What did the Holy Spirit tell Isaiah to say to the people?
The Holy Spirit, speaking by Isaiah in the Old Testament, told him to go to this people and say, "Hearing you shall hear, and not understand." Paul later cited this word to Jewish leaders in Rome after they disagreed among themselves, showing their spiritual failure to grasp the message.
Les teaches that after the Jewish leaders in Rome met with Paul and could not agree among themselves, they departed. Paul then spoke one word to them, going back to the Old Testament and quoting what the Holy Spirit had spoken by Isaiah. Isaiah knew what he was talking about when he was told to go to this people and say, "Hearing you shall hear, and not understand." This quotation highlights the spiritual condition of those who hear the Word but do not comprehend it. The context also shows Paul's deep love for his kinsmen according to the flesh, even though they constantly sought to kill him and upset his ministry. He remained bound in a chain for the hope of Israel, appealing to Caesar but never losing his concern for his people.
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: