![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Banner-MOG-701.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God is the one who enlightens or stupefies.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cstupor<\/span>\u201d is katanuxis<\/em><\/span>, which is the noun form of katanuss\u014d<\/em><\/span>, made up of kata<\/em> <\/span>(used as an intensifier) and nuss\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto pierce\u201d or \u201cto stab.\u201d Hence, katanuxis<\/em> <\/span>refers to a condition of having been deeply penetrated. Figuratively, it refers to a condition of deep sleep, or of intellectual stupor following a penetrating wound or a heavy blow. In today\u2019s vernacular we might say that it is \u201ca spirit of stupidity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis very day<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek words s\u0113meron<\/em> h\u0113meras<\/em><\/span>. S\u0113meron<\/em> <\/span>is from an earlier form, t\u0113<\/em> h\u0113mera<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cthe day\u201d or \u201cnow.\u201d H\u0113meras<\/em> <\/span>is also a form of h\u0113mera<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cday.\u201d In Greek, repetition indicates emphasis, so we see that this could be translated as \u201cthe now day\u201d or \u201cthis very day\u201d as we have in our translation here.<\/p>\n In the previous verse Paul introduced the idea that those Israelites who were not chosen were hardened (or blinded). In the current verse he paraphrases Isaiah 29:10<\/strong><\/span> which says,<\/p>\n For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; And He has covered your heads,<\/span> namely<\/span>,<\/em> the seers.<\/p>\n This could also be a reference to Deuteronomy 29:4<\/strong><\/span>,<\/p>\n Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this <\/span>very<\/em> <\/span>day<\/span>.<\/p>\n Or to Isaiah 6:9,10<\/strong><\/span> which says,<\/p>\n And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”<\/span><\/p>\n Though Paul\u2019s reference is most likely to Isaiah 29:10<\/strong><\/span>, clearly his declaration is that God has made them stupid, unable to see the facts clearly presented to them and unable to hear the truth even as it is being proclaimed to them. His point is that God is the one who has caused the unbelieving Israelites to not understand the true message about the Messiah from days of old even to the present day (in Paul\u2019s time, and in our time).<\/p>\n In the following verse Paul will quote from King David to show that he expressed a similar sentiment.<\/p>\n We have a commission to spread the Gospel truth to all people throughout the world. We do not know whom God has chosen and whom He has stupefied. That\u2019s not up to us. We are simply to continue proclaiming the message of salvation and leave it up to God to give understanding or blindness. We may be called fools by the very people we witness to, but God sees us as a beautiful flower every time we proclaim the truth of Christ, the Lamb of God. Given the choice of being admired by the world or being called a fool by the world and admired by God, which would you choose? Which do<\/strong> you choose?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n