How does Isaiah 28:23 connect with Jesus' teachings on hearing God's word? Listening to Isaiah’s Urgent Call Isaiah 28:23: “Give ear and hear my voice; listen and hear my words.” • Isaiah uses four imperatives—“give ear,” “hear,” “listen,” “hear”—to press home one idea: God’s people must pay close, obedient attention to every word He speaks. • His context warns Judah that selective hearing ends in judgment, while humble listening leads to understanding (vv. 24-29). Jesus Echoes Isaiah’s Language • Parable of the Sower—Mark 4:3, 9: “Listen! … He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” • Warning to measure carefully—Mark 4:24: “Consider carefully what you hear.” • Parable of the Soils—Luke 8:15: “Those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, retain it and bear fruit.” • Good Shepherd—John 10:27: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • House on the Rock—Matthew 7:24: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Shared Themes Between Isaiah 28:23 and Jesus’ Teachings • Persistent Invitation: Both Isaiah and Jesus begin with an earnest “listen.” • Heart Condition Matters: – Isaiah addresses dull hearts that resist God’s wisdom (28:14-15). – Jesus contrasts receptive soil with hardened, rocky, or thorn-choked hearts (Mark 4:15-19). • Hearing Requires Action: – Isaiah’s audience must repent to avoid ruin. – Jesus links genuine hearing to obedience and fruit (Luke 8:21; John 14:23). • Consequences of Refusal: – Isaiah warns of “hail sweeping away a refuge of lies” (28:17). – Jesus warns of the house falling with a “great crash” when hearers do not act (Matthew 7:26-27). • Divine Voice, Single Authority: – Isaiah speaks for “the LORD of Hosts” (28:22). – Jesus, the incarnate Word, speaks with the same divine authority (John 12:49-50). Practical Ways to Cultivate a Listening Heart • Read Scripture aloud to engage both eye and ear (Romans 10:17). • Pause after passages, asking, “How will I obey this today?” (James 1:22-25). • Memorize key verses—keep God’s voice available when distractions press in (Psalm 119:11). • Limit competing voices; create quiet space daily for God’s Word (Mark 1:35). • Share what you hear with fellow believers; conversation reinforces retention (Colossians 3:16). |
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