Understanding what the bible says does not take studying in a seminary or going to a college, but to having a wanting desire to know about God. The bible tells to watch our heart (Pro. 4:23), because the things that we allow to go into it can and will affect the way we listen. There are things that are difficult to listen too, and at times the factors by which things come by give it that unwanted feeling. If we allow our hearts to become hardened we can miss out on some very enriching experiences with God. That is why Jesus said do not let your heart be trouble, because if you do it will hinder you from seeing what God is going to do. Take for instance the outcome of the presidential election, we cannot allow it to affect us, because the rejected candidate won the election. If we allow unwanted feelings to overtake us we will allow our hearts to wax gross.
Matthew 13:13-16
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Jesus spoke many things in parables and in most cases the only people that had revelation was his disciples and those who passionately followed him (13:11). The mysteries of the kingdom are not given to just anyone, one has to search for them as for hidden treasures. Paul says that we are stewards of the mysteries of Christ (1Cor. 4:1). Matthew 13:45 likens the kingdom of God to a man who finds a treasure and sells all that he has to buy the entire land. To find the treasure this man had to focus and put all his energies to finding this treasure. We cannot allow anything to deter our concentration or focus to the kingdom else we will miss the treasure. Pharaoh’s heart became hardened to the point that he could not see all the mighty wonders God was pouring down on Egypt (ex. 11:10). It is the condition of many people today of which God is doing so many signs and wonders and, yet people are refusing to heed to him. Hardening ones heart has negative effects that will cause destruction to ones life (Pro.28:14). God’s people provoked God when insisting that he should provide them water while in the wilderness causing Moses to strike the rock instead of tapping it; of which prevented Moses to enter into the promise land (Ps. 95:1). Jesus’ disciple after witnessing two powerful miracles of the feeding of people with just few pieces of food, harden their hearts when they found themselves in want (Mk8:17). But, Jesus gave them the key to removing the hardness of heart and it was to remember all the goodness God had done. God said through the prophet Ezekiel that he will replace the stony heart with a heart of flesh that pleases him (Ez.36:26).