And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:1-20

And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Mark 4:9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:1-20, starting with vv1-9 which is the text for the first (of three) division per the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to vv1-20 and the first division:  

• "Main idea: Jesus calls His followers to hear, respond to, and share the gospel, while sin, the cares of this world, and opposition hinder kingdom growth."
• "Mark 4 teaches us there also is a spiritual connection between the heart and the ear. In verse 3 Jesus says, 'Listen!' In verse 9 He says, 'Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!' In verse 12 He speaks of those who 'may listen and listen, yet not understand.' And in verse 20 He speaks of those who 'hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop.'"
• "(1) Parables provide insight into the nature, coming, growth, and consummation of the kingdom of God. They give us pictures of this kingdom that “has come near” (1:15). (2) Parables are by design provocative and surprising. (3) Parables are used to stimulate thinking and cause the hearer to contemplate what they are hearing. (4) Parables use everyday objects, events, and circumstances to illustrate spiritual truth, usually with a new twist. (5) Parables reveal more truth to those with receptive ears, and they hide truth from others. This is critical to understanding 4:10-12. (6) Parables make up 35 percent of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels. (7) Parables usually, but not always, focus on a single truth. We should not allegorize them seeking a meaning for every detail. (8) Parables in the Gospels ultimately draw attention to Jesus as God’s Messiah and call us to make a personal decision concerning Him."
• "The parable begins with a challenge for Jesus’ hearers to pay careful attention. A spiritually alert heart and hungry mind are needed to understand what He is teaching. The message of the parable for Christians is clear: we must sow the seed of the gospel that others might hear and respond. Responses will vary, but that is not our concern. Our assignment is to sow and sow generously, even promiscuously! God is responsible for the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)."  

The commentary also suggests the name of the text here should be the Parable of the Soil vs the Sower as the takeaway we should get is that good soil is key.  We should strive to prepare our hearts and mind to hear, receive and respond appropriately to His Word.  That is why we should pray for the Holy Spirit to help us before we read scripture.  I recommend reading John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally. At the same time, as the commentary states, we should in response to God's Word and what is doing in our own hearts and lives - sow and spread the Good News generously as we should feel as Peter did in Acts 4:20 as "we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me a heart inclined to hear Your Word and accept You as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You softened my heart and saved me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family,  my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 40-41

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for  our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I move on Lesson 15, Day 3a, which looks specifically at Isaiah 40:1-11 - with verses 3 through 5 being some of the most referred to verses from the New Testament. All of the gospels refer to these verses, including Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, and John 1.  It is clear Jesus wants those hearing the Word of God to prepare for Jesus - to look for Jesus, so that when He arrives You will know His voice and be inclined to hear and receive His Word. This post on DesiringGod.com encourages us to clear away earthly and worldly distractions to prepare:

"The logic of Isaiah’s prophecy can be summed up like this: “First some preparing, some rearranging, even some upheaval, and then the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” This world is not ready for the glory of the Lord. Too many of our churches are not ready for his glory.

The barriers against the historic display of his glory are firmly established in the trendy distractions of the world and in the dull routines of our churches. The only one fully ready for the display of Christ’s glory is Christ himself. [J.I.] Packer understood that. He understood that, for our churches to become filled with the felt presence and power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, “everything superstitious, misleading, and Spirit-quenching must be rooted out.[quoting Packer]”

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has given me a heart of flesh, replacing my heart of stone - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.