Satan’s strategies: Listening/not listening to God’s teachings

Matthew 13:12-15 | To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables. For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.

• Jesus contrasts those who are spiritually blind and those who have spiritual sight in Matthew 13. 

• What is the difference? 

• Who is permitted to go blind? Why? 

• To have spiritual sight or understanding, Jesus says to “listen” to His teaching. 

• What does this mean? 

• How does a person who listens to His teaching live? 

• What does a person who ‘hears’ but does not ‘listen’ to Jesus’ teaching look like? 

• Which of these people best describes you – a listener or a non-listener? 

• In what ways? 

• What, if anything, needs to change? Why? 

• How is striving to truly listen to God’s teachings a way to stand firm against Satan's strategies?