16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 13:16-17 (NASB)
Blessed to see and hear
The disciples are blessed with seeing eyes and hearing ears. Yesterday Jesus told us that some have been granted (by God’s grace) to know Heavenly mysteries and others haven’t been. If we could understand why, we would be equal with God. But we know that His ways are higher and ours just as His thoughts are (Isaiah 55:8-9). There is a reason, and a very good one at that. Ours is to accept the facts, give thanks for hearing ears and seeing eyes then share with others who have received this same grace. Since we don’t know who they are, we share with everyone!
Old Testament saints
Jesus tells His disciples how indeed blessed they are. So many in the Old Testament died without hearing the amazing truths Jesus is sharing and without seeing the promised Messiah. They had spiritual eyes that could see and they had a good sample of the truths Jesus is teaching, but not the whole picture. As Hebrews 11 tells us, these “heroes of the faith” believed in things they never received on this earth. They demonstrated a living faith that we are commended to emulate. Their faith led to their salvation.
So we also, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.” Though we have a better understanding and picture of God’s eternal plan, we are still far from fully grasping it. The key difference between these OT saints and us is that we know the Messiah has come and brought salvation through His death and by His resurrection, brought life.
RЯeflection
- How are you giving thanks today for this grace to hear and see these spiritual truths? It’s not by anything we have done. It’s solely by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Now that we’ve received this grace, are we doing the good works He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10)?
