Don’t Swallow without Chewing: Listen to Bible teaching in a careful and discerning way! Think as you listen, and then Apply!

 

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Ephesians 3:1-6

 

What do we learn from this well-known Scripture?

1.    God, in his grace, through the Holy Spirit, revealed truths about Christ and the church to the apostles.

2.    Paul said these truths were given to him … for you!

3.    What was given miraculously to an apostle by divine revelation is knowable non-miraculously to anyone who will read that revelation now available in the Bible.

4.    Therefore what was once divine mystery is now public knowledge to anyone willing to read the Bible.

5.    The specific truth referred to here in Ephesians is of the utmost importance in that it is about equality of blessing to every person who is a member of Christ's church.

Jesus basically said the same thing another way: God's truth is not meant to remain hidden. But he added: you

have to listen carefully! They're my words. Here's exactly what Jesus said:

 

And Jesus said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear [Take care what you listen to, NASB]: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:21-25

 

The Translators' Handbook on Mark (Robert Bratcher and Eugene Nida) suggests that the expression, "Pay attention to what you hear," could be taken to mean either: Pay attention to what you hear, or discriminate carefully between the things you hear. It prefers the former in the context, but it seems to me that both are important – especially when you note the many contexts that warn of false and deceiving teachers. Matthew 7:13-15; Acts 20:27-32; Romans 16:17-18; Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:8-13; 5:19-22; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2; 11:3-4,13-15.

 

C.E.B. Cranfield, in his classic Greek commentary on Mark, says the clause is "also an appeal for spiritual perception. Perhaps a challenge to penetrate beyond the outward forms of what Jesus says – e.g. parables as mere stories – to the message they are meant to impart." Jesus also knew false teachers were everywhere.

 

Luke reports Jesus saying: "Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." Luke 8:18

 

Take care what you listen to (blepete ti akouete) and take care how you listen (blepete … pōs akouete)! Both the what and the how are vital. This is my thinking, but Cranfield says the substitution by Luke of pōs for ti in Mark, "does not materially alter the sense; for the right way to hear Jesus' teaching is to hear what he means to say … And if one hears the Word and recognises it as such, then one's hearing cannot stop short at hearing, but must become a response of faith and obedience and gratitude." (All of this is on page 166 of his commentary of 1959. Cranfield was Professor of Theology at the University of Durham, UK). This commentary is costly, as I recall, but a very useful addition to your library.

 

Henry Barclay Swete, commenting on the same passage in his Gospel According to St. Mark, said: "Your attention to the teaching will be the measure of the profit you will receive from it."

 

There are plenty of places in the New Testament that deal with this. Let's initially look at just one of these to see the point; then we'll examine others:

Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

 

When you hear/read a Scripture in a lesson, do not "despise" it or ignore it; think about what that Scripture is saying, how it is being used by the Bible writer and the Bible teacher, and its relevance to your life. Then again, the teacher might be misusing the Scripture. He might even be a false teacher using Scripture to deceive. Remember the false teaching on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Timothy 2:18? Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Remember Satan quoting Scripture in the temptations in the wilderness, but misusing it to draw Jesus into something sinful? Essentially, this is what the 1 Thessalonians 5 passage is getting at when it says to hold to the good, but abstain from every form of evil. "Form" is "appearance" meaning "outward show" of evil or perhaps even "class" of evil. Jesus essentially said to Satan: "Your misuse of Scripture is plain evil. I'm abstaining from it!"

 

Earlier, in 1 Thess 4, Paul made it clear what would happen at the final coming of Christ, but clearly there were those who were confusing first century Christians on this. See Mark 13:21. So he says more on this in his second letter – chapters 1 and 2 - where also the consequences of not desiring truth are frighteningly stated.

 

Just to clarify my remark about possible deception or false teaching, I'm not saying be suspicious of every teacher's use of Scripture. I'm saying be discerning. There's a huge difference. Think about what is being taught, how it is being taught, what the Scriptures are saying, and how it can be applied. Discernment was needed re teaching on the resurrection, as seen above. Bible studies ought to be exciting, productive events in your life - something you're eager to participate in and learn from - as they were for the first disciples: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine …" Acts 2:42. As William Barclay put it, "When there was an opportunity to learn from the apostles, the disciples were there!"

 

Again from 1 Thessalonians:

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. At this point, let me encourage you to read both Thessalonian letters in one sitting to see the common themes. Especially note the importance of a trustworthy teacher as it relates to acceptance of new truth.

 

Paul is essentially saying: "You heard the word we taught. You knew we were trustworthy. You accepted it as the word of God. It's now working in you who have believed it." God's word is meant to be heeded so it can benefit the hearer/reader in various ways. Just as Jesus said: "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and

still more will be added to you."

 

Here's another example from another apostle: So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

 

Peter is saying: "Desire God's pure word, and apply it by obeying its command to put away malice, deceit, envy,

hypocrisy and slander. This is the way you will grow in your salvation in relating to others. Reading or hearing leads to tasting the product to prove that the author knows what He's talking about. Compare Romans 12:1-2.

 

These are examples of being careful what you listen to and how you listen. In other words, listen to God's word

in such a way that you will know how to act on it and it will therefore do something spiritually beneficial for your life as a Christian. As James says: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:19-22

 

And another:

 

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

 

Again:

And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." Matthew 13:52

 

And again:

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. Romans 15:14

 

So brethren, practise listening to or reading carefully the word of God with a view to improving your faith and your life in Christ, and passing this on to others. The more you do this the more you will see your faith, knowledge and maturity improving in leaps and bounds. The key is – you've got to want it!

 

We repeat what Jesus said, as mentioned at the start, and then some things Paul wrote that are applications of the principle Jesus laid down. Jesus and Paul led believable lives - models of godly faith and life we can emulate.

 

Pay attention to what you hear; with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Mark 4:24-25

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

 

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Look how profitable Scripture is meant to be!

 

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:29-32

 

Be alert! God is at work, but so is Satan. Enjoy reading the Bible. Listen expectantly and carefully to your teachers. Think deeply. Discuss with others. Apply determinedly. Share eagerly. Grow joyously. Be thankful. It's serious, eternal business.

 

[This work was motivated by an excellent lesson brother Bob Abney sent out this past week in his Thinking Thoughts: "A Quote And A Three Pronged Attack." Bob's lesson has some similar thoughts but also some other thoughts. I'd encourage you to get hold of that if you're able. I'm keen to send it to anyone who wants it.]

 

--David Hunter