Commission From the Lord

Called to be sent out by God

Isaiah 6:8–10 (ESV)

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;

keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Make the heart of this people dull,

and their ears heavy,

and blind their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed.”

Isaiah’s commission: go to the people and say...

Keep on hearing; hear indeed - but do not understand

Keep on seeing; see indeed - but do not perceive

The purpose Jesus taught in parables is that there are some to whom it is not given to know the secrets of heaven (Matt 10:11)

The apostle Paul, when in Rome called together a group of local Jews. On the appointed day that they set up to meet, many people came to him in great numbers to where he was staying. He expounded upon the scriptures from morning until evening, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Some were convinced, but others disbelieved. The prophecy of Isaiah being fulfilled in the doubt of unbelievers of that time. The same holds true for today, some believe while others do not. (Acts 28:23-27)

They could not believe, therefore St. John writes referencing Isaiah, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

Even in Isaiah’s time there were many who believed his message because he saw God’s glory and he spoke of him. Nevertheless, many who believed did not confess it because of fear of being put out of the synagogue. The reason is that they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

The people have a dull heart, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blinded. They could be healed and forgiven if they would seek the Lord.

When Jesus’ disciples asked him about the use of parables he said, “to you has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ “. (Mark 4:11,12)

The Chose Race

The children of Israel, though being God’s chosen people, rebelled against God, being disobedient and contrary to his plan for them. Isaiah makes the point stating that God said, “I spread out my hands to a rebellious people, who walk in the way that is not good, following their wicked devices.” (Isaiah 65:2)

Paul references Elijah’s comment and complaint in 1 Kings 19:10 stating, “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” God has not rejected his people, telling us in Romans 11 that there is a remnant, chosen by grace that have not bowed the knee to Baal, the false god. (Romans 11: 4)

It is clear that the majority of Isreal rejected God’s grace, but that there were the remnant of the elect by God’s own choosing who received his grace. The rest, as it were their hearts were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

God.

Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

slumber.

Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Jeremiah 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

unto this day.

2 Kings 17:34,41 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; …

2 Corinthians 3:14,15 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ…