Therefore speak I to them in parables: because seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Read Chapter 13
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Because seeing they see not i.e. they see not as they might, and ought to do, by shutting their eyes against the lights given them.
Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not This passage, by which the prophet Isaias (vi. 9.) was ordered to foretell the obstinate blindness of the Jews, in refusing to receive and believe in their Messias, is cited six times in the New Testament; to wit, here in St. Matthew, also Mark iv. 14) is grown gross . and their eyes they have shut The Jews therefore shut their own eyes, hardened their own hearts, which God only permitted. See Romans ix. 18. (Witham)
If this blindness were natural, then indeed I would have opened their eyes to see and understand, but since this blindness is voluntary, he says, that seeing they see not, and hearing, they hear not; i.e. they have seen me cast out devils, and they said, in Beelzebub he casteth out devils; they heard I drew all to God, and they say, this man cometh not from God. Since, the...
It were meet then, one may say, to have opened their eyes, if they see not. Nay, if the blindness were natural, it were meet to open them; but because it was a voluntary and self-chosen blindness, therefore He said not simply, They see not, but, seeing, they see not; so that the blindness is of their own wickedness. For they saw even devils cast out, and said, By Beelzebub, prince of the devils, He casts out the devils. Matthew 12:14 They heard Him guiding them unto God, and evincing His great unanimity with Him, and they say, This man is not of God. John 9:16 Since then the judgment they pronounced was contrary both to their sight and hearing, therefore, says He, the very hearing do I take away from them. For they derive thence no advantage, but rather greater condemnation. For they not only disbelieved, but found fault also, and accused, and laid snares. However, He says not this, for it is not His will to give disgust in accusing them. Therefore neither at the beginning did He so di...
Take heed. Here the problem is solved of those who say that some are evil by nature, or by God’s intent. For they argue that Christ Himself said, "It is given unto you to know the mysteries, but to the Jews it is not given." But we say, with God, to those who speak such things, that God makes everyone by nature to understand what is necessary. For God "enlighten-eth every man that cometh into the world" (Jn. 1:9). But it is our own will and inclination that casts us into darkness. This is made clear even here. For Christ says that although they see by nature, that is, they were created by God to understand, they by their own choice do not see. And hearing, that is, by nature created by God to hear and to understand, they by their own choice do not hear, nor do they understand. Tell me, did they not see the miracles of Christ? Yes, they did, but they made themselves blind and condemned Him. So this is the meaning of "seeing they see not." Then He brings forward the prophet as further wi...
