1 Again He began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.” ~ Mark 4:1-3
So, when this huge crowd had gathered, Jesus opened up His mouth and began teaching the crowd about faith, but He didn’t just say it plainly, because it was not for everyone. How do I know? Well, just look at what Jesus says after He finishes telling the parable:
8b …As He said these things, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Luke 8:8b
This is a strange thing to say because I would assume that everyone there that day had ears that could hear. If not, they would come and receive healing. So, what this tells me is that it is not for everyone, but only for The Diligent Seekers. The casual bystander won’t profit from those words. Why do I say that? Just take a listen to what Jesus said when they came to Him after the crowd had left and asked Him about the parable:
10 And when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parables. 11 And He said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
Mark 4:10-12
Did you notice what Mark adds in there? Those around Him with the twelve. Mark makes a distinction between Jesus’ Apostles and Jesus’ other disciples. He wanted to make sure we understood that it was not just the twelve but also those around Jesus. Those who followed Him and hung on His every word. Those who were hungry for the Word of God. Those who desired to be fed. Those who study to show themselves approved. In other words, those who have ears to hear; The Diligent Seekers.
Those were the ones who would receive the secret of the kingdom of God. It’s all about [ὁ (ho) Pistis], The Faith! It is not those who hear only, because you can hear, but not actively listen and make the Word of God of no effect, but it is those who hear and put it into action who will prosper from this teaching.
Dear LORD, please give me ears to hear your Word that I might understand it and put it into action. That I might be a diligent seeker seeking You and Your kingdom. Help me to understand Your Words, for as Peter said, You alone hold Eternal Life. You alone can save my soul. You alone can redeem me from my suffering and bondage. Help me to receive Your Word in good soil within my soul so that it might take root and grow within me. So that it might sprout the fruit that brings me closer to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
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