Matthew 13:17

17 Yes indeed! I tell you that many a prophet and many a tzaddik longed to see the things you are seeing but did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing but did not hear them.

Matthew 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 13:17

For verily I say unto you
This is added for the further confirmation of what is before said, concerning the happiness of the disciples, in seeing and hearing what they did:

that many prophets, and righteous men;
Luke says, ( Luke 10:24 ) "kings"

have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen
them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard
them.
To see Christ in the flesh, and have a clearer insight into the knowledge of the mysteries of grace, were things very desirable to men of the highest class in church and state, and of the best characters, such as Abraham, ( John 8:56 ) . Jacob, ( Genesis 49:18 ) . David, ( Psalms 14:7 ) . Solomon, and the church in his time, ( Song of Solomon 8:1 ) . Isaiah, and the saints with him, ( Isaiah 25:9 ) with many others. These indeed had a sight of Christ, but a very distant one; they saw him afar off in the promises and prophecies of him; and not very clearly, but through dark types and cloudy sacrifices; whereas the disciples saw him in person, heard him preach, took in the evidence of his miracles, and felt the power of his doctrines, and spiritually and savingly understood them. A way of speaking, somewhat like this, stands in the Talmud ^F16;

``Many have watched to expound in Mercavah (the beginning of Ezekiel's prophecy), (Mhymym htwa war alw) , "and have not seen it all their days".''

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 24. 2.

Matthew 13:17 In-Context

15 because the heart of this people has become dull -- with their ears they barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, so as not to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and do t'shuvah, so that I could heal them.'

16 But you, how blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear!

17 Yes indeed! I tell you that many a prophet and many a tzaddik longed to see the things you are seeing but did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing but did not hear them.

18 "So listen to what the parable of the sower means.

19 Whoever hears the message about the Kingdom, but doesn't understand it, is like the seed sown along the path -- the Evil One comes and seizes what was sown in his heart.