“SEE BUT NEVER PERCEIVE!”

 Matthew 13:10-16                       (ESV)

The Purpose of the Parables

“[10] Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” [11] And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. [12] For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [13] This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. [14] Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: 

    “‘“You will indeed HEAR BUT NEVER UNDERSTAND,

        and you will indeed “SEE BUT NEVER PERCEIVE”.” 

    [15] For this people’s HEART HAS GROWN DULL,

        and with THEIR EARS CAN BARELY HEAR,

        and THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED,

    lest they should SEE WITH THEIR EYES

        and HEAR WITH THEIR EARS

    and UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART

        AND TURN, and I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

    [16] But BLESSED are YOUR EYES, for THEY SEE, and YOUR EARS, for THEY HEAR.”

What we SEE is not always what we are looking at!  Think about it, my profile picture on most social media sites is a photo taken of me in a park in the town where my sons went to college in 2008. The picture is unedited and, because of the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007, should NOT reflect what one would think anyone would want to be remembered by when their name is mentioned!  All of my physical abilities were functioning properly, but the mental sharpness wasn’t quite where it was before!  Being “Brain Damaged” is a “relative” term, we have to consider from what condition we are comparing the damaged brain???  For me, this photo is a memory of GOD’s Deliverance and Grace!

How we PERCEIVE something that we SEE is probably a result our experiences and revelations.  There are VERY FEW people who can testify about having a Brain Hemorrhage since in 2007 the fatality rate was near 80%!  Drawing attention to something that GOD used to SLOW ME DOWN and GLORIFY HIS NAME is humbling, AND GLORIOUS at the same time!  JESUS quotes Isaiah 6 when THE LORD instructs Isaiah to tell HIS people “You will indeed HEAR BUT NEVER UNDERSTAND, and you will indeed “SEE BUT NEVER PERCEIVE”.  

Others can “hear” about the Brain Hemorrhage experience of 2007, but they CANNOT “experience” the disconnection of having gone where few people have been.  Likewise, we who are Born Again (John 3:3), have experienced something that is extremely different than what “this world” has to offer.  While it might appear to some that I “glory” in the Brain Hemorrhage, ALL PRAISE and GLORY is due to the ONLY ONE WHO could delivered me from the “valley of the shadow of death”!!!  I am NOT special, but the HOLY ONE I speak about is!!!

My prayer is that YOU WILL NOT be as one whom JESUS spoke about when HE said you indeed will “SEE BUT NEVER PERCEIVE”!