Sometimes we see things, but we do not know what it is that we see. Sometimes we hear things, but we do not know what it is that we are hearing. Sometimes thoughts enter into our minds, but we do not understand that which we have tried to contemplate.

Many reasons could be the problem for this lack of perceiving, hearing, and understanding, but one problem with many people when they come to the truths of God’s word is that their hearts are not right, and the God of heaven has so written His word to separate the honest from the dishonest,

“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

“Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’”
(Matthew 13.13–15).

Jesus does not address those whose intellectual ability or simple lack of information keeps them from understanding, but He addressed those who did not have right hearts.