Mike’s Musings ….

He That Hath Ears, Let Him Hear

   Some sixteen times in the New Testament, our Lord makes the statement, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” One would think that when He commands us so many times to hear, no one would refuse to do so. But the sad fact is, many listen, but they don’t hear! Compare that statement with the prophecy of God to Isaiah (6:9) regarding Israel. The same is said by our Lord Jesus in Matthew 13:13-14 regarding those whom He taught. As well, Paul showed the prophecy was being fulfilled when he preached to souls who simply would not accept God’s truth (Acts 28:25 – 27).

   Have times changed since those days? Not much! There remain many who after hearing God’s truth, refuse to surrender their grip on long-held beliefs: beliefs that are proven errant from a simple reading and study of God’s truth. It is as if they are somehow “exempted” from the authority of God and are allowed to retain their falsehood even though God clearly teaches differently. Paul said of such souls, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4: 3-4) So engrained in their falsehoods are these souls that they are literally repulsed by God’s truth. Paul says of them, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

   Unfortunately, even some brethren, after being warned of the error of their ways, continue in their error. If they listened, they didn’t hear. If they saw, they didn’t perceive God’s truth. Such souls are akin to old Israel whom God called “stiffnecked.” So “set in their ways” are they that correction is unwelcome, even if they verbally say, “I appreciate your telling me …” Brethren, the proof is in the pudding! If you heard it, accept it! If you saw it, understand it! God’s word is NOT THAT DIFFICULT! It grants us ALL things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) but can ONLY help us if we have ears to actually HEAR what He says!!! Are we listening? Are we seeing? Do we realize His truth judges us on the last day? How well will we fair if we neglect so great salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4) if we continue in error even after being taught and shown the TRUTH?

   I muse on the directness of those sixteen statements in the New Testament: “He that hath ears, let him hear.” To comply with them requires much more than absorbing sound … it requires ATTENTION TO THE WORDS. His words are, indeed, WORDS OF LIFE. Are we listening and learning?