Hearing

Matthew 13:16 (The Message)
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

16-17"But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.


He sought a few precious moments alone; a respite from the endless questions and demands of the Pharisees and the intensity of teaching radical concepts to uncomprehending followers. Slipping from the house, he headed for the gently lapping waters on the shore of the lake and sat down gratefully on sand that felt like it had been saving the warmth of the sun’s rays all day, just to ease his weary bones. He craved solitude like a dry, baked riverbed waits for rain; it was a time to listen for his Father’s voice.

Voices, people, soon the crowds found him and to escape being crushed he got into a boat. As the humble fishing vessel bobbed on waves that reflected the setting sun like a sheet of hammered gold, he spoke from it to the people on the shore, weaving a story of a sower of seeds and ending with strange words, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Then this Rabbi looked out into the crowds and spoke of eyes and ears and of hearts that understand. He spoke of some who would quickly respond to God and of an evil one who would just as quickly snatch away the seed in their heart; of others who would have no staying power; only shallow roots. There would be some who would actually hear but the voice of this world would sound louder in their ears, eventually drowning out the good seed of the Word. But some would hear, understand, choose to follow and to keep listening for the voice of his Father. They too, would learn to seek out moments of solitude, even in the middle of a day as busy as a high holiday in Jerusalem, and turn their ears toward heaven.

Hearing; it’s an amazing capacity and we don’t just hear with our ears, but with our heart and our spirit.

Matthew 13:23 (The Message)
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

23"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

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