How Is Your Hearing?
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Lk. 8:8) Every part of the human body has a purpose. The ear is the part that allows us to be able to learn by hearing. Jesus had just spoken the parable of the sower to a large crowd of people. The apostles then asked him the meaning of the parable. Jesus explained that the reaction of people to what they hear has different results. The admonition "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" was a common statement of Jesus. It does not refer to the mere hearing of sound, but the proper understanding of what was said. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart (mind jg) has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' (Mt. 13:14,15) Thousands of people listened to Jesus speak the gospel, and did not understand or properly apply it. Even his apostles did not correctly perceive the new kingdom (church), or his death and resurrection (Acts 1:6 ).
How we hear ( understand) is important, because our salvation is dependent on correct obedience to the commandments. One time a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." (Lk.11:27,28) James said to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22), and Jesus pointed out that making claims of righteousness without obedience will only bring rejection by Him (Mt. 7:21-23). When the people told Jesus his Mother and brethren were desiring to speak with him the response was "my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it". (Lk.8:21). Hearing and obedience are linked throughout the bible. Many people heard Jesus, but refused to give obedience to his words. How is your hearing?