Have you ever heard this conversation?
“Hey, did you hear me?”
“What? Oh. Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”
Or, how about a radio ad? “We’re presenting (whatever kind of music) for your listening pleasure.” In other words, relax, keep us in the background. You don’t have to concentrate on us.
I had a good relationship with my mother-in-law. She was easy to talk with, and I remember she would say, “Now, listen!” whenever she wanted to say something she felt was extremely meaningful---usually a good piece of needed advice.
Hearing and listening have been considered inter-twining acts throughout the ages. Listening is lightweight; hearing implies a deeper level of understanding.
My *Bible dictionary had a very brief, but interesting, article under EAR. Here are three examples from those mentioned:
1. To incline the ear was to hear
(2 Kings
19:16)
2.
To give ear was to pay careful attention (Job 32:11,12)
3. Covering the ears was a refusal to
listen (Acts
7:51, 57)
As I studied my Bible lesson today, Jesus had some important, but hard, teachings. He knew not everyone would incline their ear. His opening line was “to those of you who will listen, I say . . .” (Luke 6:27-36).
Then came simple teachings that even a child could understand. But simple does not mean easy, and to this day, only those willing to truly hear, obey them.
What do YOU think of Jesus' teachings? (1) Love your enemies, (2) Do good to those who hate you, (3) Bless those who curse you, and (4) Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27,28).
He also said: (5) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and (6) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (v. 31, 36).
How’s your hearing? I’ve been asking myself that question today.
Do I truly incline my ear to hear ALL of Jesus’ teachings? Or, do I casually listen, then pick and choose what I want to hear and obey? It matters!
In the Parable of the Sower, the seeds on good soil are those who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop (Luke 8:15).
*EAR, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 448; Copyright 2003 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN. All Rights Reserved.
Pixabay: Sound, Listening, Man; OpenClipart-Vectors.
