Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:1-18; 13:18-21
And [Jesus] said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:9 (See also: Mt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35.)
It should be clear that Jesus is not speaking simply of physical ears and the ability to process sound waves. He is speaking of receptivity to His message, a willingness to truly listen and understand, and the diligence to dig below the surface to get to the core Truth.
We should understand that having “ears to hear” is not particularly up to us. Just as the Lord gives us physical ears, He is the One Who gives us spiritual “ears” as well. It is only by His Holy Spirit that we are able to understand spiritual things. (I Corinthians 2:14) But given ears to hear, what we do with those ears is very much up to us: let him hear! That is a choice. That is a deliberate act, one that entails paying attention.
So, are you listening?
See also: