67. Blessed are the eyes
Luke 10:23 Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see.
Blessed is a promise used dozens of times in the Bible. The blessing here promised comes upon those who see. “See” means both visualizing with the eyes and comprehending with the mind. Through the revelation of the Word, we see into the unseen realm. When the Holy Spirit reveals the invisible kingdom of God and we see something not visible to the physical eyes then we comprehend something with the mind that was unknowable before. Receiving an understanding insight into some truth from the Word is truly a blessing and the insight results in more blessing for our lives as we live out what has changed inside.
Both senses of “see” are used by Jesus in this promise: 1) the disciples are physically seeing miracles, healings, demons fleeing and the dead rising, and 2) they are also understanding the meaning of these events for their lives, their salvation and their futures. They see the meaning of what they see: the life of Jesus unveils the unseen kingdom of God and displays the victory of Christ over all the power of the enemy. The saying is a call to believe. Within the very call He gives the power to believe.
The New Testament Gospels also show that there are people living at the same time as the disciples who see the same things, but these people do not “see.” Instead of believing and following Jesus they end up rejecting and crucifying Him. Their eyes are not blessed but remain veiled. It is only by the grace of God that the unveiling has taken place in the hearts of believers; that is why they believe, their eyes are opened and they see; thus their eyes are blessed.
The Holy Spirit works this kind of revelation and insight in us entirely by grace, and it has nothing to do with us at all; we cannot take credit. We are blessed by God’s choice and working: by God’s grace we see what the disciples saw and by grace we understand the meaning.