He Who Has An Ear

 

Jesus had just told the parable of the sower to a great multitude, when He stopped and said, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 3:9).

Jesus wasn’t referring to everyone’s physical ability to hear. He was addressing the capacity of their hearts. The Lord created us in such a way that we can only perceive spiritual things through the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

—And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables” (Matthew 3:10)?

Why doesn’t God reveal His truths so plainly that everyone can grasp them?

—He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given (Matthew 13:11).

God’s truths are concealed for the benefit of His children. He has extended an invitation to all individuals to receive the spiritual rebirth that grants them the ability to comprehend the mysteries of His kingdom (John 7:17, 14:26, 15:15, 26; 1 Corinthians 2:10, and 16). However, as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:14, a natural person is incapable of comprehending the things of the Spirit of God, as they are spiritually discerned.  

—“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” (Matthew 13:11-12).

God's children who don’t continue to receive His revelation will lose whatever truth they have and sink deeper into deception. God reveals His truths to His children in stages and not all at once (Isaiah 28:9-10). Therefore, as they walk in the revelation of what the Lord has already shown them, He will reveal more of His truths to them.

—Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

“Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
 and seeing you will see and not perceive;
 for the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
 and their eyes they have closed,
 lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
 lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
 so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15).

The Old Covenant people of God were unable to comprehend the mysteries of God because they lacked the revelation of Jesus Christ in their lives. Without this revelation, they were incapable of understanding God’s ways. However, as Christians, we have received the revelation of Jesus’ atonement for our sins. Consequently, we possess the ability to hear the mysteries that God intends to reveal to us. Nevertheless, it is our choice whether our hearts remain open or become hardened to His voice. 

A heart that hears God requires nurturing over time. Similarly, a hardened heart develops gradually. The Lord persistently seeks to turn our hearts towards Him, speaking to us continually. By being attuned to the Word and our consciences, we can choose what is right and keep our hearts from becoming hardened to Him. If we remain faithful to God in the small things, we will naturally be faithful to Him in the more significant matters. As a result, our hearts will become attuned to receive more of His revelation of His Word within us. 

—“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16).

Are you eyes and ears blessed? God is revealing Himself to you. Are you preparing your heart to hear Him?

“He who has an ear, let Him hear” (Matthew 13:9).