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Seeing & Hearing

Matthew’s account

For Matthew, this parable is about understanding the message of the kingdom. Matthew uses the verb (akouein - “hear”) 15 times, but also uses the verb (sunienai - “understand”) in 13:13, 14,15,19,23,51. He also quotes from Isaiah to emphasize understanding with the heart.

Real hearing for Matthew means understanding in a way that transforms one’s identity and is evident in obedience.

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 13: 3-23

Mark’s account

Too long, please open your Bible Mark 4: 3-20

Hear!

Two literary hints let us know that for Mark, this parable is about hearing the message of the kingdom:

  • Mark uses the verb (akouein - “hear”) 13 times (“4:3, 9 [twice], 12 [twice], 15, 16, 18, 20, 23 [twice], 24, 33)
  • Mark also starts and ends the parable emphasizing hearing.

The word “hear” in Hebrew is shema, and it is associated with hearing in different ways

  • Physical hearing
    • The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. Proverbs 20:12
  • Paying attention/focus
    • Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.
  • Responding to what you hear: A lot of cries for help in the Psalms are calls to God to shema
    • Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. Psalm 27:7
  • Obedience to God
      • ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine Exodus 19:5
    1. Listening is the same as keeping the covenant.
    2. There is no separate word for “Obey”, because to hear someone you honor/respect is to do what they say

We also see that the response of those who truly hear is to turn. We have to keep our hearts responsive to God’s word.

Luke’s account

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 8: 5-15

Holding fast

But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.

Luke 8:15

Luke describes the ones in good soil as those who hold fast to the word in an honest and good heart, and also endure.

The relationship between hearing and enduring can also be found in Hebrews.

Too long, please open your Bible Hebrews 3

Unbelief isn’t just a problem of mental assent. It is a failure to hold on till the end.

The purpose of parables

When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that

they may indeed look,

and yet not perceive;

they may indeed listen,

and yet not understand;

otherwise, they might turn back

and be forgiven.”

Mark 4: 10-12

The first thing to note is that the scope of the statement concerning hardening is “those outside”. Mark did not intend to say that parables were instruments by Jesus to conceal meaning and prevent hearing. On the contrary, just as in Isaiah’s ministry, the people were already disobedient. Parables were an invitation to hear.

(Nathan’s parable to David)