HAPPY EYES AND EARS

Matthew 13:16-17, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears because they hear. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

The term “blessed” can otherwise be translated as “happy.” What makes for happy eyes and ears? Eyes that see and ears that hear!

Jesus taught in parables (Matthew 13:3). The disciples asked him why (Matthew 13:10)? He explained that truth is revealed as God dictates (Cf. Matthew 11:25-27). Those who could hear were privileged to know, those who could not hear were not. This was to fulfill what Isaiah prophesied, “You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive” (Matthew 13:14; Isaiah 6:9).

Most do not understand. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Most are blind to the truth: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The context of our passage speaks to this. The sower went out to sow, but more often the seed fell on unfruitful soil (Matthew 13:3-9; 19-23). Jesus spoke in parables, but most did not understand. The prophets and righteous men desired to see (ESV, “longed to see”), but were not privileged to see.

Helen Keller was only two years old when an illness struck her blind and deaf. Unable to communicate with the outside world her life was filled with a despair that one can only imagine. Miss Anne Sullivan was brought to assist her and worked patiently to break through the darkness. One day she and "Teacher"—as Helen always called her—went to the outdoor pump. Miss Sullivan started to draw water and put Helen's hand under the spout. As the cool water gushed over one hand, she spelled into the other hand the word "w-a-t-e-r" first slowly, then rapidly. Suddenly, the signals had meaning in Helen's mind. She knew that "water" meant the wonderful cool substance flowing over her hand. Quickly, she stopped and touched the earth and demanded its letter name and by nightfall she had learned 30 words. Helen later wrote of the experiences of that day: “As we continued to the house every object which I touched quivered with life. That was because I saw everything with a strange, new sight that had come to me. It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib…and for the first time longed for a new day to come.”

Beloved, the “Teacher” has worked to remove your spiritual blindness and deafness! The ability to see and hear is a privilege that has been granted to you by God. Remember the day when the Spirit first brought opened your eyes to the truth! Words that had previously lacked meaning and import were made precious. A longing for the truth was Spirit-borne into your heart! What a precious day it was when your eyes and ears were made happy by God!

• 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

• 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God.”

• “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

You have happy eyes and ears! You are privileged as most on earth are not. Others long for Bibles, you have many. Others believers around the world meet in secret and risk persecution and arrest, you have the freedom to openly gather to fellowship and learn. Don’t take for granted that which God has so graciously given. Happy eyes are made happier still as they are fixed upon the Savior (Hebrews 12:2). Happy ears rejoice to hear Him speak through His Word (John 10:27; Colossians 3:16). He has many more things to show you and to tell you about (1 Corinthians 2:9). Be glad for keen sight and good hearing!

Charles Spurgeon, “Happy men to be chosen to such a privilege! Grace has opened y our eyes and ears. Blessed are your eyes, for they see. What wonders, treasures, revelations do they see! Eyes are blessed which gaze upon the mysteries of divine love. Blessed are your ears, for they hear; hear something sweeter than the song of angels, even the voice of everlasting love from the heart of Jesus. You have learned the great secret; the counsel of the Lord has been revealed to you, and you are blessed. You under the gospel are made to know what the greatest and best of men under the law could not discover. The shortest day of summer is longer than the longest day in winter; and you, ye humble ones, under the gospel dispensation see more of truth in Jesus than the best of saints could see before he came. There is no doubt about this, for Jesus sets the seal of—“Verily I say unto you”--upon the statement. Favored above all others are those whose regenerated faculties both see and hear the truth of God. Are we among this blessed number? If so, let us praise the Lord for so great a boon. Truly to hear the gospel and to see its blessings is a high favor. The love and gratitude which we show in return should be great indeed!”

Pastor Jerry