September 4, 2025 - Matthew 13-16

Some really important passages, here:  the parable of the sower, the death of John the Baptist, the faith of a Canaanite woman, healings, and Jesus feeding the 4,000.  Reading these stories, a question popped up in my mind:  “Do we understand how greatly blessed we are?  Are we genuinely grateful for all God has given us?”  In explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus told of those who refused to hear and who would never understand.  Of us, though, he said, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (13:16-17).  Many have longed to see what we have seen and to hear what we have heard.  The gospel has been given to us!  Of all people, we are most blessed and should be most grateful.

How beauteous are their feet,

who stand on Sion’s hill,

who bring salvation on their tongues

and words of peace reveal!

How happy are our ears

that hear this happy sound,

which kings and prophets waited for,

and sought, but never found!

How blessèd are our eyes

that see this heavenly light,

prophets and kings desired it long,

but died without the sight!   --Isaac Watts (1760)