The natural man cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned and appear to him as foolishness.
The Bible says the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, and they are foolishness to him, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick points out that this is a spiritual condition, not an intellectual one—the unsaved person is spiritually dead, and even the most educated mind cannot know the things of God apart from the Spirit's revelation. Until a person is saved and the Holy Spirit enlightens him, the deep truths of Scripture remain a closed book.
1 Corinthians 2:14 — This is the key verse Paul uses to answer this exact question: the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit and cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:7 — This verse shows that the natural, carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law, which is why it cannot receive the things of the Spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul describes the natural man: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." This is a direct statement that the natural man does not receive spiritual truth, considers it foolish, and cannot truly know it because spiritual things require spiritual discernment. Earlier in the same passage, 1 Corinthians 2:13 explains how spiritual truth is spoken: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." The things of God are not taught by human wisdom but by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:7 states, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." The unregenerate, natural mind is not merely neutral toward God; it is hostile to Him and cannot be subject to His law.
Les Feldick teaches that the "natural man" Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 2:14 is the unsaved person. Les points out that the book itself says this person "receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (Clip 1). He explains that while an unsaved person may grasp a few simple Bible stories, such as the story of Bethlehem, the deep doctrinal aspects of the Word and end-time prophecies are a closed book to him. Les stresses that this is not an intelligence issue. Even the most intellectual, brilliant, or highly educated person cannot know the things of God unless the Spirit reveals them (Clip 6). The natural man doesn't comprehend because he doesn't want to; it is all foolishness to him (Clip 2). Les also connects this to man's spiritual condition: man in his natural state is spiritually dead by virtue of Adam's original sin (Clip 4). Les is also practical about this in ministry. He recalls people telling him his teaching went over their heads, and he would bluntly reply, "Once you come to know the Lord, you will" (Clip 5). He says the Scriptures remain closed until a person enters into a salvation experience with Christ; then the Holy Spirit enlightens the believer and the book opens up (Clip 6). Les urges believers to be patient with unbelievers, because they cannot comprehend spiritual things until God opens their eyes and hearts in His own timing (Clip 3).
Les says it is not about intellect. Even the most intellectual, brilliant, and highly educated person cannot know the things of God unless the Spirit reveals them. The problem is spiritual: the natural man is spiritually dead because of Adam's original sin, and the carnal mind is enmity against God. The Bible says the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned, and he cannot know them.
Les recalls people in his classes saying, "Les, I just don't get what you're driving at. You're just going over my head." He answered bluntly, "Well, once you come to know the Lord, you won't have that problem." He says that most times when people can't get anything out of the Word, they know nothing of salvation, they are still in the natural, still living under the old Adam, and they will never comprehend the Scriptures until they enter into that relationship with Christ by virtue of their salvation experience.
The Bible says the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the natural man. Les says the basic reason he doesn't comprehend is that he doesn't want to—it is all foolishness to him. Les gives the example that unsaved neighbors think there is something wrong with you to go to a Bible study on a weeknight, although going to church on Sunday morning is considered normal. Since all of this is foolishness to the unbeliever, he cannot know these things because they are spiritually discerned.
Understanding the Curse & God’s Promise of a Redeemer
faithfulness again, "...of Jesus Christ," now look at it, "...unto all and up on all that," what? "...believe." Isn't that beautiful? Oh, the righteousness of God clothes us, like the young man decked at his wedding, or like the bride decked for her wedding. And the righteousness of God is placed upon us, and as I said before, so that God doesn't see you and I.
The Natural Man Is the Unsaved Person
Les shows that Paul calls the unsaved person the natural man, and that the Bible itself says this person receives not the things of the Spirit of God; the deep doctrinal and prophetic truths of Scripture are a closed book to him.
Why He Doesn't Comprehend: Foolishness
Les explains that the natural man doesn't comprehend because he doesn't want to; the things of God are foolishness to him, and they can only be spiritually discerned.
Patience While God Opens Eyes
Les teaches that believers must be patient with unbelievers because they cannot comprehend spiritual things until God opens their eyes and hearts in His own timing.
Spiritual Death and the Spirit's Teaching
Les connects the natural man's condition to spiritual death through Adam's sin, and says believers understand because the Holy Spirit teaches by comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Salvation First, Then Understanding
Les tells people who can't understand his teaching that once they come to know the Lord they will; people still in the natural, under the old Adam, cannot comprehend Scripture until they enter into a saving relationship with Christ.
The Spirit Opens the Book
Les says even the most intellectual and highly educated cannot know the things of God unless the Spirit reveals them; once a person is born again, the book opens up.
The Carnal Mind Is Enmity Against God
Les reads Romans 8:7 to show that the unsaved mind is an enemy of God and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.
1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This is the foundational verse directly answering the question of why the natural man cannot understand spiritual truth.
1 Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Shows that spiritual truth is taught by the Holy Spirit, not by human wisdom, which is why the natural man cannot grasp it.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Describes the unregenerate mind as hostile to God and incapable of being subject to His law, reinforcing the natural man's inability.
Les says an unsaved person may be able to understand a few things, like the story of Bethlehem, but when it gets down to the deep doctrinal aspects of the Word of God and end-time prophecies, it is a closed book. The Bible says the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God.
Les was responding to people who said his teaching went over their heads. He meant that the problem is usually spiritual, not intellectual. Until a person has a salvation experience, they remain in the natural state and cannot comprehend the Scriptures; after salvation, the Holy Spirit enlightens them and the Bible opens up.
Romans 8:7 says the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Les points to this as strong language showing that the unsaved mind is not a friend of God and cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding the Curse & God’s Promise of a Redeemer