Hindrances To Belief-Hard Heart, Blind Eyes, Deaf Ears

[Richard B. Shepard]

HARD HEART, BLIND EYES, DEAF EARS

Let’s look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 13 and see how our belief is hindered.  
Let’s pick the story up in verse 9.  

“AND ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR SHOULD LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.”  

Throughout the Bible, we’re commanded to listen to God.  Each of us must make the choice to truly listen and believe what God says.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”  
He replied, “You are permitted to understand
the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but others are not.

To those who listen to my teaching,
 more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.  
But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding
they have will be taken away from them.”

“That is why I use these parables, for they look but they don’t really see.
 they hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.  
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand.  When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.’ ”

Jesus explains again.  When we don’t understand God’s words or actions, we’re looking with hollow eyes, and aren’t truly listening.

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and
 their ears cannot hear, and
they have closed their eyes
so their eyes cannot see and
their ears cannot hear and
 their hearts cannot understand, and
they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.

Listen to the words of Jesus, precious people.  When we can’t understand or can’t hear what God is saying, it’s because of our hard hearts.  When we have a hard heart, we can’t turn to Jesus.  We can’t be healed as long as our hearts are hard.  Our hard hearts stop our soul, mind, and body from being healed.

**Believe God Discipleship Library-Book 1

Western Meadows-Believe God