How does John 10:26 connect with the concept of spiritual hearing in Scripture? Setting the Scene: John 10 and the Shepherd Motif • Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows, calls, and protects His sheep (John 10:1-21). • Religious leaders have just rejected His works and words. The Shepherd’s flock welcomes His voice; outsiders dismiss it. John 10:26—The Barrier to Spiritual Hearing “ But you do not believe because you are not My sheep.” (John 10:26) • Belief is the evidence of belonging, not the mechanism for obtaining it. • Spiritual hearing is inseparable from identity; only the Shepherd’s sheep possess the capacity to recognize His voice. Spiritual Hearing Defined in Scripture • John 10:27 — “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • Romans 10:17 — “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” • Revelation 2:7 — “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” • These passages reveal hearing as a Spirit-enabled responsiveness to God’s word, more than the physical act of listening. Why Some Hear and Some Do Not • Isaiah 6:9-10 — Generation hardened by sin “keep on hearing, but do not understand.” • 1 Corinthians 2:14 — “The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God… he cannot understand them,” highlighting spiritual inability apart from regeneration. • John 8:47 — “Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” Marks of Those Who Hear • Recognition: Instinctively discerning the Shepherd’s authentic voice amid competing noises. • Faith: Immediate trust in Christ’s person and promises (John 6:68-69). • Obedience: “They follow Me” (John 10:27); hearing always moves the feet. • Security: “No one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28); hearing yields assurance. Encouragement for Today • Every genuine believer already possesses the ear of faith; continued attentiveness comes by abiding in Scripture (John 15:7). • The Shepherd’s call remains clear, personal, and unfailing, even when the world’s clamor grows louder. • Confidence rests not in the sharpness of personal perception but in the Shepherd’s unbreakable bond with His own (John 10:29-30). |
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