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Matthew 13:16

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 13:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
Matthew 13:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
18Hear then ye the parable of the sower.
19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, etc.] Which is to be understood both of corporal and intellectual sight: it was their happiness to see Christ in the flesh, and converse with him in person, be eyewitnesses of his majesty, and see with their own eyes the miracles performed by him, the proofs and attestations of those doctrines they were to publish to all the world; and it was still their greater happiness, that they saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth: many saw him in the flesh, as they did, with their bodily eyes, but saw no beauty, nor comeliness in him, nothing amiable and desirable in him; but these saw his personal and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your cars, for they hear--that is, "Happy ye, whose eyes and ears, voluntarily and gladly opened, are drinking in the light divine."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Christ, in these verses, gives a “reason” why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10. Matthew 13:11 The mysteries of the kingdom - The word “mystery,” in the Bible, properly means a thing that is “concealed,” or that “has been concealed.” It does not mean that the thing was “incomprehensible,” or even difficult to be understood. The thing might be “plain” enough if revealed, but it means simply that it “had” not been before made known. Thus the “mysteries of the kingdom” do not mean any doctrines incomprehensible in themselves considered, but simply doctrines about the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of the new kingdom of the Messiah, which “had…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But blessed are your eyes - For you both see and understand. You know how to prize the light which is given you. Luk 10:23. Matthew 13:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:16-17 Jesus brought into reality what the prophets and Old Testament saints desired to see and hear, that is, the fulfillment of Old Testament promises (see Isa 52:15; John 8:56; 1 Pet 1:10).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Mat 5:3-11, Mat 16:17; Luk 2:29, Luk 2:30, Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24; Joh 20:29; Act 26:18; Co2 4:6; Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18 Matthew 13:17”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 13 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification