Sharpening the Sixth Sense

Dulled Senses

Mt 13.14-15

Jesus speaks in parables to protect the value of his Word

Don’t cast your pearls before swine. Jesus practices that with his parables

The peoples’ heart has grown dull. It wasn’t always that way. There was a time when you could hear and see.

If this dullness is a cultivated condition, then it can be reversed. The senses can be sharpened again.

Why would they have closed their ears and hearts? Why would we close our ears and hearts?

Inconvenience

Distraction

Conviction

Disagreement

Self-preservation/fear

Did not like to retain God in our knowledge

Hunger and curiosity condition one to receive the hidden treasures of God

God does reveal further understanding to those who are sensitive and hungry for him. He recognized the blessing of the disciples in Mt 13.16-17, and offered them an explanation of the parable.

The difference between the disciples and the multitude is that the disciples asked him for the meaning. They recognized enough to know that there was something to this, and they sought out further understanding.

They recognized their was something more than what they were grasping

They were curious

They pursued their curiosity. They took steps in the direction of their notice. They asked

They were blessed with revelation and understanding.

Elijah, in his desperation, cried out his frustration at every epiphany. But the one that actually brought answers and direction was the one with the still, small voice. He did not let the clamour drown out his response to the gentle but persistent voice that told him what he needed to know.