Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:15

"For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them." — Matthew 13:15 (ASV)

They had deadened their own faculties. Perversity in sin had made them heartless, and deaf, and blind to all spiritual things. Thus, they blocked up the way of salvation against themselves and used their utmost diligence to prevent their own conversion.

It was only just that the truth should reach them in a manner that would condemn rather than convert. If it had come in any other form but the parabolic, they would not even have condescended to listen to it.

In that form, truth would have been more clearly seen than in any other, if they had been willing to see it; but as they were unwilling, the emblem became a dark lantern, shutting the light from them. If men will willfully close their eyes, the very light shall blind them.

Thus, when the Lord passes anyone by, it is due to their sin; but when He chooses anyone, it is not because they are better, but that He may make them better.

This passage teaches that the possession of faculties is a small thing unless we properly use them. Men should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts. If they turn to Christ He will heal them, even of gross hearts, and dull ears, and closed eyes. But, alas! there is a generation that will not be converted, for they are proud of their blindness and grossness.