What Does Jesus Mean When He Says,

Question: In John 8:43 Jesus says that the reason the Jews could not understand him is because they were “unable to hear” what he said. Does this mean there are some people who are meant to understand the Bible and some who are unable to because God has willed it so?

Answer: That seems to be the case. For example, in John 6:44 Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus quotes In Matthew 13 Jesus explains why he speaks in parables:

10Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” 11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:

‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.