He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Not to anyone, but to the Spirit of God.

The disciples were curious as to why Jesus was speaking in parables to the people. His answer I am sure threw them for a loop. It was probably not what they were expecting to hear. For me, trying to understand Christianity, and my faith, beckons similar questions. Why is it that Christians are divided by political party, by social issues, by worldly conditions? This world is not our home and if this world is not our home, why are some Christians bent on preserving a way of life that never was?

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them,
Jesus: “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’”

Matthew 13:10-15

Writer upon writer, recent and those long gone, pastors, Bible scholars, women of faith, evangelists, and self-proclaimed apostles, (some of celebrity status) can write about their insights, and some of their experiences and interpretations resonate with me, but if I read the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit never fails to give me understanding. I have learned to put to test every word that proceeds from the mouth of man. If man’s interpretation does not align with God’s word, I reject it. God is faithful. When I sought God, He found me. Trying to understand the behaviors and attitudes of Christians doesn’t always make sense to me. It’s difficult to understand Christian parents that send their children to top secular universities, then are aghast when their child is faced with the things of the world? And trying to understand the Christian condoning contentious personalities, pointing fingers at a condemned world, going with the worse of two evils, as if such a thing were possible – is a discouraging task. But God is faithful. God appoints leaders to do His will. Period. Jesus warned of the multitude of Pharisees in the church then, and today. So, the chances are much higher that I would encounter a Pharisee rather than a true follower of Jesus Christ.
I have been taught to expect that God will give people over to a debased mind that are already caught up in some kind debauchery, but it’s not always the sins we expect to see that defile a man.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:18-23

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:28-32

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:6-13

So many Pharisees quote Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! This is also a trait of the Pharisees, if it weren’t, they would not have crucified Jesus. More today, than yesterday, I am hard-pressed to find truth, that is the truth of God. To have ears to hear the things of God that is my prayer.

be blessed.