Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” – Mark 4:9
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, many people were following Him not because of who He was or what He was saying, but rather to receive something from Him or to witness a miracle. So He often used the phrase “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” He did this to emphasize the importance of not only thinking about what He was teaching, but to act upon it.
In Mark 4:9, Jesus calls us to truly hear – to listen with our hearts and respond with our lives. Listening, as Scripture shows us, is a vital part of our walk with God and our ministry to others.
The Bible is filled with examples of those who listened well and, in doing so, fulfilled God’s purposes. Consider Moses, a man who learned to listen to God’s voice in the burning bush and on Mount Sinai. Because he tuned his heart to God, he became a patient listener to the Israelites, hearing their complaints and interceding for them before the Lord. His listening ear brought God’s guidance to an entire nation.
As a young boy, Samuel also exemplified the ministry of listening. When God called him in the night, Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). His willingness to hear God’s voice set him on a path to become a mighty prophet who would go on to deliver God’s messages to His people. Samuel’s life reminds us that listening to God begins with a heart that’s open to His call, no matter our age or circumstances.
King David, too, showed the power of listening when he humbly accepted the prophet Nathan’s rebuke after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:7-13). Instead of hardening his heart, David listened, repented, and found restoration in God’s forgiveness. Listening to wise counsel, even when it’s difficult, can lead us back to God’s grace.
Above all, Jesus modeled the ministry of listening perfectly. He listened to the Father’s voice, seeking His will in every moment (John 5:30). Jesus also listened to those around Him, no matter their status. We remember the Samaritan woman at the well where Jesus not only spoke to her, but listened to her story and engaged her with compassion and truth. Because she, in turn, listened to Him, many in her village came to know Jesus as Savior. Their encounter shows us that listening can be a bridge to sharing the gospel through opening hearts and building trust.
Listening is a huge part of loving and caring for people, yet it doesn’t always come to us naturally. We’re often too busy, too distracted, or (if we’re honest) too self-absorbed to truly hear others. We may be quick to speak, eager to offer advice, or focused on our own agendas. But to be a genuine listener requires humility and intentionality. It means setting aside our own thoughts to hear someone else’s heart, just as Jesus did.
Friend, God calls us to a ministry of listening – first to Him, then to others. When we listen to God through prayer and meditation upon His Word, we align our hearts with His will for us. When we listen to others, we reflect His love and create opportunities to tell them about Jesus.
“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” – Ralph G. Nichols
Former Blackout Artist 