That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” - Matthew 13:1-9
Matthew 13 contains a series of stories that Jesus told known as the Kingdom Parables. These parables illustrate the central truths about a person comes to see, understand, receive, and live in the kingdom of God. The first parable in this chapter is also the longest and most detailed, it is commonly referred to as the Parable of the Sower. The early church fathers referred to this story as the “Parable of Parables”, not because it was somehow better or more spiritual than all of the other parables, but because it so vividly explains how and why people miss, resist and reject the Word of God!
Jesus finishes this parable with the curious little phrase, “He who has ears, let him hear.” What does he mean by this? Don’t most people have ears? Was Jesus speaking to a crowd of people without physical ears? Jesus actually uses this phrase repeatedly throughout the gospels, and it is really a kind of warning for us.
In fact, later on in Matthew 13, Jesus actually explains the meaning of this parable (this is one of the few times He does this in the Gospels) and in His explanation, He refers to each of the soil types as the person who “hears” the word of God in a particular way.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” - Matthew 13:19-23
In Luke 8:18 Jesus says that we must “take care how we hear”, and the apostle Paul says in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” These passages, and many others like them, tell us that there is something critical to the way in which we take-in, receive, or “hear” the gospel message. The condition of our souls, the busyness of our lives, and the humility of our hearts all contribute to our ability to truly “hear” and receive the message of the gospel.
I am reminded of an old children’s song I think I heard in Sunday School when I was growing up called “Be Careful Little Eyes”...O be careful little eyes what you see..O be careful little ears what you hear...O be careful little mouth what you say...etc.
In light of this teaching form Matthew 13, I think we could add another verse to this kids song that would be especially for us “grown ups”...
O be careful little ears how you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's Speaking to you in love
So, be careful little ears how you hear
Jeff Frazier
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