King James Version

What Does Matthew 13:15 Mean?

Matthew 13:15 in the King James Version says “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any... — study this verse from Matthew chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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.

Matthew 13:15 · KJV


Context

13

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

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.

16

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

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'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.' Jesus continues quoting Isaiah 6:10, explaining why seeing/hearing don't produce understanding: the 'heart is waxed gross' (ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία/epachynthē gar hē kardia)—literally 'has become fat, thick, insensitive.' Their ears are 'dull' (βαρέως ἤκουσαν/bareōs ēkousan, heavy, sluggish); their eyes 'they have closed' (ἐκάμμυσαν/ekammysan)—active voice indicating deliberate choice. This grammatical detail is crucial: they closed their own eyes. The result: they won't see, hear, understand, be converted, or be healed. Reformed theology sees both human responsibility (they closed their eyes) and divine judgment (God confirms their hardness). The verse describes willful blindness becoming judicial blindness: persistent rejection leads to inability to respond. The tragedy: they avoid conversion and healing—missing salvation through stubborn resistance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Isaiah's original context: eighth-century BC Judah under Ahaz and Hezekiah, facing Assyrian threat while trusting Egypt rather than God, maintaining temple worship while oppressing poor, performing sacrifices while violating covenant. Their hearts had 'grown fat'—self-satisfied, comfortable in sin, resistant to correction. The metaphor: overfed animals become sluggish, insensitive. Similarly, Judah's spiritual obesity (prosperity, self-righteousness, religious routine) deadened spiritual perception. By Jesus's time, pattern repeated: religious establishment was self-satisfied, comfortable, resistant to prophetic challenge. They had everything—Scripture, temple, tradition—yet missed Messiah standing before them. They'd closed their eyes deliberately, refusing evidence that threatened comfortable assumptions. Church history shows this pattern continuing: Christendom's prosperity often produces spiritual obesity—comfortable religion losing vital connection to truth. Reformation was partly reaction against this. Modern Western church faces similar danger: material comfort, cultural Christianity, self-satisfied moralism blinding eyes to genuine gospel. Fat hearts can't perceive truth requiring repentance and transformation.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways have you deliberately 'closed your eyes' to truth because responding would require uncomfortable change?
  2. How does prosperity and comfortable religion often produce 'fat hearts' insensitive to God's voice?
  3. What practices cultivate spiritual sensitivity versus the callousness Jesus describes?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 34 words
ἐπαχύνθη1 of 34

is waxed gross

G3975

to thicken, i.e., (by implication) to fatten (figuratively, stupefy or render callous)

γὰρ2 of 34

For

G1063

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

3 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καρδίᾳ4 of 34

heart

G2588

the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle

τοῦ5 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

λαοῦ6 of 34

people's

G2992

a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)

τούτου7 of 34

this

G5127

of (from or concerning) this (person or thing)

καὶ8 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τοῖς9 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὠσὶν10 of 34

their ears

G3775

the ear (physically or mentally)

βαρέως11 of 34

are dull

G917

heavily (figuratively)

ἀκούσωσιν12 of 34

hear

G191

to hear (in various senses)

καὶ13 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τοὺς14 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὀφθαλμοῖς15 of 34

eyes

G3788

the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)

αὐτούς16 of 34

them

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἐκάμμυσαν17 of 34

they have closed

G2576

to shut down, i.e., close the eyes

μήποτε18 of 34

lest at any time

G3379

not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps)

ἴδωσιν19 of 34

they should see

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

τοῖς20 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὀφθαλμοῖς21 of 34

eyes

G3788

the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)

καὶ22 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τοῖς23 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὠσὶν24 of 34

their ears

G3775

the ear (physically or mentally)

ἀκούσωσιν25 of 34

hear

G191

to hear (in various senses)

καὶ26 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τῇ27 of 34
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καρδίᾳ28 of 34

heart

G2588

the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle

συνῶσιν29 of 34

should understand

G4920

to put together, i.e., (mentally) to comprehend; by implication, to act piously

καὶ30 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐπιστρέψωσιν31 of 34

should be converted

G1994

to revert (literally, figuratively or morally)

καὶ32 of 34

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἰάσωμαι33 of 34

I should heal

G2390

to cure (literally or figuratively)

αὐτούς34 of 34

them

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 13:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 13:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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