Consider Carefully How You Listen
Luke 8:1-21
Key Verse 8:18
“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Through last week’s passage, we witnessed a woman with overflowing gratitude as she believed in Jesus’ acceptance and forgiveness. She used her tears and hair to cleanse Jesus’ feet and poured expensive perfume on them. This extraordinary action shocked and displeased others in the room but pleased Jesus greatly. This was an amazing expression of her love for Jesus and we desire to love Jesus as she did.
In today’s passage, Jesus emphasizes the importance of how we listen, particularly, with what kind of attitude. The words “hear,” “hearing,” and “listen” are repeated nine times (8(twice), 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21). Luke especially emphasizes “how” we listen. We are listening to so many things every day. So much of it just goes in one ear and out the other. This is okay because most of it is junk or even harmful. But we must have different attitude toward God’s word. It is because the word of God is God-breathed. It is filled with life, power, and spirit. The word of God created the heavens and the earth. It healed the sick and raised dead to life. The word of God also help us to find God, be changed, and have hope in the kingdom of God. Whether or not our lives become fruitful totally depends on our attitude toward the word of God. This is not a light matter because our lives depends on it. As Jesus strongly urges us today, let us consider carefully how we listen to and do God’s word daily. In this way, we may know the secrets of the kingdom of God that Jesus is eager to share with us. Let us listen to Jesus carefully. Amen.
The sacrificial women in Jesus’ ministry (1-3)
Look at verse 1. “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him” It was right after Jesus announced the forgiveness of sins upon a sinful woman. Jesus was deeply touched by this woman’s change as she went back in peace and began a new life. Jesus wanted to see more of these changes in many other people’s lives. So, he didn’t remain in one place for too long. He diligently traveled about from one town to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The end of verse 1 says that the Twelve were with him as usual. Who else were with him? Look at verses 2 and 3. Let us have our sisters read together. “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Quite amazing! Some women coworkers had been cured of evil spirits and diseases by Jesus.
The famous Mary Magdalene was one of them. She had been released from the possession of seven demons through Jesus’ power. She was greatly moved by Jesus’ compassion, and since then, she followed Jesus and poured out her heart to serve his ministry to the very end. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household. She was a respected and influential woman in her society. But she was sick and tired of being surrounded by adulterous, corrupt, and deceptive people in Herod’s palace. Then she met Jesus. Her spiritual eyes were open and she found purpose and hope in life. Susanna, although we do not know much about her, was likely a woman from the upper-class society and she chose to support Jesus with her own finances. And there were “many others” who experienced similar healing through Jesus’ mercy as well. Here, we gain a new insight into how Jesus’ ministry was sustained. Jesus and the Twelve were not priests so they did not have any regular support from the temple. But through these sacrificial women’s support, Jesus could continue his gospel work to the end.
At one time these women had been miserable, but now they were beautiful daughters of God. They helped to support Jesus and his ministry out of their own means. They served voluntarily; they were devoted and sacrificial for Jesus’ sake. Though they were from various backgrounds and social positions, they were united in love and gratitude toward Jesus and worked together joyfully. They were living in such a man-dominating society that they were not even included in the census counts. For women, especially those with flawed pasts, serving in Jesus’ ministry could be considered unimaginable. But Jesus welcomed them as they were, cherished them as daughters of God, and enabled them to live the most meaningful and fruitful lives. Jesus accepted their beautiful heart and dedication and blessed them to be used for God’s glory. This sounds very familiar to us, does it not? The same is also true in our Ministry. There are so many devoted and sacrificial women in our ministry. How beautiful is their life of faith! How beautiful is their life of sacrifice! Sometimes, your sacrifice and devotion to Jesus could go unnoticed by others. But don’t you worry because God surely recognizes and rewards. May God raise many more Mary Magdalenes, Joannas, and Susannas in our ministry in our generation. Amen!
The parable of the Sower (4-15)
At this time, there was a large crowd forming around Jesus. They were coming from town after town to hear Jesus speaking and perhaps to receive Jesus’ healing. Here, Jesus decided to tell them this parable, the parable of the sower. Through this parable, Jesus teaches us an important lesson on how we can receive the kingdom of God through his words and experience it in our current lives. Look at verses 5-8. Here, we see the farmer sowing his seeds. He scatters them and they go on multiple different places. The first place was “along the path.” The farmer should walk along the path while sowing. So, it was hard and not plowed. Remained on the path, it was trampled on. They were also more visible for the birds, and the birds ate it up. The second place was “on rocky ground.” The seed that fell there at least sprouted and grew up. Yet, the plants withered because of lack of moisture. The third place was “among thorns.” It seemed the plants grew well among thorns but the thorns eventually choked the plants.
Let us read verse 8a together. “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” Still, other seeds fell on good soil. It sprouted, grew, and took deep root. As it took in the sunshine, together with sufficient nutrition and water, it grew steadily and yielded a crop. How much crop? A hundred times more than was sown (8a). The seed has a great potential to reproduce 100 times. But it depends on the soil. If the soil is not good, no matter how good the seed is, its potential can never be realized. Jesus finished his parable by saying, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (8b). What did Jesus mean by that? If you have ears? Isn’t that pretty much everyone? Jesus is saying that everyone has ears, but not everyone has “ears to hear” God’s word. Jesus is means the spiritual ears! Those who have spiritual ears can discern the meaning of Jesus’ words. Jesus challenged people to have spiritual ears to grasp the meaning of his teaching. Listening is related to one’s heart attitude. Many times, people like to hear only what they like to hear, something that sounds pleasing and soothing to them.
When Jesus told this parable to them, some people were confused saying, “That was just a story about farming. It’s kind of boring.” Then they left. But the twelve were different. They knew that Jesus was not just teaching them a basic farming lesson. They had ears to hear and the desire to understand God’s words. So, they asked him what he meant by this parable (9). In verse 10, Jesus said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
To the people with ears to hear, the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God was given. Jesus’ parables are not Aesop’s fables with moral lessons, but simple stories that point to the secrets of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ parables both reveal and conceal the truth about the kingdom of God. They reveal it to the real listener, but they conceal it from a casual hearer. The real listener has the desire to understand and asks humbly, “Lord, would you explain it to me, please? I want to know!” Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10-11, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Even after finding out the secrets of the kingdom of God, Apostle Paul continued to ask, seek, and knock on God’s door to know more about Christ Jesus. God is more than willing to reveal the secrets of the kingdom to those who earnestly ask and seek. But Jesus’ parables become a judgment for the casual hearer who doesn’t have the desire to listen and obey. Do you consider yourself the real listener or the casual hearer? I pray that we may have ears to hear God’s words through sincere repentance and life decision to desire Jesus.
In verses 11-15, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable to teach us how we can grow. The seed is the word of God, which has the power within itself to give life (11b; Heb 4:12). This is the source of spiritual growth: the living word of God working by the power of the Holy Spirit. But there are things that can hinder the growth of the seed. The birds refer to the devil, who takes away the word from those who do not accept it (12). The devil works very diligently to capture stubborn and proud people. Those who harden their hearts to God’s words will become their prey (1Pe 5:8). The consequence is serious that they will not be saved. Rocky soil represents people who do not let the word of God take deep root in them (13). They may be very emotional for a while, but in the time of trials and tribulations, they fall away. Testing comes to everyone, and only those who take root in the word of God by persevering will overcome and produce fruit. Jesus said, “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (Jn 15:7). Paul says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col 2:6-7).
Thorny soil represents those whose hearts are divided. They seem to take root in the words of God and grow fine (14). But the problem is that they are distracted and choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures and do not mature. They firmly believe that having a certain amount of money and living a certain lifestyle will make them completely happy. They become very fearful about losing the pleasure that the world offers. They fall into temptations into many foolish and harmful desires that lead them into destruction. When thorns of greed and pleasure occupy our hearts, we need to be aware of them and pull them up immediately. Otherwise, this kind of desire gives birth to sin, one after another.
Let us read verse 15 together. “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Finally, good soil refers to those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop (15). These people listen to and study the word of God with humble and learning hearts. They hold on to it, reflect on it and meditate on it until it becomes their own. When times of trial come, they hold all the more firmly to the word they received. As they do, they are purified and transformed into a person who is more and more like Jesus every day. This is what it means to produce a crop: it is the receiving kingdom of God that our souls are longing for. It is to meet Jesus personally and receive his forgiveness for our sins. It is to grow in the image of Jesus day by day while practicing his love and humility.
We thank God for giving us this parable today so that we could take a moment to evaluate our hearts. Is my heart (and your heart) path-like, rocky, thorny, or good and ready? Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Please pray this with me.
Consider carefully how you listen (16-21)
Look at verses 16-17. Jesus continued his teaching with the analogy of a lamp on a stand, which is very straightforward. The purpose of lighting a lamp is not to hide something, but to let the light shine (16). In the same way, the purpose of Jesus teaching in parables is not to conceal the message of the kingdom but to reveal it (17). Jesus wants people to recive the message of the kingdom and be saved. In order to do that, Jesus again emphasizes that we must have a right attitude toward the word of God. Let us read today’s key verse, verse 18 together. # “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” Habitual hearing is another danger when it comes to God’s word. If we think that we already know, we will not seek and ask. Then, even what we think we have will be taken from us. But if we carefully listen to what Jesus says, we will be blessed with more. As we carefully listen to the Word, it reveals our heart condition and illuminates the darkness in our lives. Then, we will see Jesus and his glory clearly. Amen
As Jesus diligently taught the words of God, his mother and brothers came to see him but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd (19). When someone told him that his family members wanted to see him, Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (20-21). Here we learn that Jesus’ kingdom is God’s family where Jesus is our brother. The bond is not based on our blood or race, but solely on the obedience to the word of God. This obedience is not always easy, but it brings us the great privilege of becoming children of God and members of his family. Let us listen to God’s word and put it into practice.
In conclusion, we learned that there were many sacrificial women who served Jesus’ ministry out of their own means. Their legacy continues with our women coworkers. Jesus used a parable so as to help everyone could relate to and understand him. And we learned the importance of having a good heart-soil to yield a crop. May God strengthen us to listen to Jesus’ word and do them so that Jesus can recognize us as his brothers and sisters. Let us read the key verse once again and pray. “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”