John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:14

"And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:" — Matthew 13:14 (ASV)

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. He confirms his statement by a prediction of Isaiah, that it is far from being a new thing if many people derive no advantage from the word of God, which was formerly appointed to the ancient people to induce greater blindness.

This passage of the Prophet is quoted in various ways in the New Testament. Paul quotes it (Acts 28:26) to charge the Jews with obstinate malice, saying that they were blinded by the light of the Gospel because they were bitter and rebellious against God. There he points out the immediate cause which appeared in the people themselves.

But in the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 11:7), he draws the distinction from a deeper and more hidden source. For he tells us that the remnant was saved according to the election of grace, and that the rest were blinded, according as it is written.

The contrast must be observed there; for if it is the election of God, and an undeserved election, which alone saves any remnant of the people, it follows that all others perish by a hidden, though just, judgment of God. Who are the rest, whom Paul contrasts with the elect remnant, but those on whom God has not bestowed a special salvation?

Similar reasoning may be applied to the passage in John (John 12:38). For he says that many believed not, because no one believes except the one to whom God reveals his arm, and immediately adds that they could not believe, because it is again written, Blind the heart of this people.

This is also Christ's objective when He ascribes it to the secret purpose of God that the truth of the Gospel is not revealed indiscriminately to all, but is exhibited at a distance under obscure forms, so as to have no other effect than to cover the minds of the people with deeper darkness.¹⁸⁶

In all cases, I admit, those whom God blinds will be found to deserve this condemnation. But as the immediate cause is not always obvious in people, let it be held as a fixed principle that God enlightens to salvation, and that by a peculiar gift, those whom He has freely chosen; and that all the reprobate are deprived of the light of life, whether God withholds His word from them, or keeps their eyes and ears closed, so that they do not hear or see.

Hearing you shall hear. We now perceive how Christ applies the prophet's prediction to the present occasion. He does not quote the prophet’s words, nor was it necessary, for Christ considered it enough to show that it was no new or uncommon occurrence if many were hardened by the word of God. The words of the prophet were:

Go, blind their minds, and harden their hearts (Isaiah 6:10).

Matthew ascribes this to the hearers, so that they bear the blame for their own blindness and hardness, for the one cannot be separated from the other. All who have been given over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28) voluntarily, and from inward malice, blind and harden themselves.

Nor can it be any other way wherever the Spirit of God, by whom the elect alone are governed, does not reign. Therefore, let us pay attention to this connection: all whom God does not enlighten with the Spirit of adoption are people of unsound mind; and while they are more and more blinded by the word of God, the blame rests wholly on themselves, because this blindness is voluntary.

Again, ministers of the word should seek consolation from this passage if the success of their labors does not always correspond to their wish. Many are so far from profiting by their instruction that they are made worse by it. What has happened to them was experienced by a Prophet,¹⁸⁷ to whom they are not superior.

It would, indeed, be wished that they should bring all under subjection to God, and they ought to labor and strive for that end. But let them not wonder if that judgment, which God displayed in ancient times through the ministry of the Prophet, is also fulfilled today. At the same time, we should be extremely careful that the fruit of the Gospel is not lost through our negligence.

¹⁸⁶ “En sorte que c’estoit tousiours pour esblouir de plus en plus les yeux de l entendement du peuple;” — “so that it was always to dazzle more and more the eyes of the understanding of the people.”;” — “so that it was always to dazzle more and more the eyes of the understanding of the people.”

¹⁸⁷ “Il leur advient ce que le Prophete Isaie a experimente;” — “it happens to them what the Prophet Isaiah experienced.”;” — “it happens to them what the Prophet Isaiah experienced.”