Mk 4:24a “Take care what you listen to...”
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
Jesus said to pay attention to what I allow myself to hear. He also said to pay attention to how well I listen.
Why would He say this?
At night the Tawas Point light is known to flash white for 4 seconds. A mariner will recognize the light as the Tawas Point light and no other.
But suppose a lighthouse keeper, on the advice of someone other than the United States Lighthouse Service, convinced him or her to put a red lens over the light or to changed the flash pattern from 4 seconds to 2 seconds? (A light house keeper never did this and never would do such a thing!)
The lighthouse is a source of absolute positional truth for navigation. If that absolute truth were in doubt then you can just imagine how, in the days before GPS, mariners would be confused. They would be imperiled if they misinterpreted their position. They might run aground even in good weather! Similarly, if a teacher of truth is in error then those who rely on the truth will be confused and in danger of being in error themselves.
More lighthouse images can be found in the Photo Gallery. Click here see why I like lighthouses.
I think that Jesus was warning his followers to be very careful of what and who they listen to. His expectation for them was to train others about everything He was telling them. How tragic if His followers lost the true meaning of His teaching by listening to falsehood from false teachers and then began to train others in falsehood. Many cults, heresies and even genocides have occurred by people listening to falsehoods about what Jesus said and meant rather than heeding what Jesus actually said and meant.
The phrase, “Garbage in – garbage out,” is in reference to computers but it also applies to the human mind. Thoughts inevitably lead to attitudes and together they lead to actions and actions lead to results. This is why it is so important to evaluate carefully what I listen to and to fill my mind with good things.
Click here for my personal application and your comments link …or scroll down for my full notes…
Command 187: “Take care what you listen to.”
REFERENCE:
Mk 4:24a also Lk 8:18
RECIPIENT: To His followers, along with the twelve in private
Mk 4:10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mk 4:21-24a And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22“For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24And He was saying to them…,”
Lk 8:16-17 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. “
COMMAND FULL TEXT AND IMMEDIATE RESULT:
Mk 4:24b-25; “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
Lk 8:18 “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
RESULT:
Mk 4:33-34 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
Be the Lamp:
After explaining the Parable of the Sower, I think Jesus was telling his followers that He expected them to be the lamp; that is they are to spread the knowledge and deeper meaning to the world of people. Jesus had imparted the deeper meanings of His parables to them and He did so with the expectation that they would spread this meaning this insight to others, much as the light of a lamp is put onto a lampstand to shine light so that many people may see.
Be Very careful About What and to Whom You Listen
I think that Jesus was also warning his followers to be very careful of what and who they listen to. He just got through telling them the true meaning of an important parable. His expectation for them was to train others about everything He was telling them. How tragic if they lost Jesus’ true meaning by listening to falsehood from false teachers and then began to train others in falsehood.
I don’t think Jesus was saying not to listen to other people, but to be very careful to compare what they say to what Jesus said. It is so easy to believe hyperbole or exaggeration or clever phrases if such ideas align with our mood, or cultural standards but not quite what Jesus said. Many cults, heresies and even genocides have occurred by people listening to falsehoods about what Jesus said and meant rather than heeding what Jesus actually said and meant.
Pay Close Attention
Luke’s version is slightly different from Mark’s version. Luke records Jesus saying to take care in how you listen. I think He is encouraging them to pay close attention so as to fully comprehend His meaning. If His followers, soon to be teachers and leaders, only have a cursory understanding rather than a full understanding they will be susceptible to error.
If I fail to listen in order to comprehend what Jesus said and I instead listen with comprehension to others with divergent messages then I am sure to eventually appropriate others’ ideas rather than what Jesus said. You have heard of the phrase, “Garbage in – garbage out,” This truth is in reference to computers but also applies to the human mind. Thoughts inevitably lead to attitudes and together they lead to actions and actions lead to results. This is why it is so important to evaluate carefully what you listen to and to fill your mind with good things.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
take care: G991 βλέπω blep’-ō — A primary verb; literally or figuratively to look at
what: G5101 τίς tis — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what as a direct or indirect question
how: G4459 πῶς pōs — an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?
listen: G191 ἀκουìω ak-oo’-ō — to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; to attend, consider or to understand what is or has been said
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and share it in the comments
Guard your mind! I must be careful to evaluate what I listen to in music, entertainment, news outlets, political speech, religion and philosophy; these things influence who I am as a person. I will listen carefully to my mentors to fully understand them so as to implement what is good into my life and to those around me. As a Christians, my highest mentor is Jesus and therefore what He said should be my standard for evaluating all others.
© 2020 Christopher Carlson
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.
Christopher, I particularly appreciated that you pointed out that Jesus’ disciples were soon to be leaders themselves. How crucial, especially if I’m in any position of leadership, to listen to Jesus well! Good reminder.
Thank you Pearl for sharing this thought. This command reminded me of the reason I started recording Jesus’ commands in the first place. It was to remind me about what He said so I could focus in order to apply it. I forget so quickly. But for the few weeks I’m working on a command, I’m able to think about it deeply. During this New Corona Virus lock down, I’ve been prone to watch or listen to more content than normal and I was reminded to stay vigilant of what goes into my mind. There is a lot of garbage out there. Thanks to Jesus for the reminder!
Philippians 4:8-9, is a great reminder to me., “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
With all the “noise” from others, it’s easy to get caught up in issues, debates, philosophies, celebrities, bad news, etc., & lose sight of what is truly important. Making a difference in our world requires my thoughts, & actions be focused on God. When I think “it,” “it” becomes part of who I am…
Thanks for your thoughtful message, Christopher!
I love Philippians 4:4-8! I’m glad that you brought out this verse. Paul’s message is just as important us today as it was when when the Philippians first read it – perhaps even more because of the number of messages that we must process every day. Thank you Linda for sharing this verse.
Thanks for this great reminder! This seems to be an area that I can slide in so easily if I am not regularly spending quality time communicating with God in his word and in prayer. I need to listen for his “still small voice” rather than all the clamor of the things you mentioned in your personal application. Those things aren’t all bad obviously, so as you mentioned, it’s being “careful”. I can only truly be careful enough if I am seeking and listening to God.
I appreciate that you pointed out that this is an area of life that we can “slide in so easily.” Wouldn’t it be great if our natural tendency were do what is good for us in all areas of life? But it takes effort to eat well, exercise regularly and effectively and especially to guard our hearts and minds from harmful influences. Thanks be to God for His grace to help us in our efforts to live well. It is worth the effort!