Sermon Tone Analysis

How You Hear

Introduction

In Cory’s message from last week, we looked at true and false conversion.

I want to draw your attention to a phrase Cory highlighted in his sermon: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The hearing of god’s word is crucial to the text about the sower.

12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy.

But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:16-21 are connected to this parable through the idea of hearing.

There is a hearing which is true, but there is also a hearing which is false.

Or, there is an authentic hearer and a counterfeit hearer.

When it comes to Jesus, to his teaching, to God’s word, we need to take care how we hear.

Luke 8:16-21 ESV

16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.17

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

18 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.”

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.

20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Main Idea: Authentic hearing of Jesus’ teaching/God’s word entails an appropriate response.

Therefore, we must affirm that we are authentic hearers by responding appropriately to Jesus’ teaching and God’s word.

Lighting a Lamp – v16-18

• Jesus uses a proverb to communicate his point

• Jesus uses this same proverb elsewhere to prove different points – Mark 4:21, Matthew 5:15

• We need to determine his meaning by the context of this use

• Image = the purpose in lighting a lamp is not to conceal the light but rather it is to illumine a room

• Thus, nobody puts a lamp under a bed or covers it with a jar

• A lamp is put on an elevated platform—a lampstand—so that it’s light is helpful to people

• “so that those who enter may see the light”

o It is interesting that Luke does not say the purpose of the lampstand is to better illumine the room

o He says the purpose of the lampstand—and not covering the lamp—is so that people can see the light and experience the benefits of that light

o I take “see the light” to mean come to the light, understand the light, and experience all the benefits of illumination: safety, security, fellowship, industry, warmth

• A light not only illumines but it also exposes – this is clearly a warning

• “nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light”

• What is the light?

What does the light illumine?

What does the light expose?

• The next line helps us answer those questions: “Take care then how you hear”

• The issue at hand is that of authentic hearing versus counterfeit hearing and authentic hearers versus counterfeit hearers.

Or to use Cory’s descriptors from the parable of the sower and seeds, true hearing versus false hearing.

• In light of Jesus’ warning to take care how you hear, the light in this story refers to Jesus, and to Jesus’ teaching.

• I’m reminded of :

o Isaiah 9:2 ESV

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

• Jesus’ teaching = God’s word = God’s will

• Authentic hearing of Jesus’ teaching is coming to the lamp and experiencing the benefits of the light.

Authentic hearers see the light, come to the light, and will reap the benefits of the light.

• Inherent in the light is not only benefits for those who come to it but also the power to expose things; Jesus’ teaching is authoritative and evaluative.

• The light—Jesus’ teaching—will expose people’s hearts, minds, and deeds and the light will demonstrate whether their hearing has been authentic or counterfeit and thus whether they themselves are true or false, authentic or counterfeit.

• An authentic hearer is the good soil from the previous parable.

The counterfeit hearer is the trampled path, the stony ground, or the thorny earth.

• Jesus’ teaching—thus God’s word—is the light

• Jesus’ teaching—thus God’s will—illumines the way to salvation, security, safety … the very way to God

• Jesus’ teaching—thus the gospel—exposes those who claim to hear but are only counterfeit hearers

• How you hear raises the question of response.

Authentic hearing entails an appropriate response.

• If you hear well, “more will be given”

o Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

• To the authentic hearer, more will be given!

• If you do not take care how you hear, “even what [you] think that [you] have will be taken away.”

o Matthew 21:42-44 ESV

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

• This is a call to hear Jesus’ teaching in a manner that is authentic.

It is authentic if, as the light of Jesus’ teaching exposes you, you are found to really have his teaching and not just think you have it.

• The next episode sheds light on the point Jesus is making.

Mothers and Brothers – v19-21

• In this episode Jesus proclaims his super-familial allegiance to those who authentically hear—that is, hear and respond properly—to God’s word.

Jesus is closer than a brother or son to those who are authentic hearers.

• Jesus is in a situation in which his biological family; his mother and brothers, are not able to access him.

• Since they are “outside” we can assume that Jesus is inside a home that is full of disciples, followers, and crowds listening to Jesus.

• Somebody informs Jesus of the predicament his mother and brothers are in: they desired to see him but “they could not reach him.”

• Jesus uses the situation to teach those who are within earshot: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

• Jesus is not repudiating or disrespecting family.

God’s Word, which Jesus indicates is a very positive thing, is full of admonitions to honour and love your family members.

o Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

o Ephesians 5:25 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

o Proverbs 6:20 ESV My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.

• Rather than dissing his family, Jesus is making an emphatic point about authentically hearing God’s word—his teaching.

Those who are authentic hearers share a bond with Christ that surpasses the strongest family bonds.

• Luke brings clarity to the light on a lampstand proverb by sharing Jesus’ exhortation.

Authentic hearing is more than mental recognition, and it’s more than intellectual acceptance or agreement.

Authentic hearing expresses itself and authenticates itself in action.

o James 1:22-25 ESV 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

o James 1:22-27 NASB 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.