As a parent or a spouse have you ever felt that no one was listening to you? I am sure you all know how frustrating it can be! Imagine how Jesus must have felt.
24Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:24-25 NLT
Jesus’ words may have been directed to the Jews who had no understanding of Him and would lose even what they had, their privileged status as God’s people. Or Jesus might have been referring to the people that had already rejected Him. Their hardness of heart drives them away, making even the little understanding they had useless, rendering any opportunity to share in God’s kingdom and taking away completely their ability to receive eternal salvation.
Or this parable could be describing the consequences when Christ returns. The person who listened and diligently prepares for it by investing their time and talent to serve God will be rewarded. The person who does not listen and has no heart for the work of the Lord will be punished.
Mark 4:9 (NLT) 9Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand”.
The hearing Jesus wants from us is not the kind we used as teenagers when our parents were yelling at us, or the hearing we used in that back of the class at school. To truly “hear” Jesus’ words is to believe them, to believe in Him, and to use them in your decisions and changing your attitudes. To hear Jesus’ words is to make Jesus your true Lord. To understand Jesus’ message, people must listen and respond.
