Ears to Hear

Our Scripture for today is Matthew 11:15:

“He who has ears, let him hear.”

That seems like an odd statement.

I once posed a knowingly odd question to my friend’s five-year-old daughter. I asked, “Have you thoroughly contemplated the logical ramifications entailed in the theological dictums I have espoused?”

Her response? “No.” When I asked if she understood what I’d said, she answered, “I think you said you wanted to baptize me.”

Sometimes, our words fall on deaf ears. Not because of physical deafness, but because the message isn’t worth hearing or is beyond the listener’s comprehension.

When Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” it wasn’t odd or silly. After his teaching, he would say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” What he was telling them was, you need to think about this. It is important!

Imagine being in the presence of the Son of God, hearing his wisdom firsthand, yet letting his words slip away like sand through your fingers. What a missed opportunity! While we can’t hear Jesus in person today, we’re still called to listen intently to his teachings.

So, when do we lack “ears to hear”?

  • When our Bibles gather dust on the shelf.
  • When our lives are so hectic that we can’t spare a moment for his words.
  • When pride blinds us to the wisdom in God’s word.

If you have ears to hear, you will listen. If you seldom hear him, maybe you haven’t opened your heart or ears to him.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.