Matthew 13:16

But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

But {G1161} blessed {G3107} are your {G5216} eyes {G3788}, for {G3754} they see {G991}: and {G2532} your {G5216} ears {G3775}, for {G3754} they hear {G191}.

But you, how blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear!

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:16 stands as a pivotal declaration by Jesus, highlighting the unique spiritual insight granted to His disciples compared to the general crowds who heard His parables.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' explanation to His disciples in Matthew 13:11-15 regarding why He spoke in parables. He had just quoted the prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10, which described a people who would hear and see but not understand, thereby hardening their hearts. In stark contrast, verse 16 declares a blessing upon His disciples, distinguishing them from those whose spiritual senses were dulled or willfully unresponsive. This blessing underscores the gift of divine revelation concerning the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Understanding and Revelation: The primary theme is the ability to comprehend spiritual truth. While others physically saw and heard Jesus, only the disciples were given the grace to truly perceive the deeper meaning of His teachings and parables. This understanding is a gift, not something earned.
  • Divine Blessing: Jesus explicitly states that His disciples are "blessed." This is not merely good fortune, but a state of spiritual well-being and favor bestowed by God. Their ability to see and hear with spiritual insight is a direct result of God's gracious choice.
  • Discernment vs. Blindness: The verse sharply contrasts those who are receptive to God's truth with those who remain spiritually blind and deaf, despite physical proximity to divine revelation. It emphasizes the active choice or passive hardening of hearts that determines one's capacity for spiritual discernment.

Linguistic Insights

The word "blessed" in Greek is makarioi (μακάριοι), which signifies a state of supreme happiness, prosperity, or fortune that comes from divine favor. It's the same word used in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11), indicating a profound, enduring joy and spiritual privilege. The verbs "see" (blepo - βλέπω) and "hear" (akouo - ἀκούω) are not just about physical sensation, but about perceiving, understanding, and receiving truth into the heart. The disciples were not just looking and listening; they were comprehending and responding to the Word of God.

Practical Application

Matthew 13:16 challenges believers today to consider the state of their own spiritual senses. Are we truly "seeing" and "hearing" God's Word with understanding, or are we merely listening without comprehension? This verse encourages us to:

  • Seek Deeper Understanding: Not to be content with superficial knowledge, but to pray for spiritual discernment and an open heart to grasp the profound truths of the Bible.
  • Recognize Divine Grace: To acknowledge that spiritual insight is a gift from God, prompting humility and gratitude.
  • Live Out the Revelation: The blessing of understanding comes with the responsibility to apply what we learn and to share the good news of the kingdom with others, helping them to see and hear as well.

This blessing is a reminder that genuine spiritual sight and hearing are essential for a vibrant faith, enabling us to know God more intimately and walk in His ways.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 10:23

    And he turned him unto [his] disciples, and said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see:

  • Luke 10:24

    For I tell you, that many prophets and kings 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].

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Ephesians 1:18

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  • Matthew 16:17

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

  • John 20:29

    Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:6

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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