LIFE - Jesus' teaching fell on deaf ears

Isaiah 6:9-10 | And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”

Matthew 13:10-15 | His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 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.’

1. Who are some people who heard Jesus’ teachings over and over again but never really understood them? 
2. The Bible foretold that some people wouldn’t understand Jesus’ teachings. Jesus said these people weren’t really listening to Him. Why do you think this is? 
3. What promise did Jesus make for those who did listen to His teaching? 
4. Think about yourself. When you read the Bible or are corrected by a parent, leader, or pastor’s sermon, do you have a hard heart that doesn’t want to hear or a heart that listens and tries to understand?