Day 282, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Mark 3:31-35; Matthew 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21; Mark 4:1-20; Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-18; Mark 4:21-25
How Well Do We Listen?
How’s your hearing? You may say, “fine,” or you may say, “I don’t hear so well anymore.” Many of us have selective hearing. A wife who says, “Honey, the garage needs to be cleaned,” may not get a response from her husband, even if he is in the same room. But the words, “How about some ice cream?” may bring a sudden improvement in his hearing.
In a different vein of thought, how well do we listen when we hear messages from God’s Word, the Bible? Do we gladly receive it, or do we just endure it?
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God to multitudes of people who follow him. Is anyone really listening, or are they just following him because of his miracles and popularity? Jesus teaches in parables to distinguish true believers from those who are just crowd followers.
What are Parables?
The word “parable” in the New Testament’s Greek language literally means “throw alongside.” It’s a short story or narrative of a known truth thrown alongside and compared to an unknown. Some define a parable as an earthly story (the known truth) with a heavenly meaning (an unknown or previously undisclosed truth). This definition works and is easy to remember.
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Jesus says he told these types of stories to hide the truth from those who will not hear because of their hardened hearts and reveal the truth to those who will listen because of their softened hearts (Matthew 13:10-16).
When teaching people, it's helpful to use stories to gain their interest. It's also beneficial to use something familiar to compare it with something unfamiliar. Those who are listening will get it, and those who aren’t won’t.
Why do some respond to the gospel while others don’t? Jesus answers with a parable about a farmer sowing seeds in four kinds of soil. This illustration was effectively chosen because the Jews lived in an agricultural community.
Parable of the Farmer Sowing Seed
The first kind of ground where the farmer throws his seed is described as a path. The seed scattered by the farmer (illustrative of the minister, teacher, leader, or even parent) isn't received; it's resisted. Satan has convinced the hearer against the message, so it's immediately taken away. In America, we might say it went “in one ear and out the other.”
The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law of Moses were not listening to Jesus. In our last lesson, we saw them resisting the message and power of Jesus, even saying his authority was from the devil. Today, many religious leaders and arrogant people believe the Bible doesn’t apply to them and quickly dismiss it.
The second place where the farmer throws his seed is described as stony ground. To the hearer, God’s messages in the Bible and his principles sound like great ideas to put into practice. There may be some initial excitement about them, but that is the extent of it. Most ministry leaders and parents are frustrated by this attitude. God’s Word and its principles need to take root, but the hearts of their hearers are too hard to receive it. However, there's encouragement from the Scripture about continuing to sow the Word of God even with stony-hearted people. God spoke through Jeremiah the prophet: “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”(Jeremiah 23:29, NIV)
“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, NIV). People listen because they want an answer to their problems. Initially, they may try to obey God. But when faced by this world’s pressures and desires, they do what is most comfortable, convenient, or gives them the most pleasure. God’s answers don't profit them.
The fourth kind of ground is soft fertile soil. The seed sown here becomes profitable and yields much fruit. This is the person who's ready to hear the Word of God and also listens to put it into practice. He reaps bountifully as God blesses his life. Which kind of ground describes how we listen to God’s Word?
James, the Lord’s half brother says to believers,
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does (James 1:21-25, NIV).
Those who have a genuine relationship with Christ want to obey him. Jesus says, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21, NIV). We all sin and make mistakes, but do we try to apply God’s Word to our circumstances? The Holy Spirit of God, who lives within us, will help us if we are willing to try.
If any of us are not Christians, God offers us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life (more...). He can give meaning and fruitfulness to our lives.
Discussion
Jesus was a great teacher. What learning tool did he use to distinguish who was listening from who wasn’t?
How do people receive the Word of God? How might we encourage some to receive it differently?
Focus Verse
Luke 8:18 (NIV) “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
You can see a video of this lesson from the Jesus film here
End Notes: The gospel is the good news that Jesus provides us the way to have forgiveness, peace with God, and a future home in heaven (also called the Kingdom of God)
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: In our Next Lesson Jesus talks about Heaven. What Will it be Like? Who will be There?
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