Listen! (usually in reference to one of His teachings or parables.)
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 11:15 (about John the Baptist)
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 13:9 (about the parable of the sower)
“Hear then the parable of the sower.” Matthew 13:18 (about the parable of the sower)
“Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 13:43b (about the parable of the weeds)
He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.” Matthew 15:10 (about teaching on purity)
“Hear another parable.” Matthew 21:33 (about the parable of the tenants)
“Hear this!” Mark 4:3 (about the parable of the sower)
He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Mark 4:9 (about the parable of the sower)
“Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” Mark 4:23 (about the parable of the lamp)
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.” Mark 7:14 (about teaching on purity)
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Luke 8:8b (about the parable of the sower)
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Luke 14:35b (about the cost of discipleship)
If you are a parent or if you have a parent, you are familiar with the pattern of a parent making sure they have the attention of the child before saying something especially important or urgent. It also helps if the parent makes sure they have eye contact with the child when they do so. This is the function of Jesus’ habit of asking his listeners to pay particular attention as he does in the passages above. For example, the fact that the parable of the sower occurs in all four gospels and in all four the author notes that Jesus called special attention to the parable leads me to think it is especially critical to hear and understand it. Evidently, it is quite important for us to be committed to being good soil and to look for good soil. I would suggest looking carefully at the passages referenced above and then ordering your life accordingly.
