There have been times when the Extrovert (ie: my husband) has extroverted a little longer than this Introvert can endure with ample attention. At the end of noted discourse, Introvert finds she’s failed to apprehend a few of the incoming facts.

This becomes apparent in her inability to answer Extrovert’s questions regarding the information that has just passed from his lips into mine one ear.

Somehow words found an escape route. Whether through an empty tunnel in Introvert’s brain, or maybe things really can go in one ear and out the other . . . I’d like to say this is the more likely option.

After a time of trying to backpeddal to answer the question, the truth comes forth. “I’m sorry, Honey. My mind wandered.”

This is very . . . humbling.

Have you ever considered how your own two hearing ears do not truly hear sometimes?

Have you ever spoken to your child within earshot, and it was as if they did not hear you at all?

Jesus said those words seven times in the New Testament. This particular time was just after telling the crowd the Parable of the Sower.

It was a punctuating announcement pointing to the necessity to go below the surface of the story. As if Jesus was saying, “Think about this further.”

It was a call to be curious, an invitation to awaken desire. Jesus wanted them to seek to know what He was actually telling them.

Jesus told His disciples that the parables intentionally hide things from unblievers. The hope is for the spiritual appetite to be whet. It is not much different for us as new believers, or seasoned believers. We have to be attentive to our own ear-tuning. We have to see to it that we have an appetite to listen to Jesus, deeply. (Not just on Sunday morning!)

When Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, James and John. Do you remember it? The time Moses and Elijah showed up to “chat” with Jesus, He was transfigured into a heavenly glow of glory — enough to scare the humans speechless — even Peter! (Note though: true to his nature, he was the first to speak!) 

God the Father showed up in a cloud while the men were shaking in their sandals and spoke, saying,

Is there anything more important than listening to the God of the universe?

As I browse the gospels, studying Jesus’ communication with people, I’m noticing how often he is responding to those who oppose Him. What I see is, not only did they fail to listen, it appears their anger and obstinacy caused them to refuse to listen.

The self-righteous became more hardened and hard hearts become hostile.

During a fairly well-known story in which Matthew invited Jesus to dine at his house with his friends, the religious leaders, always in a tone of superiority, asked Jesus’ friends, “Why does your teacher eat with sinners?” 

Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” — Allow me to translate: “My dear opposers, you have no idea that you are blind to your own sickness.”

Jesus followed his statement with,



I’m also learning that Jesus was always quoting scripture to the religious leaders. He knew what many of us don’t really think about.

Pharisees had memorized large portions of scripture — otherwise they would not have had their position as leaders. The Jewish student would not make it to the level of leadership unless they had internalized the entire first five books of the Old Testament. Many of them, being gifted in memorizing, had internalized Psalms and some of the prophets.

At any rate, Jesus was appealing to their “dead knowledge,” giving them a chance to come awake to the life in it.

Jesus was drawing them to recall Hosea 6:6

Sadly, their ears were plugged by their pride. We find them a few chapters later, in Mark 12, confronting Jesus and his disciples again. This time, for picking heads of grain and eating them on the Sabbath. “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:2)

Jesus replies by pointing them back to an Old Testament story of David eating what was unlawful for him during a time of need, and then he says,

It wasn’t long after this when the same self-righteous deaf ones accused Jesus of driving out demons under the authority of the prince of demons. Not only had they failed to listen, failed to engage their hearts with the words of God, but they continued to adamantly oppose Him. They were hell-bent against Him. Their antagonistic pursuit, as we know, ultimately ended in their condemning the Innocent One.

Thankfully, we get a window into at least one of them actually having listened. Nicodemus, who genuinely asked questions (see John 3) ended up anointing Jesus’ body for buriel with an amount of spices only used on kings, proving his faith.

Likely others — the opposers of Christ — (read: anti-christ) continued on in unbelief, deafened by pride to their peril.

Pride is a perilous dam to the inflow of the word of God to a soul.

What should we glean from this knowledge as believers?

There are many people today who have amazing knowledge of scripture, but have no heart to submit to God. They are taking His word out of context, twisting and distorting it, and are actually working against Jesus. (read: anti-christ)

How will we discern false teaching if we are not keeping our ears tuned into the voice of Jesus? How will we avoid getting sucked into the vortex of deception that Jesus Himself warned us of? How will we help others stay above water?

I realize many or most of my readers are already in tune with the need to stay close to Jesus through a daily dose of manna, with reflections throughout the day, but sometimes a reminder is just what we need to stoke a smouldering fire.

I also believe we need daily encouragement from each other, reminding us that we are not in this alone.

And if, by chance, someone reads this who hasn’t yet come into the saving love of Jesus, someone who finds themselves hell-bent on opposing those who carry and speak the Words of Life, you might take to heart the fact that Jesus came to deliver you from darkness and fill you with His marvelous light.



Jesus is the Word who took on flesh and dwelt among us so we could know and love Him as He truly is. In your best interest, please, take into yourself the nourishing, life-giving Word!

Listen to Him by reading His word and obeying it. Matthew 4:17

Father, soften hearts and bring salvation through your good news! Strengthen your own. Establish us in your truth, that we might be mature, able to discern between good and evil, truth and lies. Protect us and our families from the evil one, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

PS — If you have not had a chance to watch the videos in the series, The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi with Kathie Lee Gifford, you simply must! I’ve learned so much, and the scenery in Israel is glorious! The final one posted today. Click here to watch all six.