He That Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear

Our Lord's declaration in Matthew 10:15 carries profound weight: the capacity to hear carries with it the obligation to hear rightly. Joseph S. Exell, in The Biblical Illustrator (1887), distinguishes three dimensions of this sacred duty.

First, take heed THAT ye hear—this demands willingness and a mind free from prejudice, coupled with devout earnestness before the Word of God.

Second, take heed HOW ye hear—we must seek understanding of the gospel, experience its transformative power, and reduce what we learn to faithful practice.

Third, take heed WHAT ye hear—desire the pure Word, the plain Word, the sure Word, the living Word of Elohim.

Capacity inherently involves responsibility. The human ear recognizes approximately one thousand musical tones, from fifty vibrations per second to five thousand. Yet we often traverse life deaf to its spiritual frequencies. Walking through a wood ignorant of birdsong, we lose richness; learning the notes, the scene gains depth and meaning.

Our Lord possessed extraordinary spiritual hearing. Where others heard merely a sower or a housewife sweeping her floor, Jesus heard parables of kingdom truth. The birds of the air spoke to Him; the lilies disclosed their secrets. All creation—every occupation, every human relation—had voices that revealed their inmost spiritual significance. Through His attentive ear, the whole realm of Nature became instinct with divine meaning, delivering tender stories of consolation, encouragement, and hope.