Read Matt. 13:10-17; Isaiah 6:8-13, See but don’t Perceive

In this case it is Jesus who says that the prophecy of Isa. 6:9-10 was fulfilled in the people in His day.  To understand how this fits consider the context of each passage.

·        The context of Isa. 6:8-13.  Isaiah 6 records Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne room, his confession of and cleansing from sin, and his call to ministry.  Isa. 6:1 says it was in the year that King Uzziah died.  This was a prosperous time in Judah, but not a particularly positive time spiritually.  Isaiah’s ministry will not be successful in terms of people turning to the Lord.  But the extent of this “seeing but not perceiving” is what is important.  The LORD says this will continue until the cities are laid waste, the land utterly desolate, and the people removed far away.  After this desolation there will be restoration that includes the salvation of the nation: it will begin with “the holy seed.”  One might first think that this refers to Babylon and then the restoration as the post-exilic time.  But that doesn’t fit.  Post-exile Israel is not the holy nation.   

·        The context of Matt. 13:10-17.  We have described the situation in recent posts.  The leaders are plotting to destroy Jesus.  Jesus, with the parables of Mt. 13, is beginning to lay the foundation for the time between the advents.  It is clear from the disciples’ question in 13:10 that the parables are a new “wrinkle” in Jesus’ ministry.  The parables become a way of fulfilling the prophecy, increasing the blindness of Israel.

Let us remind ourselves of the spiritual truth in this for us.  In 13:11, who gave the disciples the ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom?  God did, of course.  And God did not give this ability to the general populace.  Why?  Mt. 13:12 answers the question.  The disciples were “given” because they already had.  The people did not have knowledge and thus lost what little they had.  Verse 12 is a general spiritual principle that goes beyond the immediate situation.  In this context, it should be seen alongside the parable Jesus just told and was about to explain.  Furthermore, Jesus is telling us that this principle explains the prophecy of Isaiah and its fulfillment. 

We should also note that this same passage from Isaiah is repeated two more times in the NT.  Jesus repeated these words in John 12:39-41, at the end of the final days in Jerusalem.  That is also appropriate as the fulfillment had brought the nation to the place of crucifying their Messiah.  The Apostle Paul refers to this testimony in Acts 28:24-28.  He had arrived in Rome, under arrest.  But there, in that chief city of the world, he met with the Jewish leaders and explained Jesus to them.  Some were persuaded, but some disbelieved.  It is a fitting end to the book of Acts.  It would not be long before Jerusalem, the temple and the nation would be made desolate by the Roman destruction of 70AD. 

Lastly, do not overlook Mt. 13:17.  Even though Jesus’ disciples struggled to understand what was happening, they were blessed.  They were seeing things the prophets had longed to see, things which angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:12).  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us (Heb. 11:40).  What are we doing with the truth that has been imparted to us by God, through the Holy Spirit?  Failure to grow by that word leads to losing the truth we have.  Oh Lord, make us faithful to obey the truth we have in Christ!