How does Jeremiah 7:27 connect with Jesus' teachings on listening to God? Jeremiah’s Warning about Deaf Ears • Jeremiah 7:27: “When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer.” • The prophet is told in advance that Judah will plug its ears even when God’s own words are spoken. • Refusal to listen is identified as the root of all the nation’s coming judgment (vv. 23-26). Jesus’ Repeated Call to Hear • Mark 4:9: “Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” • John 10:27: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • Luke 11:28: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” • In every setting—parables, temple courts, private conversations—Jesus insists that true disciples must actively listen and respond. Parallels between Jeremiah 7:27 and Jesus’ Teaching 1. Same Divine Voice – Jeremiah speaks God’s words; Jesus, God the Son, speaks with identical authority (John 12:49-50). 2. Two Possible Responses – Jeremiah’s audience: “They will not listen.” – Jesus describes both outcomes: • Listeners who receive the seed (Mark 4:20). • Hearts dull of hearing, fulfilling Isaiah 6 (Matthew 13:14-15). 3. Obedience as Proof of Hearing – Jeremiah 7:23 links listening with obedience. – Jesus: “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them…built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). 4. Consequences of Deafness – Judah’s temple is destroyed (Jeremiah 7:14-15). – Jesus warns of ruin for the house built on sand (Matthew 7:26-27). Why the Connection Matters Today • Scripture shows a consistent pattern: God speaks, some refuse, judgment follows, yet a remnant hears and lives (Jeremiah 7:3, John 10:27-28). • Jesus’ invitations echo Jeremiah’s warning—underscoring that the issue has never changed. • Taking God’s Word literally means treating every command and promise as personally addressed. Active, obedient listening is the mark of genuine faith (James 1:22). |
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