Blessed Are Your Ears, For They Hear (Matthew 13:9-16)
Introduction:
1. On this occasion Jesus was teaching by the seaside (Matthew 13:1-3a). a. He was seated in a boat, and the multitude stood on the shore. b. He taught all of His lessons through parables (Matthew 13:34-35). 2. (Matthew 13:3b-8) Jesus presented His "parable of the sower." 3. The Lord concluded His parable in vs.9 with an appeal for people to hear what He was teaching. 4. (vs.10) The disciples asked Jesus why He was teaching through parables. 5. (vs.11-15) Jesus explained why He was using parables. 6. As Jesus blessed His disciples in vs.16 He said, "Blessed are your ears, for they hear." 7. During His ministry, Jesus healed people who were deaf (Mark 7:37). 8. In our lesson we are studying passages that will help us to have blessed ears that hear.
Discussion:
I. AS JESUS EXPLAINED HIS PARABLE HE REVEALED SEVERAL PRINCIPLES THAT RELATE TO HAVING BLESSED EARS
A. The Lord explained His parable in Matthew 13:18-23. B. Certain things will prevent us from having blessed ears, including: 1. a failure to understand (vs.18-19) 2. tribulation (vs.20-21) 3. worldliness (vs.22). C. As Jesus described the good ground in vs.23, He showed that blessed ears require "hearing the Word, understanding it, and bearing fruit." D. Let us turn our attention to . . .
II. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS THAT TEACH US HOW TO HAVE BLESSED EARS
A. To have blessed ears we must hear Jesus. 1. God gave this instruction when Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:5). 2. Although God has spoken through many individuals in the past, Jesus is His spokesman today (Hebrews 1:1-3). B. To have blessed ears we must hear the words of Jesus. 1. His Word is the New Testament (Hebrews 9:15). 2. We read about positive examples of people who heard Jesus in: a. Luke 5:1, 15 b. Luke 6:17 c. Luke 15:1 d. Luke 19:48b e. Luke 21:38. 3. Jesus described His Words in John 6:63b as "spirit" and "life." 4. Love is the basis of hearing the Lord's Word (John 14:21, 23). 5. Let us heed the Lord's warning in Mark 4:24a.
Conclusion:
1. Some words of wisdom were spoken by the officers who were sent to take Jesus into custody (John 7:32, 45-46). 2. Let us hear the Lord's Words, understand them, obey them, and keep them. 3. Those who do so will have "blessed ears."
