Listening

This episode emphasizes that when Scripture commands us to “hear,” “listen,” or “hearken,” it is calling for obedience, not mere attention. Drawing from Deuteronomy 18 and its repetition in Acts 3, the author notes that God will “require it” of anyone who refuses to obey the words of the coming Prophet, Jesus Christ. Just as a mother’s “Now listen to me” really meant “Obey,” the Bible uses the term in the same sense: hearing God’s Word is meant to produce action. Preaching, therefore, is not for passive reflection but for life-changing obedience. And if earthly parents discipline disobedient children, we should not imagine God will overlook those who disregard His commands. Because the Father declares of Jesus, “Hear Him,” the passage ends with the searching question: Are you truly listening?