LISTENING AND HEARING: A CONTRAST

Text: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15

In each of the Gospel accounts of the Parable of the Sower, the characteristic phrase is "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Its recurrence makes it obvious the theme of the parable is the different way people either "listen to" or "hear." The fact that Christ explains the "Sower" as he who sows, or plants the Word, we are to understand the purpose of the whole is to depict four ways people receive the preaching of the Word.

The first three classes of "hearers" are they who merely "listen to" the Gospel in varying degrees. The last class of "hearers" are they who "hearken unto" the Word of God, and they, too in varying degrees.

The first "hearer" is characterized as having "no root." The second class is identified as having a "shallow root." The third kind of "hearers" is expressed as having a "strangled root." But the fourth "hearer" is known by a "fruitful root."

The "Wayside hearers" are they who listen to the Word of God but will not so much as assent to the truth of God. The Word is therefore said to be "trodden down" by them. (Luke 8:5). Mark expresses their attitude towards the Gospel to be like the "fowls of the air (that) come and devour it up." (4:4). Matthew reveals it is Satan who "comes and carries away what was sown." (13:19). The picture is penetrating because it depicts the Devil coming after the Sower to gather up what was sown. Mark goes on to expound how Satan "takes away the Word sown in their hearts" (verse 15), while Luke expresses that he "takes away the Word OUT of their hearts LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE AND BE SAVED." (8:12). What a devil is this Devil!

The "Stony hearer" represents those who are "convenient" Christians who are temporarily moved by conviction. They "dupe for a while". But when "persecution arises because of the Word, by and by are offended." (Matthew 13:21). "They spring up immediately because (they have) no depth of earth," says Mark (verse 5). These are they who are moved by fickle emotionalism. Luke explains that they wither away because they "lack moisture", (verse 6), they have no depth; "which

for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." (8:13)

Mark tells us that when the "Thorny hearer" "hears" the Word of God, he is choked by the "cares of this world" and by "the deceitfulness of riches" and by "the lusts of other things." (4:19)

Luke reports these "go forth" having "HEARD" the truth of God "and are choked by cares and riches, and PLEASURES of this life; and bring no fruit TO PERFECTION." (verse 14). Their fruit is therefore unacceptable.

The "Good HEARER" "Hearkens" unto the Word. These are they who assent to the truth of God and submit to it. They are characterized by their teachable attitude. Luke expounds this class of "hearers" by saying they possess an "honest and good heart" enumerating that having heard the Word "KEEP IT" and "bring forth fruit WITH PATIENCE." (verse 15). When they "listen" seriously, attentively, carefully --(being "full of care" to buy the truth and sell it not) they are said to "HEAR." Matthew says they "UNDERSTAND" the Word. (verse 23)

Reader, to which class of "hearers do you belong? Jesus Christ will one day weigh you in the balances of Divine Justice. Be not found among the Deceitful "Wayside hearers", nor among the sufficient "Stony hearers", nor yet, among the Deluded "Thorny hearers."

REASON AND RESTRAINT

Text: I Samuel 2{22-25; 3:11-14}

Eli was now a very old man. News came to his ears of the exceeding wickedness of his sons who committed fornication with the women who assembled at the door of the Tabernacle. So was that he reasoned with his sons:

Nevertheless, his sons would not hear the words of their father "BECAUSE THE LORD WOULD SLAY THEM." God had already determined they should die for their sin.

In chapter 3, God spoke to Samuel saying He had already revealed to Eli that He would "judge his house FOREVER for the iniquity HE KNOWETH: because his sons made themselves VILE, and he RESTRAINED THEM NOT. When Reasoning failed with his sons, Eli failed to use physical force to check their wickedness.

God tells Samuel He has CURSED Eli. "Therefore, I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house SHALL NOT BE PURGED WITH SACRIFICE NOR OFFERING FOREVER."

Parents are accountable unto God for the actions of their children; and they are to check their course in sin even if to do so they must resort to physical force...even, if it means their death.

JANUARY

19, 1684 --England. Having been driven from his pulpit by the Ejection of 1662 because of his refusal to conform to the Act of Uniformity demanding all ministers in the English realm to conform with the Episcopal liturgy found in the Church of England, William Jenkyn dies today in the foul Newgate Prison. He has been denied the mercy of praying with his daughter.

In Whitehall Palace, Charles II, jestingly falls upon his musicians to play a tune known as "Jenkyn’s Farewell" when a nobleman courageously addresses him, "your Majesty, Jenkyn has got his liberty."

"Aye," says the King in surprise, "who gave it him?"

"A greater than your Majesty: Jenkyn is dead."

One hundred fifty coaches will accompany his body to the grave. He leaves behind him a Commentary on Jude.

25, 1596 --England. Sir Francis Drake dies. His father, Edmund Drake, a lay preacher of the Reformed Faith, was forced to flee Devon in 1549. He found refuge on the East Coast. His son, Sir Francis, has enforced regular religious services aboard his ship, and has figured in a large measure in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. All his ships carry a cargo of Bibles, Prayer Books, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

25, 1627 --Ireland. Robert Boyle, who will become known as the "Father of Modern Chemistry", is born in Lismore Castle, in Munster, Ireland. He is the fourteenth child. In his early teens, he will be converted, and wi1l study Geneva, Switzerland, where he will come under powerful Calvinistic preaching. At his own expense he will have the Bible printed in Irish and Gaelic, and will support missionary endeavors in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, India, and North America. His love for the Word of God will be evidenced by his regular morning readings, and he will translate the Gospels and Acts into Turkish, Arabic, and Malayan.

28, 1547—-England. Henry VIII dies and along with him the bitterness of nearly unrelenting persecution against those who have stood opposed to his "Six Articles" which reaffirmed six basic Roman Catholic doctrines: 1. transubstantiation, 2. withholding the cup from the laity, 3. celibacy of the clergy, 4. the inviolability of monastic vows, 5. the saying of private masses, and 6. the importance of oral confession. Denial of the first article has been Death, while the denial of one of the others has constituted imprisonment and forfeiture of property; but for an additional denial, the penalty has been Death.