Διὰ τοῦτο seems to have a double reference, first to what precedes, second to the ὅτι following, cf. John 8:47. οὐκ ἠδύναντο, “they were not able,” irrespective of will; their inability arose from the fulfilment in them of Isaiah's words, John 6:10 (John 12:40), Τετύφλωκεν … αὐτούς. τετύφλωκεν refers to the blinding of the organ for perceiving spiritual truth, ἐπώρωσεν (from πῶρος, a callus) to the hardening of the sensibility to religious and moral impressions. This process prevented them from seeing the significance of the miracles and understanding with the heart the teaching of Jesus. By abuse of light, nature produces callousness; and what nature does God does.

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Old Testament