New Living Translation
Matthew 13:15
15For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’
Matthew 13:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
- New International Version (NIV)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.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’
Context of Matthew 13:15
13That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
Read all of Matthew 13Matthew 13:15 word by word
ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν, καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν· μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- people’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- people’sλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- is waxed grossπαχύνωpachunō · to thickenG3975
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- earsοὖςous · earG3775
- are dull ofβαρέωςbareōs · difficultlyG917
- hearingἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788
- they have closedκαμμύωkammuō · to closeG2576
- lest at any timeμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
- they should seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- should understandσυνίημιsuniēmi · to understandG4920
- should be convertedἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
- I should healἰάομαιiaomai · to healG2390
Cross-references for Matthew 13:15
- Psalms 119:70Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions.
- Zechariah 7:11“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing.
- John 8:43Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!
- Acts 7:57Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him
- 2 Timothy 4:4They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
- Hebrews 5:11There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
- Isaiah 29:10For the Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.
- Isaiah 44:20The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
- Acts 3:19Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
- 2 Timothy 2:25Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
- Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Isaiah 57:18I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn,
- Jeremiah 3:22“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.
- Jeremiah 17:14O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!
- Jeremiah 33:6“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace.
Commentaries on Matthew 13:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Heart is waxed gross - , is become fat - inattentive stupid, insensible. They hear heavily with their ears - are half asleep while the salvation of God is preached unto them. Their eyes they have closed - Totally and obstinately resisted the truth of God, and shut their eyes against the light. Lest - they should see, etc. - Lest they should see their lost estate, and be obliged to turn unto God, and seek his salvation. His state is truly deplorable who is…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 Christ, in these verses, gives a “reason” why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10. Matthew 13:11 The mysteries of the kingdom - The word “mystery,” in the Bible, properly means a thing that is “concealed,” or that “has been concealed.” It does not mean that the thing was “incomprehensible,” or even difficult to be understood. The thing might be “plain” enough if revealed, but it means simply that it “had”…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15Similar to the message of the prophet Isaiah, the message of Jesus has two effects: It judges those who do not believe or obey, and it creates a small group of faithful people who do the Lord's will (Matthew 21:43).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-52Introduction (Mt 13:1-3). 1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the seaside.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 13:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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