10/09/2025
“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Matthew‬ â€13‬:â€12‬)
I received an angry reply to the verse in which Jesus told his disciples they were permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others were not. The verse was posted with the image of a child reading a Bible and was accompanied by another verse that says only those with the faith of a child may enter.
Jesus was responding to their question about why he always spoke in parables. He told them it was to fulfill prophecy—that many look, but don’t really see, and hear, but don’t really listen. He went on to quote Isaiah, “For the hearts of these people are hardened.”
A hardened heart is the result of weak faith. Children, and those who choose to retain a childlike faith, are soft but strong; their hearts aren’t filled with pride and doubt and fear. Children are trusting and innocent naturally, adults of childlike faith have swept out the clutter of disbelief. God generously grants both the ability to understand spiritual truths at a much deeper level.
Examples of hardened hearts are Pharoah, King Saul, the religious leaders who constantly harangued Jesus as he shared the message of salvation—their fate is a testimony to the consequences. Examples of softened hearts are Peter, Paul, James, Martha—people who submitted their will to God and received the power of the Holy Spirit, along with the capacity for deep understanding. Be childlike.