Matthew 13:16-20

Mat 13:16 (KJB)
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Then Jesus tells the disciples that they are blessed because all hardness to the true Gospel has been removed. They are able to hear physically the Gospel and to understand what they are hearing. They will hear more of the Gospel and they will increase in understanding. Then their spiritual eyes have been opened and were able to discern the great miracles which they were seeing and that resulted in them knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ was from God and those miracles and mighty works were ordained of God.

Mat 13:17 (KJB)
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Down through the ages there were many of God’s prophets and also those who were saved who had desired to see and understand the things that the disciples were seeing and hearing right now. The mystery of Christ was not revealed until now.

Abraham - (John 8:56 KJV) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Jacob - (Gen 49:18 KJV) I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

David - (Psa 14:7 KJV) Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Isaiah and the righteous men - (Isa 25:9 KJV) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Mat 13:18 (KJB)
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Then Jesus begins to give the understanding of the parable of the sower which started off this chapter. The word Jesus uses for “hear” is the word that means to hear with understanding, especially since they are able to understand spiritual things.

Mat 13:19 (KJB)
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

If you remember the wayside was a pathway which was so hard that it was like tempered brick and when the seeds fell on it, the hardness disallowed the seeds from penetrating it. It is akin to the person that hears the Gospel and because their hearts are so hardened, when they hear the Gospel it does not penetrate their heart but instead Satan steals away what has been sown because it did not penetrate. You can see this kind of person sitting in church who is more concerned with making out tomorrow’s works schedule than their own soul or someone who falls asleep in church because they are bored being there. The Gospel does not penetrate these people because they are hardened. Many world religious leaders are like that as they become more and more steeped in their false religions and become more hardened to the true Gospel every day.

Mat 13:20 (KJB)
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Anon - Immediately

Then if you remember the stony places where the soil looked the same topically but underneath a plate of stone prevented the plant from growing strong, instead it would wither in certain weather conditions. This type of person hears the Gospel and then receives it with much joy. They may be at some type of church where there is tongue speaking or promises of health and wealth and they hear that message and joyfully accept it. They may be in a regular church and hear the Gospel message and receive it with much joy. (Heb 6:4 KJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Just liken the person in Hebrews 6 who is a partaker of the Holy Spirit and tasted of the heavenly gift. They may be in a church where they sing the old hymns and hear the word of God being preached and for those few moments are partaking of the kingdom of God with the saved. Yet, they remain unsaved and attempt to be like the Christians in the church and have a feeling of spiritual euphoria which they think is salvation.

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