposed to this interpretation, and to compel us to take what is here said, Lest they should see with their eyes, not as though they might come to see after this fashion, but that they should never see at all; for he says it plainly, That they should not see with their eyes. And that he says, Therefore they could not believe, sufficiently shows that the blindness was not inflicted, to the end that moved thereby, and grieving that they understood not, they should be converted through penitence; for that they could not, unless they had first believed, and by believing had been converted, and by conversion had been healed, and having been healed understood; but it rather shews that they were therefore blinded that they should not believe. For he speaks most clearly, Therefore they could not believe. But if it be so, who would not rise up in defence of the Jews, and pronounce them to be free from all blame for their unbelief? For, Therefore they could not believe, because he hath blinded their eyes. But because we must rather believe God to be without fault, we are driven to confess that by some other sins they had thus deserved to be blinded, and that indeed this blinding prevented them from believing; for the words of John are these, They could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes. It is in vain then to endeavour to understand it that they were therefore blinded that they should be converted; seeing they could not be converted because they believed not; and they could not believe because they were blinded. Or perhaps we should not say amiss thus—that some of the Jews were capable of being healed, but that being puffed up with so great swelling pride, it was good for them at first that they should not believe, that they might understand the Lord speaking in parables, which if they did not understand they would not believe; and thus not believing on Him, they together with the rest who were past hope crucified Him; and at length after His resurrection, they were converted, when humbled by the guilt of His death they loved Him the more because of the heavy guilt which had been forgiven them; for their so great pride needed such an humiliation to overcome it. This might indeed be thought an inconsistent explanation, did we not plainly read in the Acts of the Apostles that thus it was. This then that John says, Therefore they could not believe, because he hath blinded their eyes that they should not see, (Acts 2:37) is not repugnant to our holding that they were therefore blinded that they should be converted; that is to say, that the Lord’s meaning was therefore purposely clothed in the obscurities of parables, that after His resurrection they might turn them to wisdom with a more healthy penitence. For by reason of the darkness of His discourse, they being blinded did not understand the Lord’s sayings, and not understanding them, they did not believe on Him, and not believing on Him they crucified Him; thus after His resurrection, terrified by the miracles that were wrought in His name, they had the greater compunction for their great sin, and were more prostrated in penitence; and accordingly after indulgence granted they turned to obedience with a more ardent affection. Notwithstanding, some there were to whom this blinding profited not to conversion.

He lived among us, achieving our redemption during His time on earth, before ascending back to heaven to sit upon His Throne of glory. His redemptive message was proclaimed by His holy apostles across the globe, and those who embrace their saving message receive salvation. The prophets of the one Savior, the Son of God, foretold His coming, while the apostles testified of His arrival and the salvation He fulfilled. The faithful in the Old Testament placed their trust in the future Messiah and found salvation; likewise, those of the New Covenant believe in the coming Christ and are eternally rescued. Therefore, the same Christ serves as the Savior for believers throughout both the Old and New Testaments. As Christians, our singular focus should be to honor our Lord and Savior Jesus, the heavenly King, as we await His second coming to grant us eternal salvation through His works and suffering. His first coming has already occurred, and His second is yet to come. The prophets announced, "Christ is coming into the world." Indeed, Christ entered quietly and unexpectedly: "He came like rain upon the fleece, and like a drop that drops to the earth" (Psalm 71:6). As for His return, church leaders proclaim, "Christ will come into the world; He will appear once more—unforeseen yet with great majesty." Just as citizens prepare for their king's arrival, we as Christians should anticipate our Heavenly King's coming and ready ourselves for a worthy encounter with Him. Especially since the timing of His return remains unknown, it is crucial to remember He will not come to live, teach, or suffer again—those events have already transpired—but rather to judge and reward each according to their deeds. Let us strive to be vigilant and prepared for our King's arrival, mindful of His urging words: "Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). May we stand at His right hand when He comes.

One might ask, what is the fault of a person who lacks this openness to God’s word? Why should they lose even what little they possess? Our response is that the yearning for divine knowledge is inherent in all rational beings. Yet, many have clouded their understanding with various false beliefs and hardened their hearts, leading them to be resistant to God's message. They may echo frivolous assertions, claiming the Gospel contains many mysteries, causing them to avoid engaging with it. This refusal is their own shortcoming, resulting in the loss of the understanding they once had.

However, if these same individuals approach the word of God without preconceived notions and read it with faith and a genuine desire to comprehend, they will undoubtedly gain understanding. The more they immerse themselves in the profundity of this message, the more their insight will grow, revealing the brilliance and clarity of divine truth. Blessed are their eyes, for they see; blessed are their ears, for they hear. Many prophets from the Old Testament longed to witness what they foretold, and many righteous individuals yearned for the advent of the Messiah and to hear Him. Yet, they did not see or hear Him. But blessed are your eyes, for they behold, and your ears, for they hear.

In response to their question about why He taught in parables, He explained that this was the most effective way to instruct the people, who, as He noted, ‘who seeing see not, and hearing hear not, nor understand.’ This echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘the heart of these people is hardened, and they hear with their ears, and shut their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts.’ He hoped that these outward symbols would remain in their memories, allowing them to later reconsider their deeper meanings when more receptive. It is only to those chosen disciples that it is granted ‘to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,’ enabling them to serve as proclaimers of these mysteries, and to whom the Saviour could offer insights into the external symbols of the parable.

Additionally, the prophets were not bestowed with the same profound mysteries and insights as the apostles. Therefore, the apostles surpass the prophets in two significant ways: they beheld Christ in the flesh and grasped the divine mysteries with a greater spiritual understanding than the prophets did.

6:9-10), as referenced by the Evangelist Matthew from the LXX version, originally addressed the people during Isaiah's time. Those who lived during the Savior's ministry were not any better than the ancestors; rather, they were even more obstinate, remaining deaf and blind to the proclamations and miracles of the Messiah. This condition did not apply to the Lord's disciples, who were granted spiritual insight, able to hear the words of eternal life (John 6:68). They were favored with special acknowledgment in contrast to the righteous of the Old Testament, for He said, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I tell you, many prophets and righteous individuals longed to see what you see but did not witness it, and to hear what you hear but did not encounter it,” referring to St. John Chrysostom’s note on “the manifestation of Christ in the flesh, His miracles, and His teaching.”