5165 listening

People are called upon to listen attentively to God’s word, to his Son and also to words of wisdom. Christians must not only listen to God’s word but also put it into practice. Those who refuse to listen to God’s word or to correction are condemned.

The importance of listening

To God’s word and his spokesmen 1Sa 3:10 See also 2Ch 20:15; Ps 81:8; Jer 26:3-6; Mic 1:2; Ac 2:14; Ac 13:16; Ac 28:28

To Jesus Christ Mt 17:5 pp Mk 9:7 pp Lk 9:35 Jn 10:27 See also Mt 15:10 pp Mk 7:14; Lk 10:16,39; Jn 10:8,16

To words of wisdom Pr 19:20; Jas 1:19 See also Ps 34:11; Pr 5:7; Pr 7:24; Pr 8:32-34; Pr 12:15; Pr 13:1; Pr 15:31; Lk 2:46; Jas 2:5

Believers should not listen to false prophets or ungodly suggestions

Jer 23:16 See also Dt 13:1-3,6-8; Jer 27:9,14-17; Jer 29:8-9; Eze 13:19; 1Jn 4:1,5-6; 2Jn 10

The wicked refuse to listen to God

Eze 3:7 See also Ex 7:13 Pharaoh’s refusal to listen; 2Ki 17:14,40; 2Ki 18:12; Ne 9:17; Ps 81:11; Isa 65:12 It is a particular emphasis of the prophecy of Jeremiah that the people have refused to listen to God’s voice: Jer 7:13,26-27; Jer 12:17; Jer 13:11; Jer 17:23; Jer 22:21; Jer 25:3,7; Jer 29:19; Jer 32:33; Jer 34:14; Jer 35:15,17; Jer 37:2; Jer 38:15; Jer 44:5,16
Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11-12; Mal 2:2; Lk 16:29-31

Those who refuse to listen to correction are condemned

Mt 18:15-17

God’s people must not only listen to God’s word but also put it into practice

Lk 11:28; Jas 1:22-24 In Hebrew and Greek the verb “listen” is related by the verb “to obey”. See also Eze 33:32; Mt 7:24-27 pp Lk 6:47-49; Ro 2:13

Examples of people listening

Ge 18:10 Sarah at the tent entrance; Ge 27:5 Rebekah to Isaac; 1Sa 3:9-10 Samuel to God; Pr 19:27 a son to instruction; Lk 2:46 Jesus Christ to the teachers of the law The crowds to Jesus Christ: Lk 5:1; Lk 20:45
Lk 10:39 Mary to Jesus Christ People to the apostles: Ac 16:14,25; Ac 26:29

See also