Whoever has ears, let them hear
by Maria Rudolph
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Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables (Matthew 13:2,3a).
Read Matthew 13:1–9,18–23
Wiring up the pastor with a microphone and checking the sound levels on the lectern are commonplace Sunday morning activities. Some churches even have a hearing aid channel area. After all, we want to ensure everyone can hear what is spoken! Not long ago, we had to rely on the pastor to project their voice to carry the unamplified words to people’s ears.
At least most of our preaching and teaching takes place indoors. Think about Jesus during his ministry. While he also taught inside synagogues, his teachings mostly took place outdoors. Catching his words while walking alongside him on the road is okay. But think about the crowd while Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.
In today’s reading, a large crowd is gathered on the shore, while Jesus is bobbing up and down in a boat. Take a moment to consider the scene. Waves gently rolling in, the wind in your ears, the sound of the mumbling crowd around you, maybe someone coughing, and a seagull screeching occasionally. And there is Jesus, out in the boat, teaching. How many of his words would be audible to you? Would you be straining to hear him, hanging on to his lip movements to help you make out the sounds? Every word he says matters. You don’t want to miss any.
Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of heaven – about God. The words of Jesus are life and truth! Your ears prick up at the parable – you want to have the kind of soil that produces a hundredfold return from the seed of God’s word. Jesus says, ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear’. And that’s all without amplification. It is much, much easier for us with our fancy sound systems and microphones to make Bible teachers and preachers audible. But does better hearing mean better understanding? How blessed are we to have so much help to hear God’s word? We have the gift of audibility: the Holy Spirit gives the gift of understanding. Be bold and ask the Holy Spirit to open the ears of your heart to a renewed understanding of God’s word today – for good soil conditions for the seed of God’s word to fall and that it will bear much fruit to the glory of God.
Holy Spirit, open my heart to gain new understanding as I hear God’s word. Help me not squander the many opportunities I have to listen to and ponder teaching and preaching on the Bible and instead inspire and grow me each day so these seeds fall on fertile soil, germinate, grow and bear much fruit to your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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