At the end of the parable of the sower, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record these words of Jesus, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:9, Mark 4:9, Luke 8:8). This idea behind this directive is also repeated in Matthew 11:15, Matthew 13:43 and numerous times in the book of Revelation. When we examine the context in which this phrase appears, it becomes clear that its meaning is more significant than mere words would imply. This simple but direct phrase commands the listener to work at comprehending the words spoken, not just receive the sound that has been emitted.
Throughout Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, we read accounts of people who claimed to be God’s and yet behaved in ways that contradicted their claimed faith. In Isaiah 6:9-10, the prophet warned that Israel would “…keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive…” Ezekiel warned of the rebelliousness of such behavior with similar words, observing people who had “eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear…” (Ezekiel 12:2).
Jesus knew this history; He knew the hearts of the people gathered around Him, and He knew those who would come to follow Him after He ascended into heaven. His words serve to call attention —our attention— to what we do with the words of the Bible. Jesus knew there would be faithful souls, capable of perceiving the message presented in Scripture, and He knew there would be those whose hearts would remain closed. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! This is both a call to action for the faithful and a call to repentance for the worldly.
For the faithful, the instruction is to do something with the words we hear from Scripture. When we first discover God’s word, we are expected to let it transform us into better listeners, with a growing ability to discern what the Lord expects. As we learn these things, we are to work at greater application. As we apply God’s instructions to our lives, we are to add to our efforts the work of engaging others in the Good News.
For those who lead worldly lives, Jesus’ instruction is a call to action in a different way. Before a person can be truly faithful, regardless of what religious claims they make, they must reposition their life so they hear and act on God’s guidance. His guidance dictates what it means to be faithful and obedient. God’s word provides the standard for good and righteous. To truly hear, one must drop the phony ethics of the modern world and turn to the perfect principles by which all men will be judged.
Jesus knew that some would openly hear, consider and apply His words. He also knew that others would not. But ultimately, He spoke because He knew we had that choice. Which path will you choose?
