Jesus spoke more than once in the Bible about people who have ears to hear (Mark 4:9, 23). God gave us all ears. Some say he gave us two ears and only one mouth so we would listen twice as much as we talk. This is probably something most of us could use some work on. We have ears for listening, but we’re not hearing. Some may not be able to hear in the natural because of too much earwax in the ears, or maybe they need a hearing aid. Others are unable to hear on a spiritual level, perhaps because of too much spiritual earwax.
The Different Types Of Hearers
We all have ears to listen to God’s Word, but not all have ears to hear it. The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:14-20) details for us four different types of people who hear the Word.
The farmer sows the word. (Mark 4:14)
Hearer Number 1
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. (Mark 4:15)
Hearer Number 2
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (Mark 4:16-17)
Hearer Number 3
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)
Hearer Number 4
Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:20)
This last group of people are not only hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word as well (Mathew 7:24). They put works with their faith, seeing as faith by itself is useless (James 2:14-26). God says His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him (John 10:27).
Itching Ears
The Bible makes reference to people who have itching ears, and again, it has nothing to do with dried earwax. These people will not listen to sound teaching. While following their own desires, they will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will chase myths while turning their ears away from truth. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Whoever Has Ears, Let Them Hear
The Book of Revelation has numerous Scriptures containing the phrase “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22)
And finally, a great Scripture to end with is (Revelation 3:20).
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
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