{"id":44300,"date":"2021-03-19T11:43:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T08:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44300"},"modified":"2025-05-06T03:56:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T00:56:47","slug":"why-did-jesus-say-in-mark-412-so-that-they-may-indeed-see-but-not-perceive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/03\/19\/why-did-jesus-say-in-mark-412-so-that-they-may-indeed-see-but-not-perceive\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Jesus Say in Mark 4:12, “So that they may indeed see but not perceive…”?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The <\/span>Question:<\/span><\/strong>
In <\/span>Mark <\/span>4:<\/span>12<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>says:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c…<\/span>so <\/span>that \u2018<\/span>they <\/span>may <\/span>indeed <\/span>see <\/span>but <\/span>not <\/span>perceive, <\/span>and <\/span>may <\/span>indeed <\/span>hear <\/span>but <\/span>not <\/span>understand, <\/span>lest <\/span>they <\/span>should <\/span>turn <\/span>and <\/span>be <\/span>forgiven.\u2019\u201d (<\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This <\/span>verse <\/span>seems <\/span>puzzling. <\/span>Didn\u2019t <\/span>Jesus <\/span>come <\/span>so <\/span>that <\/span>people <\/span>would <\/span>repent <\/span>and <\/span>be <\/span>forgiven? <\/span>Why <\/span>would <\/span>He <\/span>speak <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>way <\/span>that <\/span>might <\/span>prevent <\/span>that?<\/span><\/p>\n

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The <\/span>Context:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

To <\/span>understand <\/span>this, <\/span>we <\/span>need <\/span>to <\/span>look <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>context. <\/span>Earlier <\/span>in <\/span>Mark <\/span>4<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>had <\/span>just <\/span>told <\/span>the <\/span>Parable <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Sower<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span>a <\/span>large <\/span>crowd. <\/span>However, <\/span>He <\/span>didn\u2019t <\/span>immediately <\/span>explain <\/span>its <\/span>meaning <\/span>to <\/span>them. <\/span>He <\/span>simply <\/span>told <\/span>the <\/span>story <\/span>and <\/span>left <\/span>it <\/span>at <\/span>that. <\/span>Later, <\/span>when <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>alone, <\/span>His <\/span>disciples <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>others<\/span><\/strong> came <\/span>to <\/span>Him <\/span>and <\/span>asked <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>meaning <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>parable (<\/span>Mark <\/span>4:<\/span>10).<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus <\/span>then <\/span>responded:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>To <\/span>you <\/span>has <\/span>been <\/span>given <\/span>the <\/span>secret <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>kingdom <\/span>of <\/span>God, <\/span>but <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>outside <\/span>everything <\/span>is <\/span>in <\/span>parables,<\/span>
so <\/span>that \u2018<\/span>they <\/span>may <\/span>indeed <\/span>see <\/span>but <\/span>not <\/span>perceive, <\/span>and <\/span>may <\/span>indeed <\/span>hear <\/span>but <\/span>not <\/span>understand, <\/span>lest <\/span>they <\/span>should <\/span>turn <\/span>and <\/span>be <\/span>forgiven.\u2019\u201d (<\/span>Mark <\/span>4:<\/span>11\u2013<\/span>12, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jesus <\/span>was <\/span>quoting <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>6:<\/span>9\u2013<\/span>10<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>where <\/span>God <\/span>tells <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>people’s <\/span>hearts <\/span>are <\/span>hardened, <\/span>and <\/span>though <\/span>they <\/span>hear, <\/span>they <\/span>won\u2019t <\/span>understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why <\/span>Did <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Speak <\/span>in <\/span>Parables?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

At <\/span>first <\/span>glance, <\/span>it <\/span>seems <\/span>like <\/span>Jesus <\/span>was <\/span>trying <\/span>to <\/span>hide <\/span>the <\/span>truth. <\/span>But <\/span>His <\/span>intention <\/span>wasn\u2019t <\/span>to <\/span>deliberately <\/span>withhold <\/span>salvation. <\/span>Rather, <\/span>He <\/span>used <\/span>parables <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>filter<\/span><\/strong> \u2014 <\/span>to <\/span>separate <\/span>those <\/span>truly <\/span>seeking <\/span>God <\/span>from <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>were <\/span>just <\/span>curious <\/span>or <\/span>entertained <\/span>by <\/span>miracles.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>crowds <\/span>followed <\/span>Jesus <\/span>for <\/span>different <\/span>reasons. <\/span>Many <\/span>were <\/span>fascinated <\/span>by <\/span>His <\/span>miracles (<\/span>John <\/span>6:<\/span>2), <\/span>but <\/span>few <\/span>were <\/span>genuinely <\/span>seeking <\/span>the <\/span>truth. <\/span>Parables <\/span>required <\/span>listeners <\/span>to <\/span>reflect, <\/span>to <\/span>hunger <\/span>for <\/span>deeper <\/span>understanding, <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>approach <\/span>Jesus <\/span>privately <\/span>for <\/span>clarification \u2014 <\/span>just <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>disciples <\/span>did.<\/span><\/p>\n

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God <\/span>Reveals <\/span>Truth <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Hungry<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

God <\/span>never <\/span>forces <\/span>truth <\/span>on <\/span>anyone. <\/span>He <\/span>reveals <\/span>more <\/span>of <\/span>Himself <\/span>to <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>genuinely <\/span>desire <\/span>Him:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>You <\/span>will <\/span>seek <\/span>me <\/span>and <\/span>find <\/span>me, <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>seek <\/span>me <\/span>with <\/span>all <\/span>your <\/span>heart.\u201d (<\/span>Jeremiah <\/span>29:<\/span>13, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>For <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>one <\/span>who <\/span>has, <\/span>more <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>given, <\/span>and <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>one <\/span>who <\/span>has <\/span>not, <\/span>even <\/span>what <\/span>he <\/span>has <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>taken <\/span>away.\u201d (<\/span>Luke <\/span>19:<\/span>26, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The <\/span>people <\/span>who <\/span>didn\u2019t <\/span>pursue <\/span>Jesus <\/span>after <\/span>hearing <\/span>the <\/span>parables <\/span>essentially <\/span>demonstrated <\/span>that <\/span>they <\/span>weren\u2019t <\/span>interested <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>truth. <\/span>As <\/span>a <\/span>result, <\/span>their <\/span>spiritual <\/span>blindness <\/span>remained \u2014 <\/span>not <\/span>because <\/span>Jesus <\/span>wanted <\/span>them <\/span>blind, <\/span>but <\/span>because <\/span>they <\/span>had <\/span>already <\/span>chosen <\/span>to <\/span>shut <\/span>their <\/span>eyes<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Self-<\/span>Hardened <\/span>Hearts<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>deeper <\/span>issue <\/span>lies <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>condition <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>heart. <\/span>Consider <\/span>what <\/span>Paul <\/span>says <\/span>when <\/span>quoting <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>passage <\/span>from <\/span>Isaiah:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c…\u2018<\/span>You <\/span>will <\/span>indeed <\/span>hear <\/span>but <\/span>never <\/span>understand, <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>indeed <\/span>see <\/span>but <\/span>never <\/span>perceive.\u2019<\/span>
For <\/span>this <\/span>people\u2019s <\/span>heart <\/span>has <\/span>grown <\/span>dull, <\/span>and <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>ears <\/span>they <\/span>can <\/span>barely <\/span>hear, <\/span>and <\/span>their <\/span>eyes <\/span>they <\/span>have <\/span>closed<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>lest <\/span>they <\/span>should <\/span>see <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>eyes <\/span>and <\/span>hear <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>ears <\/span>and <\/span>understand <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>heart <\/span>and <\/span>turn, <\/span>and <\/span>I <\/span>would <\/span>heal <\/span>them.\u201d<\/span>
(<\/span>Acts <\/span>28:<\/span>26\u2013<\/span>27, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Notice <\/span>the <\/span>phrase: \u201c<\/span>they <\/span>have <\/span>closed<\/span><\/strong>\u201d <\/span>their <\/span>eyes. <\/span>Their <\/span>spiritual <\/span>blindness <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>imposed <\/span>upon <\/span>them <\/span>by <\/span>God <\/span>arbitrarily \u2014 <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>self-<\/span>inflicted. <\/span>When <\/span>people <\/span>consistently <\/span>reject <\/span>truth, <\/span>God <\/span>may <\/span>eventually <\/span>give <\/span>them <\/span>over <\/span>to <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>delusions:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c…<\/span>because <\/span>they <\/span>refused <\/span>to <\/span>love <\/span>the <\/span>truth <\/span>and <\/span>so <\/span>be <\/span>saved. <\/span>Therefore <\/span>God <\/span>sends <\/span>them <\/span>a <\/span>strong <\/span>delusion, <\/span>so <\/span>that <\/span>they <\/span>may <\/span>believe <\/span>what <\/span>is <\/span>false…\u201d<\/span>
(<\/span>2 <\/span>Thessalonians <\/span>2:<\/span>10\u2013<\/span>11, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A <\/span>Warning <\/span>to <\/span>Us <\/span>Today<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>sobering <\/span>warning <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>of <\/span>us: <\/span>Grace <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>taken <\/span>lightly<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>The <\/span>opportunity <\/span>to <\/span>repent <\/span>and <\/span>believe <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>gift, <\/span>not <\/span>a <\/span>guarantee. <\/span>The <\/span>right <\/span>time <\/span>to <\/span>respond <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>gospel <\/span>is <\/span>now<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Behold, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>favorable <\/span>time; <\/span>behold, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>salvation.\u201d (<\/span>2 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>6:<\/span>2, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

To <\/span>delay, <\/span>to <\/span>reject, <\/span>or <\/span>to <\/span>treat <\/span>God’s <\/span>Word <\/span>with <\/span>casualness <\/span>is <\/span>spiritually <\/span>dangerous. <\/span>There <\/span>may <\/span>come <\/span>a <\/span>time <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>heart <\/span>becomes <\/span>too <\/span>hard <\/span>to <\/span>respond.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus <\/span>didn\u2019t <\/span>use <\/span>parables <\/span>to <\/span>keep <\/span>people <\/span>from <\/span>salvation \u2014 <\/span>rather, <\/span>He <\/span>used <\/span>them <\/span>to <\/span>reveal <\/span>who <\/span>truly <\/span>had <\/span>ears <\/span>to <\/span>hear. <\/span>Those <\/span>who <\/span>humbled <\/span>themselves <\/span>and <\/span>sought <\/span>Him <\/span>were <\/span>given <\/span>understanding. <\/span>Those <\/span>who <\/span>closed <\/span>their <\/span>hearts <\/span>received <\/span>no <\/span>more <\/span>light, <\/span>just <\/span>as <\/span>they <\/span>had <\/span>chosen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let <\/span>us <\/span>therefore <\/span>respond <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>voice <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>with <\/span>humility<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>seeking <\/span>His <\/span>truth <\/span>while <\/span>it <\/span>may <\/span>still <\/span>be <\/span>found.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Today, <\/span>if <\/span>you <\/span>hear <\/span>his <\/span>voice, <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>harden <\/span>your <\/span>hearts…\u201d (<\/span>Hebrews <\/span>3:<\/span>15, <\/span>ESV<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Would <\/span>you <\/span>like <\/span>this <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>printable <\/span>format (<\/span>like <\/span>PDF <\/span>or <\/span>Word), <\/span>or <\/span>would <\/span>you <\/span>like <\/span>it <\/span>adapted <\/span>for <\/span>teaching\/<\/span>preaching <\/span>notes?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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