Matthew 13:15
For this people's heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.'
For this people’s heart has grown callous;

Jesus applies Isaiah’s commission to His own generation. Like Judah in Isaiah’s day, many had received God’s revelation repeatedly yet had become resistant to it.

Isa 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears…
Zec 7:12 They made their hearts like flint and would not listen…
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding…

they hardly hear with their ears,

God’s word was publicly read in synagogues and taught by Jesus, but many heard without receiving its authority. Their failure was moral and spiritual, not caused by insufficient evidence.

Zec 7:11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn…
Jer 5:21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people……
Isa 42:20 Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch.…

and they have closed their eyes.

The people’s blindness was willful. Jesus’ works, teaching, and fulfillment of Scripture plainly testified to His identity, yet many refused to acknowledge Him as the promised Messiah.

Act 28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous;…
Isa 29:10 For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep.…
Jhn 12:40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts…

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

God’s truth was displayed in Christ’s words and works. Those who receive the light God gives are brought into clearer understanding.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened…
Jhn 9:39 Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come…
Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire……

hear with their ears,

Hearing in Scripture requires obedient attention. Faith comes through hearing God’s message, but hearing that produces faith is marked by humble reception.

Mrk 7:37 The people were utterly astonished and said,…
Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing…
Pro 20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both…

understand with their hearts,

Biblical understanding reaches the inner person, affecting the mind, desires, and will. God grants such understanding so that His truth produces repentance rather than mere information.

1Ki 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart…
Pro 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge……
Eph 1:18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,…

and turn,

Turning describes genuine repentance: abandoning sin and self-rule in order to return to God. Jesus proclaimed this response throughout His ministry because the kingdom of heaven had drawn near.

Act 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped…
Ezk 18:30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you…
Luk 1:16-17 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back…

and I would heal them.’

God promises restoration to those who repent and believe. The healing reaches beyond physical relief to forgiveness, reconciliation, and the renewal of a life wounded by sin.

2Ch 7:14 if My people who are called by My name humble themselves…
Jer 33:6 Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing…
Hos 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is teaching in parables to the crowds and explaining the purpose of parables to His disciples.

2. The Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are given insight into the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

3. The Crowds
The general populace who hear Jesus' parables but do not understand them fully.

4. Isaiah the Prophet
The Old Testament prophet whose words Jesus quotes to explain the spiritual condition of the people.

5. The Kingdom of Heaven
The central theme of Jesus' teaching, representing God's reign and rule.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Perception
The verse highlights the importance of having a heart open to God's truth. Spiritual perception is not just about hearing words but understanding and accepting them.

The Danger of Hardness of Heart
A hardened heart can lead to spiritual blindness and deafness. We must guard against becoming desensitized to God's voice.

The Role of Repentance
Jesus emphasizes the need for repentance as a means to heal spiritual blindness. Turning to God with a repentant heart opens the way for understanding and healing.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus' use of Isaiah's prophecy shows the continuity of God's message and the fulfillment of His word through Christ.

The Responsibility of Hearing
Hearing God's word comes with the responsibility to respond. We are accountable for what we hear and understand.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the condition of the heart affect one's ability to understand spiritual truths, as described in Matthew 13:15?

2. In what ways can we guard against spiritual blindness and deafness in our own lives?

3. How does the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Matthew 13:15 enhance our understanding of Jesus' mission and message?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure our hearts remain open and receptive to God's word?

5. How do other scriptures, such as John 12:40 and Hebrews 3:7-8, reinforce the message of Matthew 13:15 regarding spiritual perception and response?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 6:9-10
Jesus quotes this passage to explain the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people, showing a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.

John 12:40
This verse echoes the theme of spiritual blindness and hardening of hearts, reinforcing the message of Matthew 13:15.

Acts 28:26-27
Paul references the same Isaiah passage when addressing the Jews in Rome, highlighting the persistent issue of spiritual insensitivity.

Hebrews 3:7-8
This passage warns against hardening one's heart, similar to the condition described in Matthew 13:15.

Ezekiel 12:2
God describes Israel as a rebellious house with eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, paralleling the condition Jesus describes.
The Beginning of ParablesP.C. Barker Matthew 13:1-23
Parable of the SowerMarcus Dods Matthew 13:3-23
DeceitfulnessW. Jay.Matthew 13:7-22
Riches Like ThornsVenning.Matthew 13:7-22
The Deceitfulness of RichesMatthew 13:7-22
The Deceitfulness of RichesH. W. Beecher.Matthew 13:7-22
The Soul has a Limited Capacity for GrowthF. W. Robertson.Matthew 13:7-22
The Word ChokedMatthew 13:7-22
WorldlinessMatthew 13:7-22
Good GroundB. Keach.Matthew 13:8-23
Growth Precious Because PerilousF. W. Robertson.Matthew 13:8-23
Qualifications for the Reception of God's TruthMatthew 13:8-23
The Reason of the ParableJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 13:10-17
Divine IlluminationF. Close. M. A.Matthew 13:13-17
People
Esaias, Isaiah, James, Jesus, Joseph, Joses, Judas, Mary, Simon
Places
Nazareth, Sea of Galilee
Topics
Asleep, Callous, Calloused, Close, Closed, Converted, Dull, Ears, Fat, Fear, Gross, Grown, Haply, Hardly, Heal, Hearing, Heart, Hearts, Heavily, Heavy, Lest, Mind, Minds, Otherwise, People's, Perceive, Perhaps, Prevent, Return, Scarcely, Seeing, Shut, Slow, Stupefied, Turn, Turning, Understand, Understanding, Waxed, Wise
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 13:15

     5016   heart, fallen and redeemed
     5147   deafness
     5149   eyes
     5885   indifference
     6178   hardness of heart

Matthew 13:1-23

     2357   Christ, parables

Matthew 13:1-32

     4506   seed

Matthew 13:1-52

     2345   Christ, kingdom of

Matthew 13:3-19

     4121   Satan, enemy of God

Matthew 13:3-43

     4007   creation, and God

Matthew 13:9-17

     5159   hearing

Matthew 13:10-15

     2363   Christ, preaching and teaching
     5263   communication

Matthew 13:10-17

     2369   Christ, responses to
     6710   privileges

Matthew 13:11-15

     1445   revelation, responses

Matthew 13:11-17

     6185   imagination, desires

Matthew 13:13-15

     2366   Christ, prophecies concerning
     8355   understanding

Matthew 13:13-23

     8319   perception, spiritual

Matthew 13:14-15

     2333   Christ, attitude to OT

Library
Toleration
(Preached at Christ Church, Marylebone, 1867, for the Bishop of London's Fund.) MATTHEW xiii. 24-30. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the household came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

'To Him that Hath Shall be Given'
'Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.'-- MATT. xiii. 12. There are several instances in the Gospels of our Lord's repetition of sayings which seem to have been, if we may use the expression, favourites with Him; as, for instance, 'There are first which shall be last, and there are last which shall be first'; or, again, 'The servant is not greater than his master, nor the disciple than his lord.'
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Leaven
'The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and bid to three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'--MATT. xiii. 33. How lovingly and meditatively Jesus looked upon homely life, knowing nothing of the differences, the vulgar differences, between the small and great! A poor woman, with her morsel of barm, kneading it up among three measures of meal, in some coarse earthenware pan, stands to Him as representing the whole process of His work in the world. Matthew brings
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Ears and no Ears
'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.--MATT. xiii. 8. This saying was frequently on our Lord's lips, and that in very various connections. He sometimes, as in the instance before us, appended it to teaching which, from its parabolic form, required attention to disentangle the spiritual truth implied. He sometimes used it to commend some strange, new revolutionary teaching to men's investigation--as, for instance, after that great declaration of the nullity of ceremonial worship, how that nothing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Seeing and Blind
'They seeing, see not.'--MATT. xiii, 13. This is true about all the senses of the word 'seeing'; there is not one man in ten thousand who sees the things before his eyes. Is not this the distinction, for instance, of the poet or painter, and man of science--just that they do see? How true is this about the eye of the mind, what a small number really understand what they know! But these illustrations are of less moment than the saddest example--religious indifference. I wish to speak about this now,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Four Sowings and one Ripening
'The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto Him, so that He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 8. And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 6. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Mingled in Growth, Separated in Maturity
'Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Treasure and Pearl
The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: 46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.'--MATT. xiii. 44-46. In this couple of parables, which are twins, and must be taken together, our Lord utilises two very familiar facts
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord Jesus Explaineth the Parables of the Sower.
1. Both yesterday and to-day ye have heard the parables of the sower, in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do ye who were present yesterday, recollect to-day. Yesterday we read of that sower, who when he scattered seed, "some fell by the way side," [2507] which the birds picked up; "some in stony places," which dried up from the heat; "some among thorns, which were choked," and could not bring forth fruit; and "other some into good ground, and it brought forth fruit, a hundred, sixty, thirty fold."
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 52, "Therefore Every Scribe who Hath Been Made a Disciple to the Kingdom of Heaven," Etc.
1. The lesson of the Gospel reminds me to seek out, and to explain to you, Beloved, as the Lord shall give me power, who is "that Scribe instructed in the kingdom of God, who is "like unto an householder bringing out of his treasure things new and old." [2524] For here the lesson ended. "What are the new and old things of an instructed Scribe?" Now it is well known who they were, whom the ancients, after the custom of our Scriptures, called Scribes, those, namely, who professed the knowledge of the
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Sown among Thorns
WHEN that which comes of his sowing is unfruitful, the sower's work is wasted: he has spent his strength for nothing. Without fruit the sower's work would even seem to be insane, for he takes good wheat, throws it away, and loses it in the ground. Preaching is the most idle of occupations if the Word is not adapted to enter the heart, and produce good results. O my hearers, if you are not converted, I waste time and energy in standing here! People might well think it madness that one whole day in
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

The Parable of the Tares, by Bishop Latimer, Preached on the 7Th of February, 1553.
MATTHEW XIII.--The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way, &c. This is a parable or similitude wherein our Saviour compared the kingdom of God, that is, the preaching of his word, wherein consisteth the salvation of mankind, unto a husbandman who sowed good seed in his field. But before we come unto the matter, you shall first learn to understand what this word parable, which
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

A Man Reaps More than He Sows.
A MAN REAPS MORE THAN HE SOWS. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."--Matt. xiii: 8. If I sow a bushel, I expect to reap ten or twenty bushels. I can sow in one day what will take ten men to reap. The Spaniards have this proverb: "Sow a thought and reap an act. Sow an act, and reap a habit. Sow a habit, and reap a character. Sow a character and reap a destiny." And it takes a longer time to reap than to sow. I have heard
Dwight L. Moody—Sowing and Reaping

The Christian Society
Scripture references: Matthew 13:31-33; 5:21-24; Mark 8:1-9; John 2:1-11; Luke 5:29; 14:13; 1 Peter 2:17; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 11:28-30; 12:50; Luke 15:5,6,8-10; John 17:11-15; Luke 5:29,30; Mark 1:28-33; Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:13-15. THE SOCIAL CIRCLE The Word Society is used to designate the set of people with whom we are on more intimate terms of acquaintanceship--whom we call friends--and those whom we do not know so well, and whom we call acquaintances. The term society may also have other
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

The First Great Group of Parables.
(Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision A. Introduction. ^A Matt. XIII. 1-3; ^B Mark IV. 1, 2; ^C Luke VIII. 4. ^a 1 On that day went Jesus out of the house [It is possible that Matthew here refers to the house mentioned at Mark iii. 19. If so, the events in Sections XLVIII.-LVI. all occurred on the same day. There are several indications in the gospel narratives that this is so], and sat by the sea side. ^b 1 And again he began again to teach by the sea side. [By the Sea of Galilee.] And there
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus visits Nazareth and is Rejected.
^A Matt. XIII. 54-58; ^B Mark VI. 1-6; ^C Luke IV. 16-31. ^b 1 And he went out from thence [from Capernaum] ; and he cometh { ^a And coming} ^b into his own country; and his disciples follow him. ^c 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up [As to this city, see pages 14 and 55. As to the early years of Jesus at Nazareth, see page 60]: ^b 2 And when the sabbath was come ^c he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. [This does not mean
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake of Galilee, and those to the Disciples in Capernaum
We are once more with Jesus and His disciples by the Lake of Galilee. We love to think that it was in the early morning, when the light laid its golden shadows on the still waters, and the fresh air, untainted by man, was fragrant of earth's morning sacrifice, when no voice of human discord marred the restfulness of holy silence, nor broke the Psalm of Nature's praise. It was a spring morning too, and of such spring-time as only the East, and chiefly the Galilean Lake, knows - nor of mingled sunshine
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Second visit to Nazareth - the Mission of the Twelve.
It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the center of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod's residence at Tiberias [3013] would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage in our Lord's history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Infancy and Youth of Jesus --His First Impressions.
Jesus was born at Nazareth,[1] a small town of Galilee, which before his time had no celebrity.[2] All his life he was designated by the name of "the Nazarene,"[3] and it is only by a rather embarrassed and round-about way,[4] that, in the legends respecting him, he is made to be born at Bethlehem. We shall see later[5] the motive for this supposition, and how it was the necessary consequence of the Messianic character attributed to Jesus.[6] The precise date of his birth is unknown. It took place
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Leaven.
"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."--MATT. xiii. 33. In the mustard-seed we saw the kingdom growing great by its inherent vitality; in the leaven we see it growing great by a contagious influence. There, the increase was attained by development from within; here, by acquisitions from without. It is not that there are two distinct ways in which the Gospel may gain complete
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

The Hidden Treasure.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."--MATT. xiii. 44. These two parables, the hidden treasure and the costly pearl, are even more closely allied to each other than the two which precede them. Generically they teach the same truth; but they teach it with distinct specific differences. It will be most convenient to notice in connection with the first,
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son.
LUKE xv. The three parables of this chapter, like the seven in Matt. xiii., constitute a connected series. As soon as we begin to look into their contents and relations, it becomes obvious that they have been arranged according to a logical scheme, and that the group so framed is not fragmentary but complete. We cannot indeed fully comprehend the reciprocal relations of all until we shall have examined in detail the actual contents of each; and yet, on the other hand, a preliminary survey of the
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

The Group in Matt. xiii.
"The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables."--MATT. xiii. 1-3. In Matthew's narrative, the first specimen of that peculiar pictorial method which characterized the teaching of our Lord, is not an isolated parable occurring in the midst of a miscellaneous discourse, but a group of seven presented
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

The Sower.
"The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

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