Listen Up, Luke 8:4-18
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Main Idea Of The Text:
How you hear is of vital importance to your salvation, your spiritual growth, and the furthering of the God’s kingdom in the hearts of men.
Jesus illustrates this in his parable in Luke 8:4–8 (ESV) Jesus then explains the parable in Luke 8:9–15 (ESV)
Let’s read through the passage in Luke 8:4–18 (CSB)
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
Let’s unpack the parable and see the significance of listening and also see how Jesus emphasizes the producing of fruit. You will see in the parable and the following explanation and teaching of Jesus that the fruit of God is hard to see or something we cannot keep hidden. (Specifically using Luke 8:16-18 as the basis for teaching that the fruit of salvation should not and cannot be hidden.)
The Sower and the Seed: (Parable & Explanation)
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed.
As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it…. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture… 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it… 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.”… 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
The emphasis of this parable is actually on the soil.
The seed is the Word of God, and there is no issue with the Word or with how it was sown. The soil is connected to hearing. Jesus said in verse 8, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
Hearing or listening is a high calling because your salvation depends on it, your fruitfulness hinges on it, and the spread of the Gospel rests on it. Ultimately the glory of God in your life and in the world hangs on the hearing of the Word, therefore “Take care how you hear.”
Salvation depends on hearing the Word
Romans 10:9–15 (ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The fruit of salvation cannot be hidden
Luke 8:16–18 (CSB)
16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
The fruit of salvation grows, matures, and multiplies
16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
In this parable we see the importance of your heart and your ears.(verse 8 & 16)
Luke 8:8, As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.
Luke 8:18 (ESV)
18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
With the importance of listening…there are some practical lessons we can learn about listening…
5 Characteristics & Practices Of Bad Listeners
Determined to stay the same Demanding to be entertained Distracted by the world Distorting the truth Don’t know how to distinguish what is true from what is false
The Result of Bad Listening: Judgement
Luke 8:18 says “from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” Many who hear resolve in themselves time after time (week after week) to refuse the truth of Christ. Over time those who continually reject the Word of the Lord receive a type of judgment from God by the hardening of their heart as they choose sin and the world over Christ time and time again. The life you think you have without Christ you will eventually lose at death or the return of Christ.
5 Characteristics & Practices Of Good Listeners:
Listen to have their hearts reformed instead of their ears tickled Listen with the intent to take action and heed what is said Listen lovingly toward the one who is preaching, because the one preaching is doing so as an act of love to you. Listen to apply everything to their own heart and life. Listen prayerfully.
The Result Of Good Listening: Abundant Life
Luke 8:18 says “for to the one who has, more will be given.” This has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with fruit. Luke 8:15 says “those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
3 Ways To Respond
Examine your listening and your living
Pray and prepare Pursue obedience as a disciple of Christ
Prioritize the preaching and hearing of the Word
The church is not founded on styles of worship, fellowship, or programs. The centerpiece of the life of the church is the preached Word of God. The church is driven by the mission of God as revealed through His Word…because the church is driven and led by Christ…God sent the son, the son sends the church. The church grows in all ways through the preaching of the Gospel.
Romans 10:14–15 (ESV) 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Preaching the Word of God is the manner in which a good and holy God seeks out sinners who are not looking for Him.
Romans 10:20 (ESV) quotes Isaiah when He speaks the Word of God saying “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
Commit to let your light shine before men
Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.