What does "eyes to see but do not see" imply about spiritual blindness? Background of Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.” • The verse speaks to exiles in Babylon who had witnessed God’s judgments yet still refused to grasp their meaning. • Though physical sight and hearing remained intact, spiritual perception was absent. What Spiritual Blindness Is • An inability or unwillingness to perceive God’s truth, even when it is plainly set before us. • Not a defect of the senses but a hardness of heart that blocks understanding (cf. Deuteronomy 29:4; Mark 8:18). • The mind can process information, yet the will resists surrendering to it. Roots of This Blindness • Rebellion: Ezekiel ties blindness to a “rebellious house.” Stubborn hearts dim spiritual eyesight (Isaiah 6:9-10). • Idolatry: Fixation on false gods disorients the soul (Psalm 115:4-8). • Pride: Self-reliance blinds us to our need for divine illumination (Proverbs 26:12). • Satanic Veiling: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Symptoms in Everyday Life • Reading Scripture but missing its personal call. • Seeing God’s providence yet chalking it up to coincidence. • Hearing sermons without conviction. • Repeating religious words while remaining unchanged (Jeremiah 5:21-23). Consequences of Remaining Blind • Loss of discernment—good and evil blur (Hebrews 5:14). • Progressive hardening (Ephesians 4:17-18). • Judgment—the very signs meant to warn become confirmations of guilt (Matthew 13:13-15). God’s Provision for Sight • Regeneration: “I will give them a heart to know Me” (Jeremiah 24:7). • The Spirit’s illumination: “The Spirit searches all things” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). • Christ, the Light: “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12). Responding to the Warning • Submit: Yield the will where truth confronts. • Repent: Turn from cherished idols and habits that cloud vision. • Seek: Pray for the Spirit to open the eyes of the heart (Ephesians 1:18). • Obey: Act promptly on revealed truth; obedience clarifies further sight (John 7:17). |
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