Take heed on what you hear

           Take Heed on what you hear

                  

 

I.            As charged to the disciples

A.     That which is hidden is to be made known….

1.      Jesus asked rhetorical questions involving a lamp-

(Mark 4:21)

“And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?”

2.      What was hidden would be revealed, what was secret should come to light-

(Mark 4:22)

“22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.”

3.      The context regards His use of parables and the ultimate intention of His teaching

A.      Jesus spoke publicly in parables at the time-

(Mark 4:11)

“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”

B.     The meaning was explained privately-

(Mark 4:33-34)

“And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. 34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

C.     But His teaching was meant one day to be proclaimed abroad

D.    His disciples would be involved in publicly proclaiming it

(Matthew 10:27)

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

4.      Thus they were to pay close attention to what He was saying

(Mark 4:23)

“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”

** Jesus intended one day for all to hear and know His teaching. **

(Revelation 3:20)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

 

II.                Take Heed what you hear

1.      Jesus charged His disciples to take heed what they hear-

(Mark 4:24)

“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

2.      The importance of taking heed is repeatedly stressed-

(Mark 4:25)

“For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”

a.       With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you

b.      To you who hear, more will be given

c.       For whoever has, to him more will be given

d.      But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

3.      This is illustrated in the parable of The Talents

a.       Talents given according to each person’s ability-

(Matthew 25:15)

“15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

b.      Those who utilized their talents received more responsibility

(Matthew 25:20-23)

“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

c.       The one talent man lost that which he did not utilize

(Matthew 25:24-29)

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

** Jesus promised more for those who take heed to what they hear, utilize what they have. **

-The one talent- The design of this part of the parable is to show that no one is excused for neglecting his duty because he has few talents. God will require of him only according to his ability.-

(1 Corinthians 10:13)

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

(Luke 12:48)

“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

(2 Corinthians 8:12)

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

(John 4:36-38)

“And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”

 

** We must be obedient of our Lord, because when we become born again, we give ownership of ourselves to Him and to him only. Where as a sinner we were a servant to sin, in chains to satan. But when giving your Heart to Jesus, you are set free from your sins of death, and are alive in Christ who died for our sins, and we become His servants through the word of God.**

 

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”