Take Heed How You Hear - Luke 8:18

Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus said, “No man, when he has lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad”, and in chapter eight and verse eighteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “take heed therefore how you hear” where we read:

Take heed therefore how you hear: for whosoever has, to him shall be given;

and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.

The verse reads, “Take heed therefore how you hear: for whosoever has, to him shall be given;” Luke began with the words, “take heed therefore” or “discern, perceive, discover and understand then, wherefore and these things being so” “how you hear” which means “in what way disciples of Jesus are endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving, understanding and comprehending”: “for whosoever has” or “because, since and on account that whatever person owns, possesses and holds”, “to him shall be given” which means “to that person whether male or female will be granted, bestowed, supplied and furnished”. Luke shared how Jesus warned those listening to Him to be careful of the manner in which they “hear” because people who “have possessions” will be “granted” the same.

The verse continues, “ and whosoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.” Luke added the words “and whosoever has not” which means “and whatever person whether male or female who does not own, possess and hold”, “from him shall be taken” or “separate and away from that person will be removed, carried off and caused to cease” “even that which he seems to have” which means “also and indeed the possession the person thinks, accounts and judges that they own, possess and hold”. Luke shared how Jesus said the person who does not “have possessions” will have even that they “think they own” taken away.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we note Jesus' warning to be careful about what a person “listens to” or “hears” because there will be “judgment” or “repercussions” for those things. God desires people to listen to Him and His “gospel” through His Son Jesus Christ even though there are many other offerings in “spiritual matters” available in the world. Those who trust in their “possessions” or other words and ideas that do not align with God's ways will find themselves stripped of everything they think they own. God wants the best for all people, and what He has to say is the most important words a person will ever “hear”. Those who are wise will “listen to” Him and put away all other words that lead to being “emptied” of everything they have ever owned.

Next time Luke shares, “then came to him his mother and his brethren”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".