For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they 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.’
Healing here means deliverance from every evil: when God lifts His hand of punishment, He restores a man to health. But mark this well, repentance is not the cause of pardon, as if God showed mercy to converted men because they deserved it. Conversion itself is already a mark of His free favor.
AI summary
Christ preached both morning and afternoon the same day, unwearied in doing good. Though His enemies opposed and interrupted Him before, the afternoon brought no such discouragements. Resist difficulties in God's service, and they will flee. The poor receive the Gospel where the pomp of religion is least.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 13:1-23
The disciples saw Christ not as the patriarchs saw Him through promise, nor as the old saints through types and shadows, but with eyes opened to know His personal and transcendent glories, His fullness as Mediator, His suitableness as Saviour. They heard not mere words, but understood the mysteries of grace spiritually and experimentally.
AI summary