Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?

Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2025-05-25

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his message on Matthew 13:10-17, explaining why some people understand spiritual truth while others do not. He emphasizes that understanding is a sovereign gift from God, not originating in man. Using Acts 16, he illustrates God's control over where His Word is preached. He distinguishes between revelation (now ceased) and illumination (the Spirit opening minds to already-revealed truth). Even Jesus' disciples needed their understanding opened (Luke 24:45). For Christians, growth in understanding comes through stages (babes, young men, fathers) and requires using God-ordained means: praying and asking for wisdom, and meditating on Scripture. He warns that lack of understanding leads to sin and destruction, and urges believers to seek truth with a disposition to believe God and a strong desire for truth, even when it challenges comfort zones.

[John Weaver] Matthew 13, and we're going to read verses 10 through 17. Matthew chapter 13, beginning there with verse 10, And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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. 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. Therefore I speak unto them in parables, because they seeing, see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing you shall hear, but you shall not understand, and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive. 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.

[John Weaver] But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them, and hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them." So, the title of the message today is, Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand. This is the second part Because last week I brought a message from this text on why some do not understand and others will never understand. So the reality is basically what I preached last week, because some will indeed never, never understand. But thankfully, there are some that do comprehend and do understand, and others simply just do not understand. So why is this truth given to us and not to others? Why do some understand truth and others not understand truth?

[John Weaver] Well, if you go back to verse 10 in Matthew chapter 13, so the disciples come to our Lord and ask Him why He speaks unto them in parables. And 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. So, our Lord answers in such a way that we automatically see and understand the sovereignty of God. We understand that wisdom and understanding are his gifts. Truth is his gift. And so, therefore, he has the absolute authority to dispense his gifts as he sees fit, whenever he pleases, to whomever he pleases, and however he pleases. Now, he said, under you it is given, and I pointed this out last week, that the word given is didomi, which literally means it is a gift.

[John Weaver] It is something that comes from outside of you. Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone. Now, this is the absolute truth from the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Now, the truth is, many may not agree with this, but that does not cause it to cease being truth. Many do not like it, but it is still truth. And you may argue with it all you desire, but it is still truth. So, let me give you a good illustration. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 16, and I want you to look with me at verses 6 through 10. And then I will point it out in the book of Acts chapter 16, beginning there, if you would notice, with verse 6. Notice this, Acts chapter 16 and verse 6. Look what the Bible says, Acts 16 verse 6.

[John Weaver] Now, when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mycenae, they assayed to go up to Bithynia, but the spirit suffered them not. And they, passing by Mycenae, came down to Troas, and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." Now, note if you would, first of all, they wanted to go into Asia. Who stopped them?

[John Weaver] Who forbade them to go? Well, it was God the Holy Ghost. Then they tried to go into Bithynia and someone stopped them again. It was God the Holy Ghost. So notice if you would now, they wanted to go somewhere and God says, no, you're not going there. They tried to go to another place. No, you're not going there. In other words, it is God who determines where his word is preached. It is God who determines how that word is preached and how it is sent.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will notice this little phrase that you find in verse 10, The Bible says that they endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there. Now, the word of the words, assuredly gathering, are actually from one Greek word, sum bibadzo, and it literally means to cause to coalesce. to cause, to come together, or to put together in the mind. So they understood in their minds that no, they were not going to Asia, they were not going to Bithynia, but they were going into Macedonia. Now, note if you would please, in this particular passage, Macedonia received the Word of God when Bithynia did not and Asia did not.

[John Weaver] And we see the same truth in this world today. There are some countries who have the Word of God, some countries who do not have the Word of God. Look at some of the places in Africa. Look at China. Look at Pakistan. Look at any country that you want to look at. It's absolutely heathen, and they just simply do not have the Word of God. So clearly, in this instance, the Word of God was withheld from some countries, and it was given to others, at least during that particular time.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look very quickly in the book of Psalms, Psalm 107, and notice if you would, verses 19 and 20. Psalm 107, verses 19 and 20. And notice, if you would, what the Bible says specifically. Here it is, Psalm 107, and look, if you would, there at verse 19. The Word of God says, Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble. And he saved them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Now, here's my question. Did he heal everyone? Did he deliver everyone? Did he save everyone from their destructions? And the answer, no. In the context, he saved and he healed those to whom he sent his word. So it is God then who determines where that word is sent. He is sovereign. Truth is his gift.

[John Weaver] He dispenses it as he will. Now, notice if you would back in Matthew chapter 13, our text, because They ask our Lord, why is it that you're preaching in parables? What he says unto you is given to know the truth. Others, it is not given to know the truth, that is for sure. And then, of course, he talks about the reasons being, which I'll cover momentarily, but I want you to skip down, if you would, please, to verses 16 and 17, because he tells his disciples, but blessed are your eyes, for they see.

[John Weaver] and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them."

[John Weaver] Now our Lord says you're exceedingly blessed. You're exceedingly blessed. Why? Because there's been many prophets and many righteous men that want to see what you have seen, but they do not see them. Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Have you ever stopped to really thank the Lord for the gift that He's given us in being able to hear the Word of God? The truth of the matter is we hear the Word of God weekly. If we wanted to hear it daily, we could. If we wanted to hear it three times a day, we could hear it three times a day. I mean, the Word of God is being preached everywhere in this country. And if it's not being preached everywhere in this country, we have so many sermons on CDs and DVDs. And I mean, anyone can pick up their Bible and read. And stop and think about this.

[John Weaver] If I were to ask you how many Bibles that you have in your possession, hmm, I, you know, I have no idea how many Bibles I possess. I'm sure it's 15 or 20. The average home probably has three, four, five, or six. But think about this. Look at all these other countries that do not have the Word of God. Think of the homes that do not have the Bible. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. We should be thankful, extremely thankful, that God has been pleased to give us truth and to give us understanding of the truth. Now, it's true we do not have perfect understanding. And it's true we do not understand all truth, but there is a large portion of truth that has been given to us that we do understand, and we should be extremely thankful.

[John Weaver] Now, there's one scholar, by the name of J. Barton Payne, who found 574 verses in the Old Testament that referred to or pointed to in some measure the prophecies of Jesus Christ being the Messiah. Alfred Indersheim found 456 books, 456 verses in the Old Testament that pointed to Jesus Christ being the Messiah. Conservatively speaking, most scholars will say that there are a minimum of 300 verses that refer to Jesus Christ being the Messiah.

[John Weaver] Now, here's why our Lord says, But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. But many righteous men and prophets have desired to see what you see and hear what you hear. In other words, He is saying, I am the Messiah. I am the fulfillment of all of these prophecies. I'm here before your eyes. Salvation is here.

[John Weaver] Now, in Josh and Sean McDowell's book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, which was printed in 2017, they quote Professor Peter W. Stoner, who happens to be chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College. And here is what he said. Out of the hundreds of prophecies he examined, the statistical possibility of one person randomly fulfilling just eight of those prophecies is a statistical impossibility.

[John Weaver] Now, remember how many I told you. Conservative over 300. So, he took eight prophecies concerning Christ. Here they are. Number one, that he would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5 and verse 2. Number two, that he would be born of a virgin, Isaiah 7, 14. Number three, that he would be a descendant of David, Isaiah 9, verse 7. Number four, that he would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, Zechariah 11 and verse 12.

[John Weaver] And then next he would be mocked, Psalm 22 verses 7 and 8. That he would be crucified, John 3 and verse 14. That he would be pierced, Psalm 22 and verse 16. And that he would die with the wicked and be buried with the rich, Isaiah 53 and verse 9. So he said, listen to this, that one person could fulfill these eight prophecies by random chance is considered a statistical impossibility." Here's what he went on to say,"...we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all of these eight prophecies is one in ten to the seventeenth power. That is a one with seventeen zeros behind it, or one to what you would call a hundred quadrillion.

[John Weaver] No wonder our Lord said, blessed are your eyes for they see I'm standing in front of you and blessed are your ears for they hear because you're hearing me teach and you have everything in front of me. Now. In light of this, we still have to ask this question. Why is it there were some that understand and some that do not understand? Well, I pointed out last week that there is a natural blindness or a natural depravity.

[John Weaver] The Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. So the unsaved man has no ability to perceive or even receive or understand the things of God. Then I also quoted in Ephesians 4, verses 17-19, where the Apostle Paul said, This I say therefore and testify unto the Lord, that henceforth you walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in

[John Weaver] them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling what? They walk after lasciviousness and all filthiness, In other words, God says, by nature, men are blind, they're dumb, they're darkened, they're alienated from God, they understand nothing. And of course, then I went on to show last week also, there was a judicial blindness that comes from God. We understand that. But let me show you another verse.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of John, chapter 8. Here's a very interesting passage. In John chapter 8, notice if you would please verse 43, because our Lord asked a question to these Jews who were standing in front of Him. Look what He asked. He says in verse 43, Why do you not understand My speech? And then He says, Even because you cannot hear My word. Now look at that question. Why do you not understand My speech?

[John Weaver] We're speaking the same language. You know the language that I'm speaking in. Why am I a barbarian to you in the sense of the word that you really don't hear and you really, really do not understand?

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something. They did hear with their physical ears. They did hear audibly, but they certainly did not hear spiritually. They heard the sound of His words. But they did not understand the impact, the importance, and the spirituality of his words. So, I want you to look at verse 44. After he says in verse 43, Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. Ah! Now he explains it. He says in verse 44, You are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father you will do.

[John Weaver] He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth. Because there's no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.

[John Weaver] Now, here's a short quote from John Calvin on these two verses. Listen to this. What is the reason why my speech appears to you barbarous and unknown, so that I gain nothing by speaking to you, and so that you do not even deign to open your ears to receive what I say? Calvin goes on, in the former clause, therefore, he reproves their stupidity. And the latter, he reproves their obstinance and ungovernable hatred of his doctrine. And afterwards, he assigns a reason for both when he says that they sprung from the devil.

[John Weaver] But note, he asked this question. Why is it that you do not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word." So we understand that the unsaved cannot understand. But here's the question. Why is it many Christians do not understand? Why is it some do, but others do not? Well, the truth is, We must be taught by the Holy Spirit. He must open our eyes. He must open our ears. He must open our minds and grant us understanding. Now, there are plenty of Christians that can quote verses. They can memorize verses. They can read. But just because you can quote a verse and just because you memorize a verse does not really mean that you understand the verse.

[John Weaver] I know people put themselves on a reading schedule and they read their Bible all the way through every year. And I'm thankful for that. I'm certainly not against that. But I will tell you this, I'd much rather read one chapter and understand it than read 20 chapters and not understand the thing that I've read. So why is it that some understand and some do not? Well, the answer is this.

[John Weaver] Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds, illuminates our minds to the truth that God has already revealed. So let me say this again. There's a difference between illumination and revelation. And most people get those two things confused. I've had godly individuals say to me, well, let me just share with you what God just revealed to me." And I shake my head and I say, no, God did not just reveal something to you. What God did was He opened your eyes to understand what He'd already revealed. So revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals things never known before to the human mind. Revelation is ceased. The reason the revelation is ceased is because we have the totality of the Word of God and Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.

[John Weaver] You can read that in Hebrews 1 verses 1 through 3. So anytime someone claims additional revelation, they're denying that Jesus Christ in the Bible is the fullness of God and His Word and His truth. So what is revelation? How did Moses know what happened at creation? He was not there. How did he know what happened to Noah in the flood? He was not there. How do you know what happened to Abraham? He was not there. But he wrote and told us everything that happened. Or at least that which we need to know, and the way he knew was God revealed it to him and the Holy Spirit inspired him to write it. so that we have the infallible, inerrant Word of God. We have the Word of God without error, and we have it where it will never, ever fail. So what God does in illumination, he just opens our minds to understand that which he's already revealed to us.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord was the greatest teacher that ever lived. Our Lord not only could communicate truth, but He Himself was and still is truth. He spoke with absolute authority, and He spoke with clarity, that is for sure. But yet, many people did not understand what He said when He preached. Even His own disciples did not understand. So, let me show you some Scriptures. Let me just quote some for you.

[John Weaver] You can jot them down. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 17, and each of these Jesus Christ is speaking to His disciples, His twelve. He says this, Do not you yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth in the belly, and is cast out to the drop? But note He says to His disciples, Do you not yet understand? He just taught them. Don't you understand? Matthew 16, verse 9, Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

[John Weaver] And how about this one? Matthew 16, verse 11, How is it that you do not understand, that I stake it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? Wow! How about this one in Mark 18 verse 21, And He said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? So even His own disciples did not understand some of the things that He taught. If the disciples who were with Him constantly and consistently did not understand, How much more do you and I need Him and illumination and enlightenment to understand? Now, here's my question. What did it take for the disciples to understand what Jesus Christ taught? Did it take more concentration?

[John Weaver] I've got to think harder. Did it take more education? I have to get my Ph.D. Did it take more determination? I'm going to sit here and study this until I figure it out. What did it take? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke, chapter 24, and let's begin reading there with verse 44. Luke chapter 24 and verse 44. Here's what it took. Luke 24, verse 44,"...And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me." Now look at verse 45,"...then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures." Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures.

[John Weaver] Now, the word open is a very important word and very informative. The Greek word happens to be dienoigo. Dienoigo literally means to open by dividing or by drawing asunder. It means to open thoroughly that which has been closed. And this word is used in the opening of the womb of a woman on her first child. In other words, the womb is open so the child may be actually delivered. So when the Bible is saying He opened their minds, He opened their understanding, He did so thoroughly, completely, so that they could grasp and understand. Now the word understanding, when He said He opened their understanding, is the Greek word nous, which refers to the mind, the intellectual faculties. In other words, it is in that area that we grasp the truth, that is for sure. Now, the word understand is the word suniemi, which literally means to bring together, to cause, to stand together in the mind.

[John Weaver] So, let me put it to you like this. It's only when we have things come together in our minds that we really, thoroughly, completely understand. So, I pointed out that Casey is an electrician. He could stand up and tell us all about electricity. He could give us fact after fact about electricity. But until we can put these things together in our mind, we're not going to understand them. Steve could stand up and tell us all about mechanics. I'm not a mechanic.

[John Weaver] I have no mechanical ability whatsoever. And he could tell me all about combustion engines. He could tell me about the pistons. He could tell me all. I still do not understand it. But if I took all the facts and were able to put them together in my mind, then I would understand exactly what he's talking about. No one can understand anything until you put it together, until you're able not just to repeat it, but to apply it. That's how we learn.

[John Weaver] Now listen to me very carefully. Our Lord opened the minds of His disciples so thoroughly, so completely, so totally, that they understood His Word. Now, the Bible tells you in Proverbs 2 and verse 6, listen carefully. For the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth, cometh knowledge and understanding. The Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth, cometh knowledge and understanding. Another verse, Proverbs 9 and verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

[John Weaver] So I want you to think about this. I just gave you two verses that tell us very plainly that the Lord has to give wisdom, the Lord has to give understanding. Those are His gifts. He may dispense them as He pleases, to whom He pleases, when He pleases, wherever He pleases. And by the way, this is why many Christians do not understand the same truth at the same time. I mean, you know, I may be ahead of Steve in some areas. Steve may be ahead of me in other areas. Casey may be ahead of both of us. And I may understand far more than all of us put together.

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? God does not give the same truth at the same time to the same people.

[John Weaver] Now, hang on to that. Remember, if you would, please, if truth belongs to God, understanding belongs to God, out of His mouth comes these things. So here's a good question. Is God obligated to give you truth and to give you understanding? Or are you obligated to seek God for truth and understanding? Of course, you know that you cannot bring God into obligation to you, so therefore it is your obligation, it is your duty, it is your responsibility to seek after God and His gifts. Now, you remember that passage in Matthew 6 and verse 33, where our Lord said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you. So, here we go. Why does some understand?

[John Weaver] And we're talking about Christians now. Why do some Christians understand truth and others do not understand truth?

[John Weaver] Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that if you don't understand everything that I understand, then you're lost. That's hogwash. You know, like I pointed out, God is sovereign in giving wisdom and understanding and truth, but you also have to remember this. In 1 John chapter 2, John divided Christians into three categories. He referred to them as babes, young men, and fathers. A babe does not understand what a young man understands, and a young man certainly does not understand what a father understands. If you remember, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, The Apostle Paul told those Corinthians, I had to ride under you as babes.

[John Weaver] Are you not yet carnal? He asked this question. He said, I had to feed you with milk and not with meat. He said the same thing in Hebrews chapter 5. He said, you've become dull of hearing and you have need of milk again instead of meat. So you have different stages in the Christian life. So very obviously and clearly, a baby's not going to understand what a young man does and a young man's not going to understand what a father does. So I'm not saying that someone's lost just because they don't understand everything. There is a period of growth and there is a period of what you and I would call real spurts in our life because that's when we really truly grow. So here we go.

[John Weaver] Let me put it to you like this. God commands us in Proverbs 23 and verse 23, He says, buy the truth and sell it not, also wisdom, instruction, and understanding. So when it comes to wisdom, instruction, and understanding, price is not negotiable for these things. We're to buy them regardless of how and what they cost. So the question has to be asked then, how in the world do we buy the truth? The word buy is the word kanah in the Hebrew, and it means to get, to acquire, to create, to buy, to possess, to obtain. So he tells you, you've got to buy the truth, you've got to obtain the truth. Don't worry about the cost, just get the truth. OK. So how do we get the truth? How do we buy the truth? Well, there are three main ways to acquire and understand truth, wisdom and understanding.

[John Weaver] The first way is an exceedingly hard and difficult way. And that is the truth that we acquire and the understanding that we acquire by experience. Experience comes mighty costly at times. Every father and every mother try to spare their children the heartache and the hard lessons that they learn by teaching their children. And oftentimes the children just will not listen and will not learn. And they have to experience the school of hard knocks themselves. So how many times do you have to put your finger in the fire before you understand you're going to get burned? How many times do you have to stumble and fall flat on your face, maybe breaking your nose or breaking your arm, until you realize, you know, I need to pick up my feet. I don't need to scrub my feet. How many times? So, for those who will not listen and for those who will not receive truth, they're going to go through the school of hard knocks. They're going to the university of experience, and they're going to be hurt over and over, I can assure you of that.

[John Weaver] Now, listen if you would, as I give you some Scriptures concerning those who try to learn by experience. Okay, here we go. Proverbs 9 and verse 6, God says, Forsake the foolish and live, go in the way of understanding. So if you're not going in the way of understanding, you're going the way of foolishness, and you're going to die. You're going to get hurt. It's just that simple. Then Proverbs 12 and verse 11. The Bible says, He that tilleth the land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

[John Weaver] In other words, there is no work ethic. Note what he said, He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread. It's difficult many times to get up at five o'clock in the morning and get up and go and work in the fields and do whatever needed in this necessary to make a crop. But there are some people that said, well, I'm going to follow about in persons. We will beg. We'll borrow. We'll steal. We'll do whatever God says.

[John Weaver] You don't have any understanding. You don't have a work ethic. You're not going to work. You're not going to eat. You'll learn the hard way. How about this one? Proverbs 18 in verse 2, A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover himself. All he wants to do is party. All he wants to do is play. That his heart may discover itself. I told you before, the word muse in the Bible means to think. When you put the alpha or the a in front of it, it is amuse, which means not to think. It negates the word. So that means that amusement is that in which you don't have to think. You don't have to think when you're watching TV. You don't have to think when you're watching movies. You can get subliminal messages, but you don't have to think. Oh, so that's what God says a fool is. He has no delight in understanding. All he wants to do is play. How about this one? Proverbs 21 in verse 16.

[John Weaver] The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. God says you're dead if you have no understanding. Do you realize how dangerous it is to live without understanding? How dangerous it is to live and do something absolutely stupid. For instance, how about handing a loaded pistol to a four or five year old child? Wouldn't you call that dangerous? Because he has no understanding. He doesn't know the danger of that pistol. He doesn't know that it'll end up killing him or killing someone else. And this is what God is saying. Yeah.

[John Weaver] And how about this one in Proverbs chapter 13 and verse 15? Good understanding. Good understanding. Give the favor. But the way of the transgressor is hard. So this is what you learn by the school of Ardnox. You learn everything is difficult when you refuse to listen and refuse to be taught. So those that will not listen will discover that experience without counsel and without truth will always take you to the school of hard knocks, always. Now the second way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is simple and easy.

[John Weaver] It's to ask for it. Pray and seek the Lord's blessings and ask Him specifically for His truth, for understanding and for wisdom. You remember David did that. In Psalm 119 and verse 34, he said, Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law. Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law. Do you realize There's no way in the world that you can really understand the totality of God's law. There's no way that you can understand the totality of God's Word unless He enlightens your mind and illuminates your mind what that Word actually means. You cannot keep it unless you understand it. Psalm 119, verse 104, David said, Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. How do you know What is the false way if you do not know what truth is? Wow. It's only through God's word that we get understanding. Psalm 119 verse 125, David said, I am thy servant, give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.

[John Weaver] I'm your servant, give me understanding. And then, of course, in Psalm 119, verse 169, David says, Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD, give me understanding according to thy word. You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 7, verse 7? He said, Ask, and it shall be given unto you. and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And the truth is that most Christians never ask, never seek, and never knock when it comes to truth, understanding, and wisdom.

[John Weaver] And consequently, we don't have either of them. You look around today at all the immorality that's going on, even in professing Christians. Look at the adultery, the fornication. And yet the Bible says in Proverbs 6 and verse 32, But whoso commiteth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding, and he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. God said if you do that, you lack understanding. So the truth is, Anytime we sin against God in any way whatsoever, it's a demonstration and a manifestation of a lack of understanding. If we really understood the way of the transgressors hard, if we understood the consequences of our sin, we would not be doing it, that is for sure. So, the second way is to ask. Now, the third way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is to be combined with the second way. We're not only to pray and ask and seek for it, we are also to consider the Word of God. David mentioned this, he said, through thy precepts I get understanding. But Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2, verse 7, listen to this, consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

[John Weaver] Now, it is true that understanding is God's gift. Truth is God's gift. Wisdom is God's gift. And yet, God does not give those gifts willy-nilly. He does not give those gifts to the slothful, the indolent, the lazy, and the unthoughtful people. And it is absolutely impossible to go to bed dumb and wake up smart. It's impossible. to go to bed ignorant and wake up intelligent. No, that's impossible. And yet, that's what a lot of people think is going to happen. They think that somehow they acquire knowledge through osmosis.

[John Weaver] Put the Bible under a pillow. I'll get it through osmosis. No, you won't. No. So, we have to consider. Now, I want you to think about the word consider. Paul said, consider what I say. The Greek word is noiao, and literally it means to think upon, to heed, to ponder, to consider, and to perceive with the mind. We would probably use the English word meditate for the word consider. You know what meditation is, that's when we think about something and we turn it over and over in our minds and we consider it from every angle possible.

[John Weaver] Another good illustration is how a cow chews her cud. She eats that grass and then she lies down and just chews that cud, chews that cud, gets what she thinks I guess most of the nutrients out of it and then she swallows it. A little while later she thinks, Maybe I didn't get everything out of that good, so she regurgitates it, chews it some more, swallows it, a little bit later regurgitates it and chews it some more.

[John Weaver] Well, that's what we're talking about. Consider what I say. We turn it over and over and over in our mind and finally something might come up to distract us. But a little while later, we come back and said, you know, I never finished thinking about that. Let me see if there are any more implications or applications. And you start chewing it over and over in your mind. You're meditating upon it. By the way, when the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, consider what I say.

[John Weaver] And the Lord give thee understanding all things. The word consider is a present active indicative. I'm not indicative, but imperative. Present active imperative. An imperative is a command. An active means you're actively involved in it, and the present means it's something that is being done consistently and continually. So when he says, consider what I say, the Lord gives the understanding. He is saying, I am commanding you to consistently and constantly consider what I say.

[John Weaver] So why is it then that some understand and others do not? Here's one answer. not only because God is sovereign and dispenses His gifts as He pleases, but some use the means that God has ordained to acquire truth, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Most people do not have any of these things because they do not pray and ask God for them. They do not seek Him for His gifts.

[John Weaver] They do not meditate or consider His Word. The problem is this. We're like the Pharisees. You remember what the Pharisees were concerned about? You can read it in Matthew 15, Mark chapter 7. They came up to our Lord and they asked Him, why do Thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? We all have our traditions. We all have our little ceremonies, our little rituals that we go through. And we tend to value those many times over and above the Word of God, just like those Pharisees did.

[John Weaver] I have been in churches and I've been explaining things and I've had someone say, but we've always done it another way. Well, just because you have done something traditionally one way does not mean that it is the biblical way, the right way or the correct way. Let me point something else out. We don't want to be wrong. We don't want our families to be wrong. We don't want our friends to be wrong.

[John Weaver] We are oftentimes afraid That if we really learn truth, if we really get understanding, it's going to get us out of our comfort zone. It's going to change us. It's going to make us more obedient in areas that we've never been obedient in. Or maybe sometimes we do not want to be obedient in. And consequently, we just don't really study. We don't really pray. Because we don't want to be changed. And yet the truth is, you can't live without change. It's impossible. There's a change in all of us. Change in our lives, change in our homes. Things change for you. Did they not, Dinah? Clearly. You can't live without change.

[John Weaver] But so many people are so uncomfortable with it. And of course, you know, hey, we just don't want to get out of our comfort zone. But the truth of the matter is this. When Paul said, consider what I say, and the Lord gives the understanding in all things. He not only was giving a command, he was telling us that this is a way to get understanding, praying and seeking and considering what God has said.

[John Weaver] David said it like this in Psalm 119 verse 130. He said, the inference of thy word giveth light. It giveth understanding to the simple. The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple. When we perceive the Word of God, when we grasp the impact of it, the implications and the applications of it, that's what gives us understanding. David said it would begin like this in Psalm 119, verse 144. He said,"...the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting. Give me understanding, and I shall live."

[John Weaver] You remember earlier I quoted where he said, he that does not understand walketh in the ways of death and destruction. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now, David said, give me understanding and I shall live. Life, real, genuine life is understanding God and His Word. It's true we'll never understand it perfectly in this life. That is true. But we can understand to the degree that God gives us His truth and His wisdom and His understanding. And we can understand to the degree that we study and ask and seek for those things as well.

[John Weaver] OK, now I want to make some applications. I want you to listen carefully. The very first one is this. The two things that you need to receive understanding are first a disposition to believe God. God is right. He's always right. Our traditions are wrong. We're wrong. Our family is wrong. Our friends are wrong. Whatever God says is right. We're going to believe him. We're going to put him first and foremost. The second thing you need is this a strong and overwhelming desire for truth. Most people do not want truth.

[John Weaver] I will tell you this. When I discovered years ago that most everything I was taught in school was a lie or half-truth, and when I discovered that a number of preachers, when I was a young boy that had just been saved and called to preach, they took me under their wings and they taught me certain things. When I discovered that what they taught me was wrong, And in error, although they were genuine and sincere themselves, it upset me greatly.

[John Weaver] It made me angry because I'd wasted my time and part of my life listening to them and believing what they said when I found out it was totally, completely wrong. I found out that old black preacher was right. when he said that their Bible showed us shed a whole lot of light on them commentaries. That's a fact. You know, when you stop and think about history, it's the same thing. I know what I was taught, and then I find out that everything I was taught was totally, completely wrong. The victor gets to write the history. And of course, They write it to please themselves and to praise themselves, when in reality history is something totally different. I'll tell you what, when I found out I'd been lied to, I not only was angry, but then it gave me a strong desire to really know the truth in every area.

[John Weaver] And so what initially I thought hurt me, Turned out to be a big help to me. So it's just like years ago, I mentioned this when our church was attacked by the state. Absolutely stupid. They wanted to give us a license to drink water out of our own well. The well had been in the ground over 40 years. They've never been a complaint. No one had ever been sick. Do you know what a license is?

[John Weaver] You can find it in Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Black's Law Dictionary. Here's the definition. Permission from a competent authority to do that which otherwise would be unlawful to do. You mean to tell me I have to have your permission to drink water out of my own well? I don't think so. One of my men came up to me and he asked me, he said, can they do this? And my answer was, I don't know, but I'm going to find out.

[John Weaver] So that's what got me studying Romans 13. That's when I wrote my first book. That's what got me studying the Constitution. That's what got me studying law. You know, we need to know the truth. We need to know the truth in every area. And any time, any time we are told a lie, It destroys us. It enslaves us. Our Lord said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Now, here's another truth. Listen carefully. We must learn the truth of Proverbs 21 and verse 30. Listen carefully. There is no wisdom or understanding nor counsel against the Lord. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.

[John Weaver] So let me put it to you very plainly. You can fight against Him all you want to fight against Him. You can deny His Word all you want to deny His Word. It doesn't do you one little bit of good. It does not change reality. God is the determiner of reality, not you. I know wives who fight against their husbands when I say that. The husband is supposed to be the head of the house according to the Word of God. And the Bible does say if any woman, any wife, wants to learn anything, let her ask her husband. He's supposed to be the one teaching her. And yet I can tell you wife after wife that sometimes fights against her husband and says, no, no, no, I'm not going to listen to you. I'm not going to believe that. I know how I was raised. May I tell you something else?

[John Weaver] Children do the same thing. They rebel against their parents. And it's the mama and the daddy that's responsible to teach their children. Many times, Parishioners rebel against the pastor. I know that not every pastor is a godly man. I understand that. And not every preacher has been called to preach. I understand that. But the truth of the matter is most of us want comfort. We don't want to be disturbed. We don't want to be pushed out of our comfort zone. And consequently, we'd rather fight than submit to the truth. So, I want you to look at two passages. I will quote one final verse, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 3, and look, if you would, at verse 15. Then we're going to go to 1 John, chapter 5. So look, first of all, in Jeremiah, chapter 3, verse 15.

[John Weaver] So God is telling His people there that when they repent and when they become obedient, here is a promise that God is going to give. Watch if you would, Jeremiah 3, verse 15, God said,"...And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." So you can be fed with knowledge and understanding if you will listen to the Word of God Ha, ha. Expounded, explained, and applied. Now, if you look in 1 John 5 and verse 20, the Word of God says this, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know that which is true, and that we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life eternal. So, notice if you would, and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true. Now, what is that understanding? Well, if you go back to John 17, verse 3, listen to what the Bible says, and this is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the one true and the living God, and Jesus Christ, whom they have sent.

[John Weaver] What is the understanding? The understanding is that we know God the Father, Through Jesus Christ, we know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, is the Redeemer, is the Savior, is the Lord. We know that. He's come to give us that understanding. And we know that we are in Him. That is true. So although Christians may be divided into little children or babes and young men and fathers, every true Christian knows the Father in truth through the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever your stage in the Christian life, whether babe, young man or father, you know the Father.

[John Weaver] Let me point one other thing out. Jesus Christ said in John 17 in verse 3, And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the one true and the living God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. You do not get eternal life when you die. You have it now. It is an intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you do not have eternal life now, if you do not have that relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ now, you're not going to get it when you die. So we are going to be enjoying and experiencing our intimate union and communion with God the Father through Jesus Christ now in time and history. And when we get into eternity, it will be magnified.

[John Weaver] Who in the world would stop and think that you could ignore God, hate God, despise God, despise His Word, never pray, never study, never go to church, never hear preaching, and all of a sudden, when you die, all of a sudden you love those things. It doesn't work like that. If you love those things now, you're going to enjoy them much more in eternity. If you despise them now, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed in eternity because eternal life is a personal, intimate knowledge of God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Why is it that some understand, some don't? Because some. Use the means that God is ordained and seek him and ask him for truth while others do not. Do not be one of those. Who failed to pray and seek him for wisdom, understanding and truth? And consider his word. Meditate upon it. Contemplate it. Chew the cud of it over and over in your mind while you're seeking God for understanding.

[John Weaver] What did he say again to Timothy? Consider what I say and the Lord give the understanding in all things. But God does not give that understanding without your consideration. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we vow to leave this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And we pray, Father, for understanding. Give us, Lord, a heart that seeks Thee, that knocks upon Thy door, and a heart that asks continually for wisdom and understanding and truth. And Lord, enable us to consider, to meditate, to chew the cut of Thy Word. Enable us, Heavenly Father, to bring that Word to bear in our lives through obedience and the application of it We pray that you would make us holy, make us godly, and Lord, that you would indeed make us obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we ask and pray, Amen.

Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6525143157698
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-05-25
Dictation Name
Book	Book 082: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 2 — Chapter 41
Source Timed Segments	82

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Scripture Reading

Weaver reads Matthew 13:10-17, where Jesus explains why He speaks in parables: it is given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but not to others.

Matthew 13, and we're going to read verses 10 through 17. Matthew chapter 13, beginning there with verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 13:10-17

"And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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. 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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: 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."

Understanding as a Sovereign Gift

Jesus' answer reveals God's sovereignty in dispensing wisdom and understanding as gifts. The Greek word 'didōmi' emphasizes that truth comes from outside of us.

Well, if you go back to verse 10 in Matthew chapter 13, so the disciples come to our Lord and ask Him why He speaks unto them in parables. And 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." So, our Lord answers in such a way that we automatically see and understand the sovereignty of God. We understand that wisdom and understanding are His gifts. Truth is His gift. And so, therefore, He has the absolute authority to dispense His gifts as He sees fit, whenever He pleases, to whomever He pleases, and however He pleases. Now, He said, "unto you it is given," and I pointed this out last week, that the word "given" is didōmi, which literally means it is a gift.

It is something that comes from outside of you. Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone. Now, this is the absolute truth from the Word of God.

God Determines Where His Word Is Preached

Using Acts 16:6-10, Weaver shows that the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, directing him to Macedonia, demonstrating God's control over the distribution of His Word.

Now, the truth is, many may not agree with this, but that does not cause it to cease being truth. Many do not like it, but it is still truth. And you may argue with it all you desire, but it is still truth. So, let me give you a good illustration. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 16, and I want you to look with me at verses 6 through 10. And then I will point it out in the book of Acts chapter 16, beginning there, if you would notice, with verse 6. Notice this, Acts chapter 16 and verse 6. Look what the Bible says, Acts 16 verse 6.

"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." Now, note if you would, first of all, they wanted to go into Asia. Who stopped them? Who forbade them to go? Well, it was God the Holy Ghost. Then they tried to go into Bithynia and someone stopped them again. It was God the Holy Ghost. So notice if you would now, they wanted to go somewhere and God says, "No, you're not going there." They tried to go to another place. "No, you're not going there." In other words, it is God who determines where His word is preached. It is God who determines how that word is preached and how it is sent.

Now, if you will notice this little phrase that you find in verse 10, the Bible says that they endeavored to go into Macedonia, "assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there." Now, the words "assuredly gathering" are actually from one Greek word, sumbibazō, and it literally means to cause to coalesce, to cause to come together, or to put together in the mind. So they understood in their minds that no, they were not going to Asia, they were not going to Bithynia, but they were going into Macedonia. Now, note if you would please, in this particular passage, Macedonia received the Word of God when Bithynia did not and Asia did not. And we see the same truth in this world today. There are some countries who have the Word of God, some countries who do not have the Word of God. Look at some of the places in Africa. Look at China. Look at Pakistan. Look at any country that you want to look at. It's absolutely heathen, and they just simply do not have the Word of God. So clearly, in this instance, the Word of God was withheld from some countries, and it was given to others, at least during that particular time.

The Blessing of Seeing and Hearing

Jesus tells His disciples they are blessed because many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear what they now experience—the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies.

and your ears, for they hear. 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." Now our Lord says you're exceedingly blessed. You're exceedingly blessed. Why? Because there's been many prophets and many righteous men that want to see what you have seen, but they do not see them. Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Have you ever stopped to really thank the Lord for the gift that He's given us in being able to hear the Word of God? The truth of the matter is we hear the Word of God weekly. If we wanted to hear it daily, we could. If we wanted to hear it three times a day, we could hear it three times a day. I mean, the Word of God is being preached everywhere in this country. And if it's not being preached everywhere in this country, we have so many sermons on CDs and DVDs. And I mean, anyone can pick up their Bible and read. And stop and think about this.

Natural and Judicial Blindness

Unbelievers are naturally unable to understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus also spoke of a judicial blindness, as seen in John 8:43-44, where He attributes their inability to their father the devil.

The Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So the unsaved man has no ability to perceive or even receive or understand the things of God. Then I also quoted in Ephesians 4:17-19, where the Apostle Paul said, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling"—what?—"they walk after lasciviousness and all filthiness." In other words, God says, by nature, men are blind, they're dumb, they're darkened, they're alienated from God, they understand nothing. And of course, then I went on to show last week also, there was a judicial blindness that comes from God. We understand that. But let me show you another verse.

I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of John, chapter 8. Here's a very interesting passage. In John chapter 8, notice if you would please verse 43, because our Lord asked a question to these Jews who were standing in front of Him. Look what He asked. He says in verse 43, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" And then He says, "Even because ye cannot hear my word." Now look at that question. "Why do ye not understand my speech?" We're speaking the same language. You know the language that I'm speaking in. Why am I a barbarian to you in the sense of the word that you really don't hear and you really, really do not understand?

Now, I want you to note something. They did hear with their physical ears. They did hear audibly, but they certainly did not hear spiritually. They heard the sound of His words. But they did not understand the impact, the importance, and the spirituality of His words. So, I want you to look at verse 44. After He says in verse 43, "Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word." Ah! Now He explains it. He says in verse 44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Now, here's a short quote from John Calvin on these two verses. Listen to this. "What is the reason why my speech appears to you barbarous and unknown, so that I gain nothing by speaking to you, and so that you do not even deign to open your ears to receive what I say?" Calvin goes on, "In the former clause, therefore, he reproves their stupidity. And the latter, he reproves their obstinance and ungovernable hatred of his doctrine. And afterwards, he assigns a reason for both when he says that they sprung from the devil."

Illumination vs. Revelation

Weaver clarifies that revelation (disclosing new truth) has ceased with the completion of Scripture; illumination is the Holy Spirit's work of opening our minds to understand what has already been revealed.

Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds, illuminates our minds to the truth that God has already revealed. So let me say this again. There's a difference between illumination and revelation. And most people get those two things confused. I've had godly individuals say to me, "Well, let me just share with you what God just revealed to me." And I shake my head and I say, "No, God did not just reveal something to you. What God did was He opened your eyes to understand what He'd already revealed." So revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals things never known before to the human mind. Revelation is ceased. The reason the revelation is ceased is because we have the totality of the Word of God and Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.

You can read that in Hebrews 1:1-3. So anytime someone claims additional revelation, they're denying that Jesus Christ in the Bible is the fullness of God and His Word and His truth. So what is revelation? How did Moses know what happened at creation? He was not there. How did he know what happened to Noah in the flood? He was not there. How do you know what happened to Abraham? He was not there. But he wrote and told us everything that happened. Or at least that which we need to know, and the way he knew was God revealed it to him and the Holy Spirit inspired him to write it. So that we have the infallible, inerrant Word of God. We have the Word of God without error, and we have it where it will never, ever fail. So what God does in illumination, He just opens our minds to understand that which He's already revealed to us.

Now, our Lord was the greatest teacher that ever lived. Our Lord not only could communicate truth, but He Himself was and still is truth. He spoke with absolute authority, and He spoke with clarity, that is for sure. But yet, many people did not understand what He said when He preached. Even His own disciples did not understand. So, let me show you some Scriptures. Let me just quote some for you.

The Disciples' Need for Opened Understanding

Even the disciples often failed to understand Jesus' teaching. Luke 24:45 shows that Jesus had to open their understanding to comprehend the Scriptures, using the Greek word 'dianoigō' meaning a thorough opening.

You can jot them down. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 17, and each of these Jesus Christ is speaking to His disciples, His twelve. He says this, "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?" But note He says to His disciples, "Do you not yet understand?" He just taught them. "Don't you understand?" Matthew 16:9, "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?" And how about this one? Matthew 16:11, "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" Wow! How about this one in Mark 8:21, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?" So even His own disciples did not understand some of the things that He taught. If the disciples who were with Him constantly and consistently did not understand, how much more do you and I need Him and illumination and enlightenment to understand? Now, here's my question. What did it take for the disciples to understand what Jesus Christ taught? Did it take more concentration?

"I've got to think harder." Did it take more education? "I have to get my Ph.D." Did it take more determination? "I'm going to sit here and study this until I figure it out." What did it take? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke, chapter 24, and let's begin reading there with verse 44. Luke chapter 24 and verse 44. Here's what it took. Luke 24:44,

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:44-45

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

Now look at verse 45,

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:44-45

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

Now, the word "open" is a very important word and very informative. The Greek word happens to be dianoigō. Dianoigō literally means to open by dividing or by drawing asunder. It means to open thoroughly that which has been closed. And this word is used in the opening of the womb of a woman on her first child. In other words, the womb is open so the child may be actually delivered. So when the Bible is saying He opened their minds, He opened their understanding, He did so thoroughly, completely, so that they could grasp and understand. Now the word "understanding," when He said He opened their understanding, is the Greek word nous, which refers to the mind, the intellectual faculties. In other words, it is in that area that we grasp the truth, that is for sure. Now, the word "understand" is the word suniēmi, which literally means to bring together, to cause to stand together in the mind.

So, let me put it to you like this. It's only when we have things come together in our minds that we really, thoroughly, completely understand. So, I pointed out that Casey is an electrician. He could stand up and tell us all about electricity. He could give us fact after fact about electricity. But until we can put these things together in our mind, we're not going to understand them. Steve could stand up and tell us all about mechanics. I'm not a mechanic.

Stages of Christian Growth

Christians are at different stages (babes, young men, fathers) and thus have varying levels of understanding. Lack of understanding does not necessarily indicate a lost state.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that if you don't understand everything that I understand, then you're lost. That's hogwash. You know, like I pointed out, God is sovereign in giving wisdom and understanding and truth, but you also have to remember this. In 1 John chapter 2, John divided Christians into three categories. He referred to them as babes, young men, and fathers. A babe does not understand what a young man understands, and a young man certainly does not understand what a father understands. If you remember, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, the Apostle Paul told those Corinthians, "I had to write unto you as babes."

"Are ye not yet carnal?" He asked this question. He said, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat." He said the same thing in Hebrews chapter 5. He said, "Ye have become dull of hearing, and ye have need of milk again instead of meat." So you have different stages in the Christian life. So very obviously and clearly, a baby's not going to understand what a young man does and a young man's not going to understand what a father does. So I'm not saying that someone's lost just because they don't understand everything. There is a period of growth and there is a period of what you and I would call real spurts in our life because that's when we really truly grow. So here we go.

How to Acquire Understanding

Weaver outlines three ways: (1) the hard way of experience, (2) asking God in prayer, and (3) meditating on God's Word. He stresses that God gives understanding to those who diligently seek it.

The first way is an exceedingly hard and difficult way. And that is the truth that we acquire and the understanding that we acquire by experience. Experience comes mighty costly at times. Every father and every mother try to spare their children the heartache and the hard lessons that they learn by teaching their children. And oftentimes the children just will not listen and will not learn. And they have to experience the school of hard knocks themselves. So how many times do you have to put your finger in the fire before you understand you're going to get burned? How many times do you have to stumble and fall flat on your face, maybe breaking your nose or breaking your arm, until you realize, "You know, I need to pick up my feet. I don't need to scrub my feet." How many times? So, for those who will not listen and for those who will not receive truth, they're going to go through the school of hard knocks. They're going to the university of experience, and they're going to be hurt over and over, I can assure you of that.

Now, listen if you would, as I give you some Scriptures concerning those who try to learn by experience. Okay, here we go. Proverbs 9:6, God says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 9:6

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."

So if you're not going in the way of understanding, you're going the way of foolishness, and you're going to die. You're going to get hurt. It's just that simple. Then Proverbs 12:11. The Bible says, "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding."

In other words, there is no work ethic. Note what he said, "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread." It's difficult many times to get up at five o'clock in the morning and get up and go and work in the fields and do whatever needed and necessary to make a crop. But there are some people that said, "Well, I'm going to follow about vain persons. We will beg. We'll borrow. We'll steal. We'll do whatever." God says,

"You don't have any understanding. You don't have a work ethic. You're not going to work. You're not going to eat. You'll learn the hard way." How about this one? Proverbs 18:2, "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." All he wants to do is party. All he wants to do is play. "That his heart may discover itself." I told you before, the word "muse" in the Bible means to think. When you put the alpha or the "a" in front of it, it is "amuse," which means not to think. It negates the word. So that means that amusement is that in which you don't have to think. You don't have to think when you're watching TV. You don't have to think when you're watching movies. You can get subliminal messages, but you don't have to think. Oh, so that's what God says a fool is. He has no delight in understanding. All he wants to do is play. How about this one? Proverbs 21:16.

"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." God says you're dead if you have no understanding. Do you realize how dangerous it is to live without understanding? How dangerous it is to live and do something absolutely stupid. For instance, how about handing a loaded pistol to a four or five year old child? Wouldn't you call that dangerous? Because he has no understanding. He doesn't know the danger of that pistol. He doesn't know that it'll end up killing him or killing someone else. And this is what God is saying. Yeah.

And how about this one in Proverbs 13:15? "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." So this is what you learn by the school of hard knocks. You learn everything is difficult when you refuse to listen and refuse to be taught. So those that will not listen will discover that experience without counsel and without truth will always take you to the school of hard knocks, always. Now the second way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is simple and easy. It's to ask for it. Pray and seek the Lord's blessings and ask Him specifically for His truth, for understanding and for wisdom. You remember David did that. In Psalm 119:34, he said, "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart." "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law." Do you realize there's no way in the world that you can really understand the totality of God's law. There's no way that you can understand the totality of God's Word unless He enlightens your mind and illuminates your mind what that Word actually means. You cannot keep it unless you understand it. Psalm 119:104, David said, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." How do you know what is the false way if you do not know what truth is? Wow. It's only through God's word that we get understanding. Psalm 119:125, David said, "I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies."

"I'm your servant, give me understanding." And then, of course, in Psalm 119:169, David says, "Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word." You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 7:7? He said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And the truth is that most Christians never ask, never seek, and never knock when it comes to truth, understanding, and wisdom. And consequently, we don't have either of them. You look around today at all the immorality that's going on, even in professing Christians. Look at the adultery, the fornication. And yet the Bible says in Proverbs 6:32, "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." God said if you do that, you lack understanding. So the truth is, anytime we sin against God in any way whatsoever, it's a demonstration and a manifestation of a lack of understanding. If we really understood the way of the transgressors is hard, if we understood the consequences of our sin, we would not be doing it, that is for sure. So, the second way is to ask. Now, the third way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is to be combined with the second way. We're not only to pray and ask and seek for it, we are also to consider the Word of God. David mentioned this, he said, "Through thy precepts I get understanding." But Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7, listen to this, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Now, it is true that understanding is God's gift. Truth is God's gift. Wisdom is God's gift. And yet, God does not give those gifts willy-nilly. He does not give those gifts to the slothful, the indolent, the lazy, and the unthoughtful people. And it is absolutely impossible to go to bed dumb and wake up smart. It's impossible to go to bed ignorant and wake up intelligent. No, that's impossible. And yet, that's what a lot of people think is going to happen. They think that somehow they acquire knowledge through osmosis.

"Put the Bible under a pillow. I'll get it through osmosis." No, you won't. No. So, we have to consider. Now, I want you to think about the word "consider." Paul said, "Consider what I say." The Greek word is noeō, and literally it means to think upon, to heed, to ponder, to consider, and to perceive with the mind. We would probably use the English word "meditate" for the word "consider." You know what meditation is, that's when we think about something and we turn it over and over in our minds and we consider it from every angle possible. Another good illustration is how a cow chews her cud. She eats that grass and then she lies down and just chews that cud, chews that cud, gets what she thinks I guess most of the nutrients out of it and then she swallows it. A little while later she thinks, "Maybe I didn't get everything out of that cud," so she regurgitates it, chews it some more, swallows it, a little bit later regurgitates it and chews it some more.

Well, that's what we're talking about. "Consider what I say." We turn it over and over and over in our mind and finally something might come up to distract us. But a little while later, we come back and said, "You know, I never finished thinking about that. Let me see if there are any more implications or applications." And you start chewing it over and over in your mind. You're meditating upon it. By the way, when the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." The word "consider" is a present active imperative. An imperative is a command. An active means you're actively involved in it, and the present means it's something that is being done consistently and continually. So when he says, "Consider what I say, the Lord gives the understanding," he is saying, "I am commanding you to consistently and constantly consider what I say."

Applications and Conclusion

Believers must have a disposition to believe God and a strong desire for truth. Understanding leads to life; rejecting it leads to destruction. Eternal life is knowing God now through Christ.

Now, David said, "Give me understanding and I shall live." Life, real, genuine life is understanding God and His Word. It's true we'll never understand it perfectly in this life. That is true. But we can understand to the degree that God gives us His truth and His wisdom and His understanding. And we can understand to the degree that we study and ask and seek for those things as well. OK, now I want to make some applications. I want you to listen carefully. The very first one is this. The two things that you need to receive understanding are first a disposition to believe God. God is right. He's always right. Our traditions are wrong. We're wrong. Our family is wrong. Our friends are wrong. Whatever God says is right. We're going to believe Him. We're going to put Him first and foremost. The second thing you need is this: a strong and overwhelming desire for truth. Most people do not want truth.

I will tell you this. When I discovered years ago that most everything I was taught in school was a lie or half-truth, and when I discovered that a number of preachers, when I was a young boy that had just been saved and called to preach, they took me under their wings and they taught me certain things. When I discovered that what they taught me was wrong, and in error, although they were genuine and sincere themselves, it upset me greatly. It made me angry because I'd wasted my time and part of my life listening to them and believing what they said when I found out it was totally, completely wrong. I found out that old black preacher was right when he said that their Bible showed us shed a whole lot of light on them commentaries. That's a fact. You know, when you stop and think about history, it's the same thing. I know what I was taught, and then I find out that everything I was taught was totally, completely wrong. The victor gets to write the history. And of course, they write it to please themselves and to praise themselves, when in reality history is something totally different. I'll tell you what, when I found out I'd been lied to, I not only was angry, but then it gave me a strong desire to really know the truth in every area.

And so what initially I thought hurt me, turned out to be a big help to me. So it's just like years ago, I mentioned this when our church was attacked by the state. Absolutely stupid. They wanted to give us a license to drink water out of our own well. The well had been in the ground over 40 years. They've never been a complaint. No one had ever been sick. Do you know what a license is?

You can find it in Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Black's Law Dictionary. Here's the definition. "Permission from a competent authority to do that which otherwise would be unlawful to do." You mean to tell me I have to have your permission to drink water out of my own well? I don't think so. One of my men came up to me and he asked me, he said, "Can they do this?" And my answer was, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

So that's what got me studying Romans 13. That's when I wrote my first book. That's what got me studying the Constitution. That's what got me studying law. You know, we need to know the truth. We need to know the truth in every area. And any time, any time we are told a lie, it destroys us. It enslaves us. Our Lord said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Now, here's another truth. Listen carefully. We must learn the truth of Proverbs 21:30. Listen carefully. "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD."

So let me put it to you very plainly. You can fight against Him all you want to fight against Him. You can deny His Word all you want to deny His Word. It doesn't do you one little bit of good. It does not change reality. God is the determiner of reality, not you. I know wives who fight against their husbands when I say that. The husband is supposed to be the head of the house according to the Word of God. And the Bible does say if any woman, any wife, wants to learn anything, let her ask her husband. He's supposed to be the one teaching her. And yet I can tell you wife after wife that sometimes fights against her husband and says, "No, no, no, I'm not going to listen to you. I'm not going to believe that. I know how I was raised." May I tell you something else?

Children do the same thing. They rebel against their parents. And it's the mama and the daddy that's responsible to teach their children. Many times, parishioners rebel against the pastor. I know that not every pastor is a godly man. I understand that. And not every preacher has been called to preach. I understand that. But the truth of the matter is most of us want comfort. We don't want to be disturbed. We don't want to be pushed out of our comfort zone. And consequently, we'd rather fight than submit to the truth. So, I want you to look at two passages. I will quote one final verse, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 3, and look, if you would, at verse 15. Then we're going to go to 1 John, chapter 5. So look, first of all, in Jeremiah, chapter 3, verse 15.

So God is telling His people there that when they repent and when they become obedient, here is a promise that God is going to give. Watch if you would, Jeremiah 3:15, God said, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." So you can be fed with knowledge and understanding if you will listen to the Word of God expounded, explained, and applied. Now, if you look in 1 John 5:20, the Word of God says this, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." So, notice if you would, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true." Now, what is that understanding? Well, if you go back to John 17:3, listen to what the Bible says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

What is the understanding? The understanding is that we know God the Father through Jesus Christ, we know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, is the Redeemer, is the Savior, is the Lord. We know that. He's come to give us that understanding. And we know that we are in Him. That is true. So although Christians may be divided into little children or babes and young men and fathers, every true Christian knows the Father in truth through the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever your stage in the Christian life, whether babe, young man or father, you know the Father.

Let me point one other thing out. Jesus Christ said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." You do not get eternal life when you die. You have it now. It is an intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you do not have eternal life now, if you do not have that relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ now, you're not going to get it when you die. So we are going to be enjoying and experiencing our intimate union and communion with God the Father through Jesus Christ now in time and history. And when we get into eternity, it will be magnified.

Who in the world would stop and think that you could ignore God, hate God, despise God, despise His Word, never pray, never study, never go to church, never hear preaching, and all of a sudden, when you die, all of a sudden you love those things. It doesn't work like that. If you love those things now, you're going to enjoy them much more in eternity. If you despise them now, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed in eternity because eternal life is a personal, intimate knowledge of God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is it that some understand, some don't? Because some use the means that God has ordained and seek Him and ask Him for truth while others do not. Do not be one of those who failed to pray and seek Him for wisdom, understanding and truth. And consider His word. Meditate upon it. Contemplate it. Chew the cud of it over and over in your mind while you're seeking God for understanding.

What did He say again to Timothy? "Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." But God does not give that understanding without your consideration. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to leave this day. We thank You for Your word. We thank You for Your truth. And we pray, Father, for understanding. Give us, Lord, a heart that seeks Thee, that knocks upon Thy door, and a heart that asks continually for wisdom and understanding and truth. And Lord, enable us to consider, to meditate, to chew the cud of Thy Word. Enable us, Heavenly Father, to bring that Word to bear in our lives through obedience and the application of it. We pray that You would make us holy, make us godly, and Lord, that You would indeed make us obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we ask and pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sovereignty of God in Giving Understanding

Summary: God alone dispenses wisdom, truth, and understanding as gifts according to His will, not based on human merit.

Evidence: Jesus said, 'Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.' (Matthew 13:11). Weaver emphasizes the Greek word 'didōmi' meaning a gift.

Illumination by the Holy Spirit

Summary: The Holy Spirit must open our minds to understand Scripture; this is illumination, distinct from revelation which has ceased.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds... to the truth that God has already revealed.'

Human Responsibility in Seeking Understanding

Summary: While understanding is a gift, believers are commanded to actively seek it through prayer and meditation on God's Word.

Evidence: Proverbs 23:23 says, 'Buy the truth, and sell it not.' Weaver stresses that we must ask, seek, and knock, and consider (meditate on) what God has said.

The Danger of Lacking Understanding

Summary: A lack of understanding leads to sin, destruction, and death; true life comes through understanding God and His Word.

Evidence: Proverbs 6:32 says the adulterer lacks understanding and destroys his own soul. Weaver states, 'anytime we sin against God... it's a demonstration and a manifestation of a lack of understanding.'

Eternal Life as Present Knowledge of God

Summary: Eternal life is not merely future but a present, intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Evidence: John 17:3: 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' Weaver says, 'You do not get eternal life when you die. You have it now.'

Key Arguments

Understanding is a sovereign gift, not a human achievement

Summary: Jesus' words in Matthew 13:11 show that the ability to know the mysteries of the kingdom is given by God, not earned.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone.'

God controls the distribution of His Word

Summary: Acts 16 demonstrates that the Holy Spirit actively prevented Paul from preaching in certain regions, showing God's sovereignty over where truth is sent.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'Macedonia received the Word of God when Bithynia did not and Asia did not.'

Even disciples needed divine opening of their minds

Summary: Luke 24:45 records that Jesus 'opened their understanding' to comprehend Scripture, using a word meaning a thorough opening.

Evidence: Weaver explains the Greek 'dianoigō' means 'to open thoroughly that which has been closed,' like the womb for childbirth.

Christians grow in understanding through stages

Summary: 1 John 2 describes babes, young men, and fathers, indicating that understanding varies with spiritual maturity.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'A babe does not understand what a young man understands, and a young man certainly does not understand what a father understands.'

Meditation on Scripture is commanded for gaining understanding

Summary: 2 Timothy 2:7 commands believers to 'consider' (meditate on) what Paul says, with the promise that the Lord will give understanding.

Evidence: Weaver notes the Greek 'noeō' means to think upon, heed, ponder, and the imperative is a command to continually meditate.

Lack of understanding leads to sin and destruction

Summary: Proverbs repeatedly links folly and sin to a lack of understanding, showing that spiritual ignorance has severe consequences.

Evidence: Weaver cites Proverbs 6:32, 21:16, and others to show that those without understanding walk in the way of death.

Scripture References

Matthew 13:10-17

Context: The primary text of the sermon, where Jesus explains why He speaks in parables and pronounces blessing on the disciples' eyes and ears.

Acts 16:6-10

Context: Used to illustrate God's sovereignty in directing where His Word is preached; the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from going to Asia and Bithynia.

Psalm 107:19-20

Context: Shows that God sends His word and heals those to whom He sends it, implying He does not heal everyone.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Context: The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.

Ephesians 4:17-19

Context: Describes the darkened understanding and blindness of the unsaved.

John 8:43-44

Context: Jesus asks why they do not understand His speech, then explains they are of their father the devil and cannot hear His word.

Luke 24:44-45

Context: Jesus opened the disciples' understanding to comprehend the Scriptures, illustrating the need for divine illumination.

Proverbs 2:6

Context: The Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

Context: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Matthew 6:33

Context: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added.

1 John 2

Context: John divides Christians into babes, young men, and fathers, indicating stages of spiritual growth.

1 Corinthians 3

Context: Paul fed the Corinthians with milk, not solid food, because they were carnal and not ready for deeper truth.

Hebrews 5

Context: The readers had become dull of hearing and needed milk again instead of solid food.

Proverbs 23:23

Context: Buy the truth and do not sell it; also wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Proverbs 9:6

Context: Forsake the foolish and live; go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 12:11

Context: He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.

Proverbs 18:2

Context: A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in expressing his own heart.

Proverbs 21:16

Context: The man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

Proverbs 13:15

Context: Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.

Psalm 119:34, 104, 125, 130, 144, 169

Context: David repeatedly asks God for understanding and acknowledges that God's word gives understanding.

Historical References

J. Barton Payne

Context: A scholar who found 574 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah.

Alfred Edersheim

Context: Found 456 Old Testament verses pointing to Jesus as the Messiah.

Josh and Sean McDowell, 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict' (2017)

Context: Quotes Professor Peter W. Stoner on the statistical impossibility of one person fulfilling just eight Messianic prophecies by chance.

Professor Peter W. Stoner

Context: Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College; calculated the probability of fulfilling eight prophecies as 1 in 10^17.

John Calvin

Context: Quoted on John 8:43-44, explaining that the Jews' inability to understand Jesus' speech stemmed from their diabolical origin.

Important Quotes

Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone.

Significance: Emphasizes the divine origin of all spiritual understanding, countering any notion of human autonomy in grasping truth.

Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds, illuminates our minds to the truth that God has already revealed.

Significance: Defines the crucial distinction between revelation and illumination, a key doctrinal point in the sermon.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Significance: Quoting Luke 24:45, Weaver highlights that even the disciples needed a divine act to comprehend Scripture.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Significance: The key verse (2 Timothy 2:7) that ties human responsibility (meditation) with divine enablement for understanding.

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Significance: Psalm 119:130, showing that Scripture itself is the means by which God imparts understanding.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Significance: John 17:3, used to define eternal life as a present, personal knowledge of God, not merely a future state.

Discussion Questions

How does the truth that understanding is a sovereign gift from God affect the way we approach Bible study and prayer?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that understanding does not originate in us but is given by God.

In what ways might we be like the disciples who needed their understanding opened, even after hearing Jesus teach?

Context: The disciples often failed to understand, showing our constant need for illumination.

What are some practical ways to 'consider' or meditate on Scripture as commanded in 2 Timothy 2:7?

Context: Weaver explains the Greek word 'noeō' and compares meditation to a cow chewing its cud.

Why do you think many Christians neglect to ask God for wisdom and understanding, and what can we do to cultivate a habit of asking?

Context: Weaver notes that most Christians never ask, seek, or knock for truth.

How does the concept of eternal life as a present knowledge of God challenge common assumptions about salvation?

Context: Weaver stresses that eternal life is an intimate relationship now, not just a future hope.

What are some areas where you might be resisting truth because it pushes you out of your comfort zone?

Context: Weaver warns that we often avoid truth because it demands change and obedience.

Applications

Cultivate a disposition to believe God above all else

Summary: We must resolve that God is always right, even when His Word contradicts our traditions, family, or personal preferences.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'God is right. He's always right. Our traditions are wrong. We're wrong. Our family is wrong. Our friends are wrong. Whatever God says is right.'

Develop a strong desire for truth

Summary: A passionate hunger for truth is necessary to overcome the discomfort of being corrected and to pursue understanding diligently.

Evidence: Weaver shares his own anger at being taught error, which fueled a strong desire to know the truth in every area.

Pray specifically for wisdom and understanding

Summary: Following David's example in the Psalms, believers should consistently ask God to give them understanding of His Word.

Evidence: Weaver cites Psalm 119:34, 'Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,' and urges us to ask, seek, and knock.

Meditate on Scripture continually

Summary: Understanding comes as we 'chew the cud' of God's Word, turning it over in our minds and considering its implications.

Evidence: Weaver explains the command in 2 Timothy 2:7 to 'consider' (meditate) and compares it to a cow chewing its cud.

Submit to God-ordained teachers

Summary: God gives pastors to feed His people with knowledge and understanding; we should listen to the Word expounded and applied.

Evidence: Jeremiah 3:15 promises pastors after God's heart who will feed with knowledge and understanding.

Pursue eternal life as a present reality

Summary: Eternal life is knowing God now through Christ; we should cultivate that relationship daily rather than waiting for death.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'You do not get eternal life when you die. You have it now. It is an intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:07:50Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:48:39Z

Clean Transcript

Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Matthew 13, and we're going to read verses 10 through 17. Matthew chapter 13, beginning there with verse 10: "And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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. 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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: 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."
#1 | 0:00 to 1:12 | cleaned
"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 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." So, the title of the message today is, "Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand." This is the second part, because last week I brought a message from this text on why some do not understand and others will never understand. So the reality is basically what I preached last week, because some will indeed never, never understand. But thankfully, there are some that do comprehend and do understand, and others simply just do not understand. So why is this truth given to us and not to others? Why do some understand truth and others not understand truth?
#2 | 1:13 to 2:17 | cleaned
Well, if you go back to verse 10 in Matthew chapter 13, so the disciples come to our Lord and ask Him why He speaks unto them in parables. And 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." So, our Lord answers in such a way that we automatically see and understand the sovereignty of God. We understand that wisdom and understanding are His gifts. Truth is His gift. And so, therefore, He has the absolute authority to dispense His gifts as He sees fit, whenever He pleases, to whomever He pleases, and however He pleases. Now, He said, "unto you it is given," and I pointed this out last week, that the word "given" is didōmi, which literally means it is a gift.
#3 | 2:17 to 3:16 | cleaned
It is something that comes from outside of you. Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone. Now, this is the absolute truth from the Word of God.
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Now, the truth is, many may not agree with this, but that does not cause it to cease being truth. Many do not like it, but it is still truth. And you may argue with it all you desire, but it is still truth. So, let me give you a good illustration. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 16, and I want you to look with me at verses 6 through 10. And then I will point it out in the book of Acts chapter 16, beginning there, if you would notice, with verse 6. Notice this, Acts chapter 16 and verse 6. Look what the Bible says, Acts 16 verse 6.
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"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." Now, note if you would, first of all, they wanted to go into Asia. Who stopped them?
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Who forbade them to go? Well, it was God the Holy Ghost. Then they tried to go into Bithynia and someone stopped them again. It was God the Holy Ghost. So notice if you would now, they wanted to go somewhere and God says, "No, you're not going there." They tried to go to another place. "No, you're not going there." In other words, it is God who determines where His word is preached. It is God who determines how that word is preached and how it is sent.
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Now, if you will notice this little phrase that you find in verse 10, the Bible says that they endeavored to go into Macedonia, "assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there." Now, the words "assuredly gathering" are actually from one Greek word, sumbibazō, and it literally means to cause to coalesce, to cause to come together, or to put together in the mind. So they understood in their minds that no, they were not going to Asia, they were not going to Bithynia, but they were going into Macedonia. Now, note if you would please, in this particular passage, Macedonia received the Word of God when Bithynia did not and Asia did not.
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And we see the same truth in this world today. There are some countries who have the Word of God, some countries who do not have the Word of God. Look at some of the places in Africa. Look at China. Look at Pakistan. Look at any country that you want to look at. It's absolutely heathen, and they just simply do not have the Word of God. So clearly, in this instance, the Word of God was withheld from some countries, and it was given to others, at least during that particular time.
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Now, I want you to look very quickly in the book of Psalms, Psalm 107, and notice if you would, verses 19 and 20. Psalm 107, verses 19 and 20. And notice, if you would, what the Bible says specifically. Here it is, Psalm 107, and look, if you would, there at verse 19. The Word of God says, "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Now, here's my question. Did He heal everyone? Did He deliver everyone? Did He save everyone from their destructions? And the answer, no. In the context, He saved and He healed those to whom He sent His word. So it is God then who determines where that word is sent. He is sovereign. Truth is His gift.
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He dispenses it as He will. Now, notice if you would back in Matthew chapter 13, our text, because they ask our Lord, "Why is it that you're preaching in parables?" What He says, "Unto you it is given to know the truth. Others, it is not given to know the truth," that is for sure. And then, of course, He talks about the reasons being, which I'll cover momentarily, but I want you to skip down, if you would, please, to verses 16 and 17, because He tells His disciples, "But blessed are your eyes, for they see,
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and your ears, for they hear. 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."
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Now our Lord says you're exceedingly blessed. You're exceedingly blessed. Why? Because there's been many prophets and many righteous men that want to see what you have seen, but they do not see them. Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Have you ever stopped to really thank the Lord for the gift that He's given us in being able to hear the Word of God? The truth of the matter is we hear the Word of God weekly. If we wanted to hear it daily, we could. If we wanted to hear it three times a day, we could hear it three times a day. I mean, the Word of God is being preached everywhere in this country. And if it's not being preached everywhere in this country, we have so many sermons on CDs and DVDs. And I mean, anyone can pick up their Bible and read. And stop and think about this.
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If I were to ask you how many Bibles that you have in your possession, hmm, I, you know, I have no idea how many Bibles I possess. I'm sure it's 15 or 20. The average home probably has three, four, five, or six. But think about this. Look at all these other countries that do not have the Word of God. Think of the homes that do not have the Bible. Now, the point I'm trying to make is this. We should be thankful, extremely thankful, that God has been pleased to give us truth and to give us understanding of the truth. Now, it's true we do not have perfect understanding. And it's true we do not understand all truth, but there is a large portion of truth that has been given to us that we do understand, and we should be extremely thankful.
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Now, there's one scholar, by the name of J. Barton Payne, who found 574 verses in the Old Testament that referred to or pointed to in some measure the prophecies of Jesus Christ being the Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 verses in the Old Testament that pointed to Jesus Christ being the Messiah. Conservatively speaking, most scholars will say that there are a minimum of 300 verses that refer to Jesus Christ being the Messiah.
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Now, here's why our Lord says, "But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. But many righteous men and prophets have desired to see what you see and hear what you hear." In other words, He is saying, "I am the Messiah. I am the fulfillment of all of these prophecies. I'm here before your eyes. Salvation is here."
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Now, in Josh and Sean McDowell's book, "Evidence That Demands a Verdict," which was printed in 2017, they quote Professor Peter W. Stoner, who happens to be chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College. And here is what he said. Out of the hundreds of prophecies he examined, the statistical possibility of one person randomly fulfilling just eight of those prophecies is a statistical impossibility.
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Now, remember how many I told you. Conservative over 300. So, he took eight prophecies concerning Christ. Here they are. Number one, that He would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5 and verse 2. Number two, that He would be born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14. Number three, that He would be a descendant of David, Isaiah 9:7. Number four, that He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, Zechariah 11:12.
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And then next He would be mocked, Psalm 22:7-8. That He would be crucified, John 3:14. That He would be pierced, Psalm 22:16. And that He would die with the wicked and be buried with the rich, Isaiah 53:9. So he said, "Listen to this, that one person could fulfill these eight prophecies by random chance is considered a statistical impossibility." Here's what he went on to say, "...we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all of these eight prophecies is one in ten to the seventeenth power. That is a one with seventeen zeros behind it, or one to what you would call a hundred quadrillion."
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No wonder our Lord said, "Blessed are your eyes for they see I'm standing in front of you and blessed are your ears for they hear because you're hearing Me teach and you have everything in front of Me." Now, in light of this, we still have to ask this question. Why is it there were some that understand and some that do not understand? Well, I pointed out last week that there is a natural blindness or a natural depravity.
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The Bible tells you in 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So the unsaved man has no ability to perceive or even receive or understand the things of God. Then I also quoted in Ephesians 4:17-19, where the Apostle Paul said, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in
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them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling"—what?—"they walk after lasciviousness and all filthiness." In other words, God says, by nature, men are blind, they're dumb, they're darkened, they're alienated from God, they understand nothing. And of course, then I went on to show last week also, there was a judicial blindness that comes from God. We understand that. But let me show you another verse.
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I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of John, chapter 8. Here's a very interesting passage. In John chapter 8, notice if you would please verse 43, because our Lord asked a question to these Jews who were standing in front of Him. Look what He asked. He says in verse 43, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" And then He says, "Even because ye cannot hear my word." Now look at that question. "Why do ye not understand my speech?"
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We're speaking the same language. You know the language that I'm speaking in. Why am I a barbarian to you in the sense of the word that you really don't hear and you really, really do not understand?
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Now, I want you to note something. They did hear with their physical ears. They did hear audibly, but they certainly did not hear spiritually. They heard the sound of His words. But they did not understand the impact, the importance, and the spirituality of His words. So, I want you to look at verse 44. After He says in verse 43, "Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word." Ah! Now He explains it. He says in verse 44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
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He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
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Now, here's a short quote from John Calvin on these two verses. Listen to this. "What is the reason why my speech appears to you barbarous and unknown, so that I gain nothing by speaking to you, and so that you do not even deign to open your ears to receive what I say?" Calvin goes on, "In the former clause, therefore, he reproves their stupidity. And the latter, he reproves their obstinance and ungovernable hatred of his doctrine. And afterwards, he assigns a reason for both when he says that they sprung from the devil."
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But note, He asked this question. "Why is it that you do not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word." So we understand that the unsaved cannot understand. But here's the question. Why is it many Christians do not understand? Why is it some do, but others do not? Well, the truth is, we must be taught by the Holy Spirit. He must open our eyes. He must open our ears. He must open our minds and grant us understanding. Now, there are plenty of Christians that can quote verses. They can memorize verses. They can read. But just because you can quote a verse and just because you memorize a verse does not really mean that you understand the verse.
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I know people put themselves on a reading schedule and they read their Bible all the way through every year. And I'm thankful for that. I'm certainly not against that. But I will tell you this, I'd much rather read one chapter and understand it than read 20 chapters and not understand the thing that I've read. So why is it that some understand and some do not? Well, the answer is this.
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Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds, illuminates our minds to the truth that God has already revealed. So let me say this again. There's a difference between illumination and revelation. And most people get those two things confused. I've had godly individuals say to me, "Well, let me just share with you what God just revealed to me." And I shake my head and I say, "No, God did not just reveal something to you. What God did was He opened your eyes to understand what He'd already revealed." So revelation is the act of God whereby He reveals things never known before to the human mind. Revelation is ceased. The reason the revelation is ceased is because we have the totality of the Word of God and Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God.
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You can read that in Hebrews 1:1-3. So anytime someone claims additional revelation, they're denying that Jesus Christ in the Bible is the fullness of God and His Word and His truth. So what is revelation? How did Moses know what happened at creation? He was not there. How did he know what happened to Noah in the flood? He was not there. How do you know what happened to Abraham? He was not there. But he wrote and told us everything that happened. Or at least that which we need to know, and the way he knew was God revealed it to him and the Holy Spirit inspired him to write it. So that we have the infallible, inerrant Word of God. We have the Word of God without error, and we have it where it will never, ever fail. So what God does in illumination, He just opens our minds to understand that which He's already revealed to us.
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Now, our Lord was the greatest teacher that ever lived. Our Lord not only could communicate truth, but He Himself was and still is truth. He spoke with absolute authority, and He spoke with clarity, that is for sure. But yet, many people did not understand what He said when He preached. Even His own disciples did not understand. So, let me show you some Scriptures. Let me just quote some for you.
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You can jot them down. Matthew chapter 15 and verse 17, and each of these Jesus Christ is speaking to His disciples, His twelve. He says this, "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?" But note He says to His disciples, "Do you not yet understand?" He just taught them. "Don't you understand?" Matthew 16:9, "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?"
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And how about this one? Matthew 16:11, "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" Wow! How about this one in Mark 8:21, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?" So even His own disciples did not understand some of the things that He taught. If the disciples who were with Him constantly and consistently did not understand, how much more do you and I need Him and illumination and enlightenment to understand? Now, here's my question. What did it take for the disciples to understand what Jesus Christ taught? Did it take more concentration?
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"I've got to think harder." Did it take more education? "I have to get my Ph.D." Did it take more determination? "I'm going to sit here and study this until I figure it out." What did it take? Well, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Luke, chapter 24, and let's begin reading there with verse 44. Luke chapter 24 and verse 44. Here's what it took. Luke 24:44, "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Now look at verse 45, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."
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Now, the word "open" is a very important word and very informative. The Greek word happens to be dianoigō. Dianoigō literally means to open by dividing or by drawing asunder. It means to open thoroughly that which has been closed. And this word is used in the opening of the womb of a woman on her first child. In other words, the womb is open so the child may be actually delivered. So when the Bible is saying He opened their minds, He opened their understanding, He did so thoroughly, completely, so that they could grasp and understand. Now the word "understanding," when He said He opened their understanding, is the Greek word nous, which refers to the mind, the intellectual faculties. In other words, it is in that area that we grasp the truth, that is for sure. Now, the word "understand" is the word suniēmi, which literally means to bring together, to cause to stand together in the mind.
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So, let me put it to you like this. It's only when we have things come together in our minds that we really, thoroughly, completely understand. So, I pointed out that Casey is an electrician. He could stand up and tell us all about electricity. He could give us fact after fact about electricity. But until we can put these things together in our mind, we're not going to understand them. Steve could stand up and tell us all about mechanics. I'm not a mechanic.
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I have no mechanical ability whatsoever. And he could tell me all about combustion engines. He could tell me about the pistons. He could tell me all. I still do not understand it. But if I took all the facts and were able to put them together in my mind, then I would understand exactly what he's talking about. No one can understand anything until you put it together, until you're able not just to repeat it, but to apply it. That's how we learn.
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Now listen to me very carefully. Our Lord opened the minds of His disciples so thoroughly, so completely, so totally, that they understood His Word. Now, the Bible tells you in Proverbs 2:6, listen carefully. "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." "The LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Another verse, Proverbs 9:10. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
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So I want you to think about this. I just gave you two verses that tell us very plainly that the Lord has to give wisdom, the Lord has to give understanding. Those are His gifts. He may dispense them as He pleases, to whom He pleases, when He pleases, wherever He pleases. And by the way, this is why many Christians do not understand the same truth at the same time. I mean, you know, I may be ahead of Steve in some areas. Steve may be ahead of me in other areas. Casey may be ahead of both of us. And I may understand far more than all of us put together.
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You see what I'm saying? God does not give the same truth at the same time to the same people.
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Now, hang on to that. Remember, if you would, please, if truth belongs to God, understanding belongs to God, out of His mouth comes these things. So here's a good question. Is God obligated to give you truth and to give you understanding? Or are you obligated to seek God for truth and understanding? Of course, you know that you cannot bring God into obligation to you, so therefore it is your obligation, it is your duty, it is your responsibility to seek after God and His gifts. Now, you remember that passage in Matthew 6:33, where our Lord said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." So, here we go. Why does some understand?
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And we're talking about Christians now. Why do some Christians understand truth and others do not understand truth?
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Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that if you don't understand everything that I understand, then you're lost. That's hogwash. You know, like I pointed out, God is sovereign in giving wisdom and understanding and truth, but you also have to remember this. In 1 John chapter 2, John divided Christians into three categories. He referred to them as babes, young men, and fathers. A babe does not understand what a young man understands, and a young man certainly does not understand what a father understands. If you remember, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, the Apostle Paul told those Corinthians, "I had to write unto you as babes."
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"Are ye not yet carnal?" He asked this question. He said, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat." He said the same thing in Hebrews chapter 5. He said, "Ye have become dull of hearing, and ye have need of milk again instead of meat." So you have different stages in the Christian life. So very obviously and clearly, a baby's not going to understand what a young man does and a young man's not going to understand what a father does. So I'm not saying that someone's lost just because they don't understand everything. There is a period of growth and there is a period of what you and I would call real spurts in our life because that's when we really truly grow. So here we go.
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Let me put it to you like this. God commands us in Proverbs 23:23, He says, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." So when it comes to wisdom, instruction, and understanding, price is not negotiable for these things. We're to buy them regardless of how and what they cost. So the question has to be asked then, how in the world do we buy the truth? The word "buy" is the word qanah in the Hebrew, and it means to get, to acquire, to create, to buy, to possess, to obtain. So He tells you, you've got to buy the truth, you've got to obtain the truth. Don't worry about the cost, just get the truth. OK. So how do we get the truth? How do we buy the truth? Well, there are three main ways to acquire and understand truth, wisdom and understanding.
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The first way is an exceedingly hard and difficult way. And that is the truth that we acquire and the understanding that we acquire by experience. Experience comes mighty costly at times. Every father and every mother try to spare their children the heartache and the hard lessons that they learn by teaching their children. And oftentimes the children just will not listen and will not learn. And they have to experience the school of hard knocks themselves. So how many times do you have to put your finger in the fire before you understand you're going to get burned? How many times do you have to stumble and fall flat on your face, maybe breaking your nose or breaking your arm, until you realize, "You know, I need to pick up my feet. I don't need to scrub my feet." How many times? So, for those who will not listen and for those who will not receive truth, they're going to go through the school of hard knocks. They're going to the university of experience, and they're going to be hurt over and over, I can assure you of that.
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Now, listen if you would, as I give you some Scriptures concerning those who try to learn by experience. Okay, here we go. Proverbs 9:6, God says, "Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." So if you're not going in the way of understanding, you're going the way of foolishness, and you're going to die. You're going to get hurt. It's just that simple. Then Proverbs 12:11. The Bible says, "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding."
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In other words, there is no work ethic. Note what he said, "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread." It's difficult many times to get up at five o'clock in the morning and get up and go and work in the fields and do whatever needed and necessary to make a crop. But there are some people that said, "Well, I'm going to follow about vain persons. We will beg. We'll borrow. We'll steal. We'll do whatever." God says,
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"You don't have any understanding. You don't have a work ethic. You're not going to work. You're not going to eat. You'll learn the hard way." How about this one? Proverbs 18:2, "A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." All he wants to do is party. All he wants to do is play. "That his heart may discover itself." I told you before, the word "muse" in the Bible means to think. When you put the alpha or the "a" in front of it, it is "amuse," which means not to think. It negates the word. So that means that amusement is that in which you don't have to think. You don't have to think when you're watching TV. You don't have to think when you're watching movies. You can get subliminal messages, but you don't have to think. Oh, so that's what God says a fool is. He has no delight in understanding. All he wants to do is play. How about this one? Proverbs 21:16.
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"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." God says you're dead if you have no understanding. Do you realize how dangerous it is to live without understanding? How dangerous it is to live and do something absolutely stupid. For instance, how about handing a loaded pistol to a four or five year old child? Wouldn't you call that dangerous? Because he has no understanding. He doesn't know the danger of that pistol. He doesn't know that it'll end up killing him or killing someone else. And this is what God is saying. Yeah.
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And how about this one in Proverbs 13:15? "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." So this is what you learn by the school of hard knocks. You learn everything is difficult when you refuse to listen and refuse to be taught. So those that will not listen will discover that experience without counsel and without truth will always take you to the school of hard knocks, always. Now the second way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is simple and easy.
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It's to ask for it. Pray and seek the Lord's blessings and ask Him specifically for His truth, for understanding and for wisdom. You remember David did that. In Psalm 119:34, he said, "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart." "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law." Do you realize there's no way in the world that you can really understand the totality of God's law. There's no way that you can understand the totality of God's Word unless He enlightens your mind and illuminates your mind what that Word actually means. You cannot keep it unless you understand it. Psalm 119:104, David said, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." How do you know what is the false way if you do not know what truth is? Wow. It's only through God's word that we get understanding. Psalm 119:125, David said, "I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies."
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"I'm your servant, give me understanding." And then, of course, in Psalm 119:169, David says, "Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word." You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 7:7? He said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And the truth is that most Christians never ask, never seek, and never knock when it comes to truth, understanding, and wisdom.
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And consequently, we don't have either of them. You look around today at all the immorality that's going on, even in professing Christians. Look at the adultery, the fornication. And yet the Bible says in Proverbs 6:32, "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." God said if you do that, you lack understanding. So the truth is, anytime we sin against God in any way whatsoever, it's a demonstration and a manifestation of a lack of understanding. If we really understood the way of the transgressors is hard, if we understood the consequences of our sin, we would not be doing it, that is for sure. So, the second way is to ask. Now, the third way to acquire truth and understanding and wisdom is to be combined with the second way. We're not only to pray and ask and seek for it, we are also to consider the Word of God. David mentioned this, he said, "Through thy precepts I get understanding." But Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7, listen to this, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
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Now, it is true that understanding is God's gift. Truth is God's gift. Wisdom is God's gift. And yet, God does not give those gifts willy-nilly. He does not give those gifts to the slothful, the indolent, the lazy, and the unthoughtful people. And it is absolutely impossible to go to bed dumb and wake up smart. It's impossible to go to bed ignorant and wake up intelligent. No, that's impossible. And yet, that's what a lot of people think is going to happen. They think that somehow they acquire knowledge through osmosis.
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"Put the Bible under a pillow. I'll get it through osmosis." No, you won't. No. So, we have to consider. Now, I want you to think about the word "consider." Paul said, "Consider what I say." The Greek word is noeō, and literally it means to think upon, to heed, to ponder, to consider, and to perceive with the mind. We would probably use the English word "meditate" for the word "consider." You know what meditation is, that's when we think about something and we turn it over and over in our minds and we consider it from every angle possible.
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Another good illustration is how a cow chews her cud. She eats that grass and then she lies down and just chews that cud, chews that cud, gets what she thinks I guess most of the nutrients out of it and then she swallows it. A little while later she thinks, "Maybe I didn't get everything out of that cud," so she regurgitates it, chews it some more, swallows it, a little bit later regurgitates it and chews it some more.
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Well, that's what we're talking about. "Consider what I say." We turn it over and over and over in our mind and finally something might come up to distract us. But a little while later, we come back and said, "You know, I never finished thinking about that. Let me see if there are any more implications or applications." And you start chewing it over and over in your mind. You're meditating upon it. By the way, when the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, "Consider what I say,
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and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." The word "consider" is a present active imperative. An imperative is a command. An active means you're actively involved in it, and the present means it's something that is being done consistently and continually. So when he says, "Consider what I say, the Lord gives the understanding," he is saying, "I am commanding you to consistently and constantly consider what I say."
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So why is it then that some understand and others do not? Here's one answer. Not only because God is sovereign and dispenses His gifts as He pleases, but some use the means that God has ordained to acquire truth, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Most people do not have any of these things because they do not pray and ask God for them. They do not seek Him for His gifts.
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They do not meditate or consider His Word. The problem is this. We're like the Pharisees. You remember what the Pharisees were concerned about? You can read it in Matthew 15, Mark chapter 7. They came up to our Lord and they asked Him, "Why do Thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders?" We all have our traditions. We all have our little ceremonies, our little rituals that we go through. And we tend to value those many times over and above the Word of God, just like those Pharisees did.
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I have been in churches and I've been explaining things and I've had someone say, "But we've always done it another way." Well, just because you have done something traditionally one way does not mean that it is the biblical way, the right way or the correct way. Let me point something else out. We don't want to be wrong. We don't want our families to be wrong. We don't want our friends to be wrong.
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We are oftentimes afraid that if we really learn truth, if we really get understanding, it's going to get us out of our comfort zone. It's going to change us. It's going to make us more obedient in areas that we've never been obedient in. Or maybe sometimes we do not want to be obedient in. And consequently, we just don't really study. We don't really pray. Because we don't want to be changed. And yet the truth is, you can't live without change. It's impossible. There's a change in all of us. Change in our lives, change in our homes. Things change for you. Did they not, Dinah? Clearly. You can't live without change.
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But so many people are so uncomfortable with it. And of course, you know, hey, we just don't want to get out of our comfort zone. But the truth of the matter is this. When Paul said, "Consider what I say, and the Lord gives the understanding in all things," he not only was giving a command, he was telling us that this is a way to get understanding, praying and seeking and considering what God has said.
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David said it like this in Psalm 119:130. He said, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." When we perceive the Word of God, when we grasp the impact of it, the implications and the applications of it, that's what gives us understanding. David said it would begin like this in Psalm 119:144. He said, "The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live."
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You remember earlier I quoted where he said, "He that does not understand walketh in the ways of death and destruction." Wow.
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Now, David said, "Give me understanding and I shall live." Life, real, genuine life is understanding God and His Word. It's true we'll never understand it perfectly in this life. That is true. But we can understand to the degree that God gives us His truth and His wisdom and His understanding. And we can understand to the degree that we study and ask and seek for those things as well.
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OK, now I want to make some applications. I want you to listen carefully. The very first one is this. The two things that you need to receive understanding are first a disposition to believe God. God is right. He's always right. Our traditions are wrong. We're wrong. Our family is wrong. Our friends are wrong. Whatever God says is right. We're going to believe Him. We're going to put Him first and foremost. The second thing you need is this: a strong and overwhelming desire for truth. Most people do not want truth.
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I will tell you this. When I discovered years ago that most everything I was taught in school was a lie or half-truth, and when I discovered that a number of preachers, when I was a young boy that had just been saved and called to preach, they took me under their wings and they taught me certain things. When I discovered that what they taught me was wrong, and in error, although they were genuine and sincere themselves, it upset me greatly.
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It made me angry because I'd wasted my time and part of my life listening to them and believing what they said when I found out it was totally, completely wrong. I found out that old black preacher was right when he said that their Bible showed us shed a whole lot of light on them commentaries. That's a fact. You know, when you stop and think about history, it's the same thing. I know what I was taught, and then I find out that everything I was taught was totally, completely wrong. The victor gets to write the history. And of course, they write it to please themselves and to praise themselves, when in reality history is something totally different. I'll tell you what, when I found out I'd been lied to, I not only was angry, but then it gave me a strong desire to really know the truth in every area.
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And so what initially I thought hurt me, turned out to be a big help to me. So it's just like years ago, I mentioned this when our church was attacked by the state. Absolutely stupid. They wanted to give us a license to drink water out of our own well. The well had been in the ground over 40 years. They've never been a complaint. No one had ever been sick. Do you know what a license is?
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You can find it in Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Black's Law Dictionary. Here's the definition. "Permission from a competent authority to do that which otherwise would be unlawful to do." You mean to tell me I have to have your permission to drink water out of my own well? I don't think so. One of my men came up to me and he asked me, he said, "Can they do this?" And my answer was, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
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So that's what got me studying Romans 13. That's when I wrote my first book. That's what got me studying the Constitution. That's what got me studying law. You know, we need to know the truth. We need to know the truth in every area. And any time, any time we are told a lie, it destroys us. It enslaves us. Our Lord said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Now, here's another truth. Listen carefully. We must learn the truth of Proverbs 21:30. Listen carefully. "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD."
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So let me put it to you very plainly. You can fight against Him all you want to fight against Him. You can deny His Word all you want to deny His Word. It doesn't do you one little bit of good. It does not change reality. God is the determiner of reality, not you. I know wives who fight against their husbands when I say that. The husband is supposed to be the head of the house according to the Word of God. And the Bible does say if any woman, any wife, wants to learn anything, let her ask her husband. He's supposed to be the one teaching her. And yet I can tell you wife after wife that sometimes fights against her husband and says, "No, no, no, I'm not going to listen to you. I'm not going to believe that. I know how I was raised." May I tell you something else?
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Children do the same thing. They rebel against their parents. And it's the mama and the daddy that's responsible to teach their children. Many times, parishioners rebel against the pastor. I know that not every pastor is a godly man. I understand that. And not every preacher has been called to preach. I understand that. But the truth of the matter is most of us want comfort. We don't want to be disturbed. We don't want to be pushed out of our comfort zone. And consequently, we'd rather fight than submit to the truth. So, I want you to look at two passages. I will quote one final verse, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 3, and look, if you would, at verse 15. Then we're going to go to 1 John, chapter 5. So look, first of all, in Jeremiah, chapter 3, verse 15.
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So God is telling His people there that when they repent and when they become obedient, here is a promise that God is going to give. Watch if you would, Jeremiah 3:15, God said, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." So you can be fed with knowledge and understanding if you will listen to the Word of God expounded, explained, and applied. Now, if you look in 1 John 5:20, the Word of God says this, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." So, notice if you would, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true." Now, what is that understanding? Well, if you go back to John 17:3, listen to what the Bible says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
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What is the understanding? The understanding is that we know God the Father through Jesus Christ, we know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, is the Redeemer, is the Savior, is the Lord. We know that. He's come to give us that understanding. And we know that we are in Him. That is true. So although Christians may be divided into little children or babes and young men and fathers, every true Christian knows the Father in truth through the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever your stage in the Christian life, whether babe, young man or father, you know the Father.
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Let me point one other thing out. Jesus Christ said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." You do not get eternal life when you die. You have it now. It is an intimate relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you do not have eternal life now, if you do not have that relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ now, you're not going to get it when you die. So we are going to be enjoying and experiencing our intimate union and communion with God the Father through Jesus Christ now in time and history. And when we get into eternity, it will be magnified.
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Who in the world would stop and think that you could ignore God, hate God, despise God, despise His Word, never pray, never study, never go to church, never hear preaching, and all of a sudden, when you die, all of a sudden you love those things. It doesn't work like that. If you love those things now, you're going to enjoy them much more in eternity. If you despise them now, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed in eternity because eternal life is a personal, intimate knowledge of God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Why is it that some understand, some don't? Because some use the means that God has ordained and seek Him and ask Him for truth while others do not. Do not be one of those who failed to pray and seek Him for wisdom, understanding and truth. And consider His word. Meditate upon it. Contemplate it. Chew the cud of it over and over in your mind while you're seeking God for understanding.
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What did He say again to Timothy? "Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." But God does not give that understanding without your consideration. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to leave this day. We thank You for Your word. We thank You for Your truth. And we pray, Father, for understanding. Give us, Lord, a heart that seeks Thee, that knocks upon Thy door, and a heart that asks continually for wisdom and understanding and truth. And Lord, enable us to consider, to meditate, to chew the cud of Thy Word. Enable us, Heavenly Father, to bring that Word to bear in our lives through obedience and the application of it. We pray that You would make us holy, make us godly, and Lord, that You would indeed make us obedient. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we ask and pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:07:50Z

Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his message on Matthew 13:10-17, explaining why some people understand spiritual truth while others do not. He emphasizes that understanding is a sovereign gift from God, not originating in man. Using Acts 16, he illustrates God's control over where His Word is preached. He distinguishes between revelation (now ceased) and illumination (the Spirit opening minds to already-revealed truth). Even Jesus' disciples needed their understanding opened (Luke 24:45). For Christians, growth in understanding comes through stages (babes, young men, fathers) and requires using God-ordained means: praying and asking for wisdom, and meditating on Scripture. He warns that lack of understanding leads to sin and destruction, and urges believers to seek truth with a disposition to believe God and a strong desire for truth, even when it challenges comfort zones.

Introduction and Scripture Reading

Weaver reads Matthew 13:10-17, where Jesus explains why He speaks in parables: it is given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but not to others.

Matthew 13, and we're going to read verses 10 through 17. Matthew chapter 13, beginning there with verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 13:10-17

"And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 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. 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. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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: 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."

Understanding as a Sovereign Gift

Jesus' answer reveals God's sovereignty in dispensing wisdom and understanding as gifts. The Greek word 'didōmi' emphasizes that truth comes from outside of us.

God Determines Where His Word Is Preached

Using Acts 16:6-10, Weaver shows that the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, directing him to Macedonia, demonstrating God's control over the distribution of His Word.

The Blessing of Seeing and Hearing

Jesus tells His disciples they are blessed because many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear what they now experience—the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies.

Natural and Judicial Blindness

Illumination vs. Revelation

The Disciples' Need for Opened Understanding

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:44-45

"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

Now look at verse 45,

Scripture Reading — Luke 24:44-45

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

Stages of Christian Growth

Christians are at different stages (babes, young men, fathers) and thus have varying levels of understanding. Lack of understanding does not necessarily indicate a lost state.

How to Acquire Understanding

Weaver outlines three ways: (1) the hard way of experience, (2) asking God in prayer, and (3) meditating on God's Word. He stresses that God gives understanding to those who diligently seek it.

Now, listen if you would, as I give you some Scriptures concerning those who try to learn by experience. Okay, here we go. Proverbs 9:6, God says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 9:6

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."

Applications and Conclusion

Believers must have a disposition to believe God and a strong desire for truth. Understanding leads to life; rejecting it leads to destruction. Eternal life is knowing God now through Christ.

Why Some Understand and Others Do Not Understand Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	6525143157698
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: Can We All Just Get Along?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-05-25
Dictation Name
Book	Book 082: Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom - Volume 2 — Chapter 41
Source Timed Segments	82

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Scripture Reading: Weaver reads Matthew 13:10-17, where Jesus explains why He speaks in parables: it is given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but not to others.
Understanding as a Sovereign Gift: Jesus' answer reveals God's sovereignty in dispensing wisdom and understanding as gifts. The Greek word 'didōmi' emphasizes that truth comes from outside of us.
God Determines Where His Word Is Preached: Using Acts 16:6-10, Weaver shows that the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, directing him to Macedonia, demonstrating God's control over the distribution of His Word.
The Blessing of Seeing and Hearing: Jesus tells His disciples they are blessed because many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear what they now experience—the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies.
Natural and Judicial Blindness: Unbelievers are naturally unable to understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus also spoke of a judicial blindness, as seen in John 8:43-44, where He attributes their inability to their father the devil.
Illumination vs. Revelation: Weaver clarifies that revelation (disclosing new truth) has ceased with the completion of Scripture; illumination is the Holy Spirit's work of opening our minds to understand what has already been revealed.
The Disciples' Need for Opened Understanding: Even the disciples often failed to understand Jesus' teaching. Luke 24:45 shows that Jesus had to open their understanding to comprehend the Scriptures, using the Greek word 'dianoigō' meaning a thorough opening.
Stages of Christian Growth: Christians are at different stages (babes, young men, fathers) and thus have varying levels of understanding. Lack of understanding does not necessarily indicate a lost state.
How to Acquire Understanding: Weaver outlines three ways: (1) the hard way of experience, (2) asking God in prayer, and (3) meditating on God's Word. He stresses that God gives understanding to those who diligently seek it.
Applications and Conclusion: Believers must have a disposition to believe God and a strong desire for truth. Understanding leads to life; rejecting it leads to destruction. Eternal life is knowing God now through Christ.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Understanding is a sovereign gift, not a human achievement

Jesus' words in Matthew 13:11 show that the ability to know the mysteries of the kingdom is given by God, not earned.

Weaver says, 'Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone.'

God controls the distribution of His Word

Acts 16 demonstrates that the Holy Spirit actively prevented Paul from preaching in certain regions, showing God's sovereignty over where truth is sent.

Weaver notes, 'Macedonia received the Word of God when Bithynia did not and Asia did not.'

Even disciples needed divine opening of their minds

Luke 24:45 records that Jesus 'opened their understanding' to comprehend Scripture, using a word meaning a thorough opening.

Weaver explains the Greek 'dianoigō' means 'to open thoroughly that which has been closed,' like the womb for childbirth.

Christians grow in understanding through stages

1 John 2 describes babes, young men, and fathers, indicating that understanding varies with spiritual maturity.

Weaver says, 'A babe does not understand what a young man understands, and a young man certainly does not understand what a father understands.'

Meditation on Scripture is commanded for gaining understanding

2 Timothy 2:7 commands believers to 'consider' (meditate on) what Paul says, with the promise that the Lord will give understanding.

Weaver notes the Greek 'noeō' means to think upon, heed, ponder, and the imperative is a command to continually meditate.

Lack of understanding leads to sin and destruction

Proverbs repeatedly links folly and sin to a lack of understanding, showing that spiritual ignorance has severe consequences.

Weaver cites Proverbs 6:32, 21:16, and others to show that those without understanding walk in the way of death.

Scripture References

Matthew 13:10-17: The primary text of the sermon, where Jesus explains why He speaks in parables and pronounces blessing on the disciples' eyes and ears.
Acts 16:6-10: Used to illustrate God's sovereignty in directing where His Word is preached; the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from going to Asia and Bithynia.
Psalm 107:19-20: Shows that God sends His word and heals those to whom He sends it, implying He does not heal everyone.
1 Corinthians 2:14: The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 4:17-19: Describes the darkened understanding and blindness of the unsaved.
John 8:43-44: Jesus asks why they do not understand His speech, then explains they are of their father the devil and cannot hear His word.
Luke 24:44-45: Jesus opened the disciples' understanding to comprehend the Scriptures, illustrating the need for divine illumination.
Proverbs 2:6: The Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Matthew 6:33: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added.
1 John 2: John divides Christians into babes, young men, and fathers, indicating stages of spiritual growth.
1 Corinthians 3: Paul fed the Corinthians with milk, not solid food, because they were carnal and not ready for deeper truth.
Hebrews 5: The readers had become dull of hearing and needed milk again instead of solid food.
Proverbs 23:23: Buy the truth and do not sell it; also wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 9:6: Forsake the foolish and live; go in the way of understanding.
Proverbs 12:11: He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
Proverbs 18:2: A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 21:16: The man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 13:15: Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard.
Psalm 119:34, 104, 125, 130, 144, 169: David repeatedly asks God for understanding and acknowledges that God's word gives understanding.

Historical References

J. Barton Payne: A scholar who found 574 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah.
Alfred Edersheim: Found 456 Old Testament verses pointing to Jesus as the Messiah.
Josh and Sean McDowell, 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict' (2017): Quotes Professor Peter W. Stoner on the statistical impossibility of one person fulfilling just eight Messianic prophecies by chance.
Professor Peter W. Stoner: Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College; calculated the probability of fulfilling eight prophecies as 1 in 10^17.
John Calvin: Quoted on John 8:43-44, explaining that the Jews' inability to understand Jesus' speech stemmed from their diabolical origin.

Important Quotes

Truth and understanding does not originate in us. It is not of us. It comes strictly from God alone.

Emphasizes the divine origin of all spiritual understanding, countering any notion of human autonomy in grasping truth.

Illumination is the act or the work or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whereby He enlightens our minds, illuminates our minds to the truth that God has already revealed.

Defines the crucial distinction between revelation and illumination, a key doctrinal point in the sermon.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Quoting Luke 24:45, Weaver highlights that even the disciples needed a divine act to comprehend Scripture.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

The key verse (2 Timothy 2:7) that ties human responsibility (meditation) with divine enablement for understanding.

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalm 119:130, showing that Scripture itself is the means by which God imparts understanding.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:3, used to define eternal life as a present, personal knowledge of God, not merely a future state.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the truth that understanding is a sovereign gift from God affect the way we approach Bible study and prayer?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that understanding does not originate in us but is given by God.

[Question]

In what ways might we be like the disciples who needed their understanding opened, even after hearing Jesus teach?

[Context]

The disciples often failed to understand, showing our constant need for illumination.

[Question]

What are some practical ways to 'consider' or meditate on Scripture as commanded in 2 Timothy 2:7?

[Context]

Weaver explains the Greek word 'noeō' and compares meditation to a cow chewing its cud.

[Question]

Why do you think many Christians neglect to ask God for wisdom and understanding, and what can we do to cultivate a habit of asking?

[Context]

Weaver notes that most Christians never ask, seek, or knock for truth.

[Question]

How does the concept of eternal life as a present knowledge of God challenge common assumptions about salvation?

[Context]

Weaver stresses that eternal life is an intimate relationship now, not just a future hope.

[Question]

What are some areas where you might be resisting truth because it pushes you out of your comfort zone?

[Context]

Weaver warns that we often avoid truth because it demands change and obedience.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:48:39Z