What steps can strengthen our ability to comprehend Jesus' teachings? Hearing Problems in John 8:43 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to hear My word.” (John 8:43) Jesus diagnoses the issue: lack of comprehension starts as a hearing problem. Strengthening spiritual ears, therefore, becomes the first priority. Step 1: Approach the Word with a Yielded Heart • Pride blocks sound; humility opens the channel. • Isaiah 66:2—“But to this one I will look: to him who is humble and contrite in spirit and who trembles at My word”. • Come ready to be corrected instead of confirmed. Step 2: Remove Sin’s Earplugs • Ongoing sin desensitizes us to Christ’s voice. • Psalm 66:18—“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”. • Regular confession (1 John 1:9) clears spiritual wax. Step 3: Stay Close to the Shepherd’s Voice • Proximity matters; daily reading keeps us familiar with His tone. • John 10:27—“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me”. • Schedule Scripture first, not last. Step 4: Welcome the Spirit’s Illumination • The Author Himself explains His words. • John 14:26—“The Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you”. • Pray for light: “Open my eyes to see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18). Step 5: Put Teaching into Practice Immediately • Obedience sharpens understanding; disobedience dulls it. • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. • Treat every insight as an assignment. Step 6: Immerse in the Whole Counsel of God • Scripture interprets Scripture; cross-referencing clarifies. • Acts 17:11—Bereans examined “the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true”. • Use study Bibles, concordances, and reliable commentaries to trace themes. Step 7: Fellowship with Other Listeners • Shared study refines hearing and corrects blind spots. • Hebrews 10:24-25—“Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds…encouraging one another”. • Join a small group; discuss sermons over meals. Step 8: Persist in a Lifetime of Hearing • Growth is progressive, not instant. • Luke 8:15—“The seed in the good soil…bears fruit with perseverance”. • Keep listening when passages feel familiar; fresh nuances emerge with time. Take these steps, and the question Jesus posed in John 8:43 can turn into a joyful testimony: “Now I understand because He has opened my ears.” |
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