Pay Attention to What You Hear
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Gospel of Mark, 2024
Mark 4:21-25.
ETS: Jesus taught that those who hear the Word have responsibility to be good stewards of the Word.
ESS: We should hear, respond, and grow in the Word.
OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to hear the Word of God and realize their responsibility to respond to the Word of God.}
PQ:
What lessons does Jesus teach through this parable?
UW: Lessons
Intro.: [AGS]: I need your help this morning: “This little light of mine… (you respond); Hide it under a bushel… (you respond NO)” [TS]: Jesus taught that those who hear the Word have responsibility to be good stewards of the Word. The Word is powerful, active, and able to change your life, revealing things that are in the dark, sinful, and perhaps unknown to anyone else, yet dishonoring to God. (Heb. 4:12). This chapter is really important- it deals with the parables, the reason Jesus teaches in parables, and some of the meaning of the parables explained. This chapter, specifically, contains four parables from verses 1-34. Each parable has to do with the growth of the Kingdom of God. The first parable is the parable of the sower (the one who shares the Word); The second parable is the parable of the lamp or light (which is the Word of God); The third parable is the parable of the growing seed (to show the growing Kingdom); the fourth parable is the parable of the mustard seed (to show the simplicity and yet seemingly insignificance of the seed sown that will one day grow beyond measure). Nestled within these, almost in the center of the chapter, is our text for today- dealing with the Word of God and the responsibility to hear and respond to the Word. [RS]: Maybe you have not considered this, before— your personal responsibility to respond to the Word of God. However, it is important that we hear, respond, and grow in the Word. There is a collective dimension to this as a congregation, but there is a person dimension to this, too. To demonstrate the collective responsibility for us to uphold, revere, and respond to the Word, as we read Mark 4:21-25 today, would you stand with me?
TS: Let us examine together the lessons Jesus taught through this parable in the Passage selected for today:
Jesus taught that the Word of God should be available to all. [vv. 21-22]
Jesus is the Son of God and the Incarnate Word of God.
Thus, contextually, this “lamp” refers to Jesus’ identity as Messiah being temporarily concealed (Messianic secret).
It also refers to the Word of God (the Good News) not being understood by all for a period of time.
Deal with messianic secret: for political reasons or otherwise, Jesus is quoted often in Mark’s Gospel as telling demons and others upon performing miracles to not tell anyone. This was because the appropriate time and manner for Him to be revealed and affirmed as the Messiah had not come. Had he been heralded as the Messiah before time, leaders would have been “forced to eliminate Him and His followers for fear that they might incite an insurrection” Other reasons would have been to include and “emphasize the cross in His mission.” [1]
Deal with issue of parables— stories of everyday common language that contained greater spiritual significance for teaching purposes. Yet, Jesus would only explain the parables, many times, to the disciples alone and unaccompanied by the crowds. Notice Mark 4:10-11 “10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He answered them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables”
Yet, the nature of verse 21 is rhetorical with the underlying assumption that light should not be hidden- to do so would be unhelpful and foolish. Additionally, verse 22 elaborates that the lamp— as understood to refer to both Jesus’ identity and the Word— would be brought to light and revealed at the right time.
APPLICATION: Inasmuch as we have understanding of who Jesus is and the Good News about Him— that He is the Savior of the World, the Son of God, who has come to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10)— we understand that we should make this known to all; though not all will understand now, one day, it will be clear to all.
Jesus taught that those hearing the Word of God have responsibility to be good stewards of the Word. [vv. 23-25]
Deal with the phrase “hear, listen” appearing four times in this chapter.
Verse 24 contains an imperative— Pay attention to what you hear (Βλέπετε τί ἀκούετε). This is an important command that reiterates the four times “listen” or “hear” in this chapter. Specifically, Jesus is urging the disciples to do more than simply hear the Word- to listen carefully to the word. One said hearing is done with the ears, but listening is done with the heart.
Additionally, Wuest wrote, “The idea is that more will be added to that which is your due. ‘There shall be given over and above, not to those who hear, but to those who think on what they hear:… the more a man thinks, the more he will understand, and the less a man thinks, the less his power of understanding will become.’ Euthy is quoted as follows: ‘Whoso hath attention, knowledge will be given him, and from him who hath not, the seed of knowledge will be taken. For as diligence causes the seed to grow, negligence destroys it.’ [2]
The phrase “by the measure” in verse 24 pertains to what one does in response to hearing the Word. Our responsibility— This relates to what one does in response to the Word. There are but two options of response: to accept the word, paying attention to the Word and growing in the Word (1 Thess. 2:13-14); to reject the word, not seeking understanding, not seeking growth, and not seeking change through the Word.
Thus, it is appropriately understood of this Passage and teaching of Jesus to develop some sequence as follows: Let one hear the Word; Let one pay attention to the Word (respond); Let one grow in the Word (understand).
APPLICATION: Inasmuch as we understand the importance of not only hearing the word, but also paying careful attention to the Word that we might grow in understanding of the Word, we should respond to the Word by doing everything necessary and possible to understand the Word that we might then live , love, and share the Word.
Response Questions:
[1] Do you personally understand who Jesus, the Messiah, is? Do you grasp the Good News He brought as personally important for your life?
[2] How do you appropriately respond to the Word of God to create growth and understanding?
Hear the Word; pay careful attention to it (both in your personal life and when you come to church)— be still with the Word: let God speak to you through His word, free of distractions in an intentional, uninterrupted way.
Meditate on (think about) the Word— let the Word saturate your soul. Reflect on it.
Study the Word— to seek better understanding that you might grow to live, love, and share the Word.
Bibliography:
[1] Brendon R. Witte, “Messianic Secret,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
[2] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 91.
[3] R. Alan Cole, Mark: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 2, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989).
[4] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885).
[5] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Mark, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014).
[6] Ross H. McLaren, “Mark,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).
[7] C. M. Tuckett, “Messianic Secret,” ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992).