Scripture
26 “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
— Acts 28:26-27
Observation
Paul finally arrived at Rome, and he had the opportunity to explain to the Jewish leaders and a large number of people about the kingdom of God, about Jesus.
24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
— Acts 28:24
Some of the consequence of when a person’s heart is hardened:
– hearing but not understanding
– seeing but not perceiving
There are two words that calls my attention here:
1. Understanding (συνίημι) with their hearts: which means to put the perception with the thing perceived, to join together in the mind.
2. Heal (ἰάομαι): or to make whole. Not only to cure in a physical sense, but used also in other verses as to free from errors and sins, to bring salvation.
It is like when your heart is harden, you cannot connect the dots in your mind, you cannot assimilate your perceptions, the things you have seen, the things you have heard.
So, that is why a harden heart is incapable of believing, to be made whole, to be healed in a spiritual sense, to be freed from the chains of sins, because for that we must understanding (συνίημι) and turn.
Application
1. Not everybody we share the gospel with will have their hearts ready to receive the seed of the Gospel. Some won’t comprehend it yet, but as only the Spirit knows whose heart’s are ready, our role is to keep sowing the seeds.
2. An inflexible heart has a hard time to understand and make changes. Even when the facts are clear, a person with inflexible heart won’t be able to perceive and realize the changes they must do.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that I will have a soft heart. I pray that I would hear and understand, that I would see and perceive the lessons that you have for me to learn. May my heart will be looking to the need of others. May I be used like Paul, to sow seeds in people’s heart, that your Spirit will heal those who have their hearts ready for Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
