EYES TO SEE
EAR TO HEAR
Mat 13:9
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them
in parables?
Mat 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he
hath.
Mat 13:13
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing
ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive:
Mat 13:15
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.
Mat 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for
they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That
many prophets and righteous men have
desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye
hear, and have not heard them.
Mat 13:18
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was
sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Mat 13:20
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that
heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21
Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when
tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is
offended.
Mat 13:22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word;
and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word,
and he becometh unfruitful.
Mat 13:23
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the
word, and understandeth it; which
also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold some sixty, some
thirty.
One
of the most important teachings that Yeshua (Jesus) gave is in the passage
above. We need to go through the
important elements of these verses and understand them. First of all in verse nine, the original
Greek had this as “an ear” not “ears”.
This is important because Yeshua is speaking of having an ear of the
bondservant. We can better understand
this if we look at the making of a Bondservant.
Exo 21:5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
Exo 21:6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
The Bondservant has
his ear pierced at the door post because he has become bonded to the home of
his master for life. He will have an
ear to hear and understand everything his master says. The word that Yeshua used for hear was the
Hebrew word "Shema". Look at
the Strong Concordance of the definition
of Shema:
H8088
she^ma? shay’-mah
From H8085;
something heard, that is, a sound, rumor, announcement;
abstractly audience: - bruit, fame,
hear, loud, report, speech, tidings,
hearing; obeying, hearing, pay heed, understand.
Shema
announcement of an Israelite who stood on the right hand of Ezra as he
read
the Law to the people.
When Yeshua tells His disciples “Because it is given unto you to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but
to them it is not
given”,
He is telling them
that only those with the Bondservant’s ear to hear, understand
and obey the
mysteries of God at this time. He is
also telling them that there are
different levels of
understanding to His teachings, indeed in the entire Bible. Paul
describes his levels of understanding in letter to the Ephesians.
Eph
3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph
3:18 may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth,
Eph
3:19 and to know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of
God.
Below are the four levels as Bible scholars understand and use them.
1. Peshat: (Breadth) the “plain” meaning, simple, plain, intended
meaning, sometimes inaccurately referred to as the literal meaning.
2. Remez: (Length) philosophical, allegorical meaning, alluded
meaning (reading between the lines). Remez in modern Hebrew means hint.
Traditionally, remez referred to methods such as gematria (word-number values)
3. Derash: (Height) Talmudic, aggeradic meaning, drawn out meaning.
Homiletical or interpretative meaning.
4. Sod: (Depth) mystical, theosophical meaning, literal secret,
the mystical or esoteric meaning in it’s very depth.
Yeshua tells His
disciples that the people understand at the Peshat level. They live in an agricultural society and
well understand about planting seed. He
continues on to explain the parable at the Sod level. He also tells His disciples in a round about way that if they
understood this parable they would understand all the parables.
Mar 4:13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this
parable? How will you understand all the parables?
Yeshua did most of His teaching in parables. Every parable has all four levels of
understanding. In Luke 15 we can read
about the parable of the prodigal son.
Most people see this at the Remez level in that the parable is talking
about someone who is lost or forsaken their belief and returns to his
faith. Well, Friends, at the Sod level
we see that is all about the two houses of Jacob; Israel and Judah. Judah is the older brother who never left
home and Israel is the one scattered over the whole earth. In my chapter on “The Greater Exodus” I will
explain this much better. Something
more for you, the whole Bible is a parable and it all points to Yeshua. The Passover Lamb is a prophecy of His
crucifixion. The sacrifices the Israelites made were prophecies of the ultimate
sacrifice in Yeshua, the garden of Eden was a picture and type of the Kingdom,
the Tabernacle was a picture and type of Heaven, it is all a parable, if we can
understand it. Something more, if one
is to understand the parables and teachings of the New Testament they must
understand the parables and teaching of the Old Testament. They are all connected and explain each
other. That was our problem before we
became Messianic. That is the problem
with the Church, They do not see their Hebrew Roots.
Rom
11:13 But I am speaking to you who
are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I
magnify my ministry,
Rom
11:14 if somehow I might move to
jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.
Rom
11:15 For if their rejection is the
reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?
Rom
11:16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if
the root is holy, the branches are too.
Rom
11:17 But if some of the
branches were broken off, and you, being a wild
olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of
the rich root of the olive tree,
Rom
11:18 do not be arrogant
toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the
root supports you.
Rom
11:19 You will say then, “Branches
were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
Rom
11:20 Quite right, they
were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your
faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
Rom
11:21 for if God
did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
If we are the wild olive branches as Paul indicates in the above
verses, then that
means at one time we were branches of the same tree. That means we were
once Hebrew and are being grafted back to that same species of
tree. The roots
are the original faith that God gave His people to believe and follow
in the first
place. It is the Teachings and
Instructions of God that He
gave to His chosen people, the Hebrews. It is the Torah and it is God’s
word
proceeding from His own mouth.
His word is permanent and is forever
unchanged and without dispensations. I praise you Messianic Christians
because
you are understanding the verse below:
Deu 29:4
Yet the LORD hath not given you a
heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
And
Pro 13:1
A
wise son heareth his father’s
instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Our problem before was that we could not see these truths by looking
through a
bias of what we had been taught by the denominations in which we were
first
saved. That bias was taking a
small section of the Word of God or one it’s
concepts, and framing our whole belief around that portion. We have neglected
to “see the forest for trees”.
That was what our teachers had learned and that is
what they stuck to. Very few
pastors learn in their seminary or pastoral training
anything beyond their denominational teachings. Even in their studies for
planned sermons, they do not go beyond the tenants of their
denomination.
They study the commentaries of other preachers, philosophers, human
ethics
and psychology and base their entire message on those props. When they do
look back to the teachings of their Hebrew roots it is only to find
something to add
credence to their message, never fully develop it. Why, mostly because they do
not open their eyes and study the whole Word of God. They are content with
what they know and arrogant with what little knowledge to believe it is
enough
and absolutely correct.
Eze 12:2
Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have
eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
Most of the church pastors are willingly blind. Most do not want to learn the truth.
That is why I am compiling this book for the Messianic Christian. Many of these
Stiff-necked church pastors were reading this book, about right now
they would
be throwing the book in the trash. People do not want to be told they
are wrong
and the pastor with his belief ingrained, would not accept being wrong
because
of his blindness.
Isa 42:18
Hear,
ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isa 42:19
Who is blind, but my servant?
or deaf, as my messenger that I sent?
who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’s
servant?
Isa 42:20
Seeing
many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
Isa 42:21
The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify
the law, and make it honorable.
Isa 42:22
But this is a people robbed
and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and
they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a
spoil, and none saith, Restore.
Isa 42:23
Who
among you will give ear to this? who
will hearken and hear for the time to come?
There is another reason that many church pastors do not preach the
Teachings
and Instructions of God. It is
very simple, they do not believe. To
them being a
pastor is a vocation and means of earning a living. I asked a pastor once why he
was a preacher because of something he said. He told me that he got a nice
home rent free with all utilities paid, a new car every two years, a
fine salary and
many home cooked meals. For a
couple hours of work each week he could think
of no better way to earn a middle class living than preaching. At least he was
honest about it to me. I am
afraid that there are an awful lot of pastors with this
same attitude.There has been a lot of controversial writing about a
quote by
Pope Leo X.
Many claim he never
said it and the Catholic Encyclopedia passes it off as a
remark about a play
he was sponsoring in the theatre. If he
said it, it does not
matter if in jest,
serious or quoting a play, I do not believe he should have said it.
Given the history
of the Catholic Church, I believe he said it and he meant it.
Barbara Walker in her
Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets,
Page 471, quotes him as having said “What profit has not that fable of Christ brought us!”
Rev. Taylor, in The Diegesis, Page 35, has a slightly
different quote “It was well
known how profitable this fable of Christ has been to us.”
“John Bale, in his satirical work, entitled ‘The Pageant of
Popes, in which, his animosity against the church of Rome, he professes it to
be his intention to give her double according to her works, has informed us, that when Bembo quoted to Leo X., on some
occasion, a passage from one of the evangelists, the people replied, It is well known to all ages how profitable
this fable of Christ has been to us; a story, which it has justly been
remarked, has been repeated by three or four hundred different writers.”
(Roscoe, William, The Life and
Pontificate of Leo the Tenth, p. 388)
The Catholic Encyclopedia
refers to a widely circulated remark: “How much we and our family have profited by the legend of Christ, is
sufficiently evident to all ages.”
The point is not if he said it, the point is that there
actually are a lot of church leaders who see the Word of God in exactly this
light. Some pastors have been known to
say after they have been presented with the truths compiled in this book; “I
know it’s true, but if I try to teach this to my church, I will lose my job.” But,
yet they go on teaching that they are no longer under the law, practicing
paganistic worship rituals, and the feel good psychology that tickles the ears
of their congregation. What was it
Yeshua said about these teachers?
Mat
5:17 Think not that I am come to
destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat
5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.
He goes on to say:
Mat
5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in
danger of the judgment:
Mat
5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever
is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:
and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the
council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
What He was doing here was not abolishing the law, voiding
it or changing it in anyway. He was fulfilling the law. He was making it more full. He filled it
full by explaining it in a deeper way.
His whole ministry was teaching the true meaning of the Teachings and
Instructions of God (TORAH). Since the
law and the prophets were all about Him, He fulfilled them in that sense
also. He completed the meaning of what
was foretold and will complete all the law and prophets on His second coming.
One of the things He is teaching in the verses above is that
preachers and priests are not to add to or take anything away from the
Torah. They could be believers and
saved by Grace, but will be amongst the least in the Kingdom. This is part of what the Church does not
see. Another passage of His that
teaches the same concept is below:
Luk 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will
show you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48
He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the
foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon
that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a
foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat
vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
A teaching on this same
concept is found in the following passage.
The Church does not see this either.
Luk 8:9
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing
they might not understand.
Luk 8:11
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and
taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be
saved.
Luk 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the
word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time
of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard,
go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to
perfection.
Luk 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, keep it, and
bring forth fruit with patience.
Luk 8:16
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or
putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which
enter in may see the light.
Luk 8:17
For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing
hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Luk 8:18
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be
given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he
seemeth to have.
Look at Revelation
Chapter two and three. Here is where
Yeshua is addressing each of the seven Churches located in Asia Miner and each
one He ends His salutation to them with the following words: “He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” He
is saying to hear, understand and obey with an ear of a Bondservant. He is saying to hear, understand and obey
His words in Matthew.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
All the Teachings and
Instructions of God were spoken thousands of years
before Yeshua spoke these
words. They are what we are to live by
and not the
traditions taught by hired
preachers who preach that the Law was nailed to the
cross. In later chapters I will cover how Paul’s letters have been
mistranslated
and misunderstood. As far as the traditions of men are
concerned, here is what
He had to say about that.
Mar 7:6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
Mar
7:7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’
Mar
7:8 “Neglecting the commandment of God,
you hold to the tradition of men.”
Is not Christmas, Easter and
Sunday worship the traditions of men or the
precepts of men? Of course they are. Christmas was Christianized by the
Catholics as was Easter. They are both pagan holidays which can be
easly
verified in history books and
books of facts. Sunday was the day to
worship the
sun god and forced upon the
Church by Constantine. Most of the
3,000
denominations in America today
teach these precepts as doctrine under the
excuse that we are no longer
under the law. Again, I repeat the
words of
Yeshua: “Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.” God instructed us to keep the seven Feasts
which are
His appointed
times to come close to us. These Feasts
were replaced by the
pagan holidays listed above.
Lev 23:1 The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying,
Lev
23:2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and
say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy
convocations—My appointed times are these:
Lev
23:3 ‘For six days work may be done,
but on the seventh day there is a sabbath
of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath
to the LORD in all your dwellings.
These are the words that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Read the rest of
the Chapter and learn the seven
feasts, they are important. They were
given to
God’s people as foreshadows of
things to come. The Spring Feast
foretold of
Yeshua’s first coming and He
fulfilled all four. The three Fall
Feast is all about
His second coming. This in part is what the Church does not
see.
Why do you think He said so often
when speaking of the Feasts: “It shall be a
perpetual
statute throughout your generations”, if they were not meant for us
in the last generation? Perpetual means: Never ceasing; continuing forever in
future
time; destined to be eternal; as a perpetual covenant; a perpetual
statute. He wanted us to hear, understand and obey
all the precepts of His first
and second coming. It is not possible to have eyes to see or an
ear to hear
unless we follow His Instructions
with a heart for Him. The understanding
comes
from having a heart to love him
enough to obey all His commandments from both
Old and New Testament.
Joh 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.