‘They look but they do not see, they listen but they do not hear’
Context (So what?)
Lots of prophecy is like a riddle, and this is a classic example. Some of the writing on this site is about trying to understand prophecy, often the prophecy of the Gospels. Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Spirit, but it usually appears as riddles, and really is one of the challenges in coming to terms with a Christian faith. Prophecy seems like a riddle because it demands a shift in thinking to understand the message within it.
This prophecy is from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. It is very similar to the quote from the prophet Isaiah which Jesus uses in Matthew 13. Matthew 13 is a particularly interesting chapter as Jesus explains the use of parables to the disciples. The parables were riddles to the crowds who flocked to hear Jesus speak, and Jesus described the understanding of the crowds using the prophecy ‘they look but they do not see, they listen but they do not hear’.
Even though prophecy is often like a riddle, it also has an enduring quality and a deeper meaning in a range of situations. I have described this quality elsewhere as bell like or resonant. Recognising this sort of resonance helps to understand the meaning of prophecies as they come to mind in various contexts. Like dreams, there are clues about ourselves and our purpose in these strange recollections. They are only clues though, and must always be considered in the light of the Great Commandments as Jesus intended.
Looking back to the prophet Ezekiel gives some more insight into the prophecy of Jesus. Reading the book, there is no doubt that Jesus would have known the text by heart. Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man throughout the Gospels just as Ezekiel does. The link is direct, strong and obvious, and defines the relevance of the Book of Ezekiel. Jesus surely saw in himself the fulfillment of this line of prophecy in particular, rather than creating a new prophetic timeline as some readers would have it. The thrust of Jesus’ ministry is found in Ezekiel, for example 18:31 ‘Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?’
The title ‘Son of God’ would have been very unappetising for the Jews with their faith in one God. Certainly in the Gospels Jesus avoids the term like the plague with very good reason – it could get Him crucified. With the later romanisation of the faith, however, the terminology swings in the opposite direction! The Gospels need a close read considering Jesus’ use of both terms – ‘Son of Man’ and of course the ‘I AM’.
The deeper meaning of the prophets which Jesus might have been expected to resolve with his ministry, as explained in Matthew 13, ended up stuck in this prophecy. The plethora of opinions, interpretations, denominations and translations of the parables and indeed the Word, point consistently to a people who look without seeing and listen without hearing. A truly resonant and endurable prophecy in the best prophetic tradition!
This must be meant to be part of the shape of the Kingdom.
The picture is of one of the four wheels in Ezekiel’s vision which conveyed four strange creatures in any of the four directions in which the wheels faced, as the Spirit wanted to go. I had the thought that this could be a synonym for either the Church, the Kingdom, or for Heaven, depending on the individual focus.
A footnote: The Orthodox celebrate the Saint’s day on 21 July. According to the Fathers, the wheel suggests the sharing of light with the nations.
