The New Testament enjoins its readers, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear…” on fifteen occasions. (Three times in the Gospel of Matthew; three times in the Gospel of Mark; two times in the Gospel of Luke; and, eight times in the book of Revelation.) The urging amounts to an earnest invitation to pay heed to what is being said and to heed means to do. Submitting to its teaching is right for the Bible is like no other book. It is Divine in its origin and, consequently, essential to life in a world made dark by sin. We disregard its teachings and admonitions at our own peril.
Jesus expanded on this injunction to hear in his teaching commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 7:47-49). It is evident that in order to benefit from hearing, we are required to respond with obedience.
Jame’s Epistle confirms the connection between obedience and blessing. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For is any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass [mirror]: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway [immediately] forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty [the Scriptures], and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22-25).
God has not given his word to us as “recommendations” nor “suggested guidelines” to consider as we see fit. Rather, they constitute his self-revelation and are imperative for a right relationship to him and a right walk in this world. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect [mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Paul told Timothy in that same epistle that the “scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). This salvation begins with hearing, even as Jesus taught. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).
How about you? Do you hear the word of God and recognize its authority? Can you say with the Psalmist “I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:127-128).
From the Chaplain 