Ears To Hear

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. [Revelation 2.7] 

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death. [Revelation 2.11]

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. [Revelation 2.17]

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. [Revelation 2.29]

The four statements above were made to the four churches included in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading. Just for kicks, let's look at what is said in common to the remaining three churches from tomorrow's reading:

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. [Revelation 3.6]

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. [Revelation 3.13]

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. [Revelation 3.22]

What do we know about "ears to hear"? Why is this statement repeated for all seven of the churches?

First, "ears to hear" is not a new statement to the New Testament or Jesus. In fact, we can be sure it was indeed Jesus speaking to John in the seven references above just by the use of the phrase "ears to hear." 

Of the four Gospels, three of them record Jesus' use of the term "ears to hear." Interestingly enough, the three Gospels that record Jesus having used the term "ears to hear" are Matthew, Mark and Luke. The one Gospel that does not record Jesus having used the term is the Gospel of John. The author of the book of Revelation is named John. Scholars debate whether or not this is the same John, but church tradition generally attributes both the Gospel of John and the Revelation of John as being authored by the same person. Interesting, huh?

Ears and hearing are included in an important couple of scriptures from the Psalms:

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have  mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

The importance of these two Psalm passages is not so much that idols have (among other things) ears but cannot hear or even that those who make idols have ears but cannot hear. The importance of Psalm 115.4-8 and 135.15-18 is that those who trust in idols have ears but cannot hear. 

The fact that Jesus used this same terminology should alert us to the problem of idolatry even though we have no record (that I know of) that Jesus ever used the word "idol."

Jesus however clearly referenced Old Testament "idol-terminology" when He said:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Jesus was referencing this passage written by Isaiah: 

Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.10]

Here are other instances of Jesus using the ears/hearing phrase: Matthew 11.15, Matthew 13.9, Matthew 13.43, Mark 4.9, Mark 4.23, Luke 8.8, and Luke 14.35. "Ears to hear" was obviously was a big deal to Jesus! This should come as no surprise since hearing ears can only be given by God to those whose entire focus is upon Him.

Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord. [Proverbs 20.12]

Again, Jesus' use of this idolatry-implicating terminology gives us all the precedence we need to understand the importance of turning away from idols and turning to God as part of our ongoing devotion to God. In fact, idolatry is logically as common a "thread" throughout the entire Bible as is Jesus because anything that distracts a person from faith in, and obedience to Christ (God) alone is indeed an idol. Jesus' parabolic silence regarding use of the word "idol" should only support the importance of focusing on Him alone. And, it reflects Jesus' desire that only His true followers would understand!

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. [Matthew 13.10-13]

The point of all that is said here is that having "ears to hear" is conditional upon turning away from idols. 

One will not, because he cannot, know the truth of God in Christ Jesus as long as he is turned to idols. 

A person will not recognize idols until he or she truly looks upon God in Jesus Christ. Jesus laid the gauntlet for this condition when He demanded:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

An idol is anything of man's own way (not God's) designed to preserve or improve "life." These ways of man are his idols and must be laid down - turned away from. Man's taking up his cross (facing even death) that God's Way might be seen, is following Jesus. Idols prevent mankind from following Jesus.

What ARE man's ways designed to preserve or improve "life"? Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are a good place to start. If we can't "see it" or "hear it" regarding this truth, it is no surprise because this is exactly what Jesus was talking about! I have said enough here... 

Dear reader, YOU must come to this conclusion by your own study of God's Word. YOU must hear what God says. YOU must decide to give up your own way (the ways of man), take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Until YOU do, you really don't understand - you can't be healed - you can't experience the power of God (see Matthew 13.15 and Isaiah 6.10 above). I must do the same thing...

Father, may we be found with "ears to hear" today as we look to You and consider Your Word. May our understanding of Jesus not be impeded by idols we hold to dearly. May we be fully prepared to "take up our cross" facing death itself in rejection of our life-saving, life-preserving idols, so that we might genuinely experience what it is to follow Jesus - walking in the undeniable, unexplainable power of the Holy Spirit just like Him. So be it.