Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how you hear: for whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not… To give more weight to this exhortation, let us consider — I. WHO IS HE WHO SPEAKS TO US? God Himself. 1. By the Holy Book. 2. By our preaching, in the measure in which it is approved of Him. 3. By the Holy Spirit. II. WHAT DOES HE TELL US? That which is of the utmost consequence to us, for time and for eternity — the central truth which sways all others. III. WHAT KIND OF ATTENTION DOES THE TRUTH REVEALED BY HIM REQUIRE? Mere attention is not sufficient. Christian truth claims a particular attention. It is not enough to bring great sagacity, a penetrating spirit, trained to study and fully determined to learn the truths which are presented. Religious truth has organs of its own, by which it reveals itself to man. Take heed, therefore, how ye hear. If your heart is not well prepared, if your conscience is not upright, you will certainly have sounds ringing in your ears: but those sounds, which bring to others an unspeakable joy, will for you be lost in the air where they vibrated. IV. WHAT IS THE COST OF DESPISING THE TRUTH? The Word of God does not return to Him without effect, it comes back to Him after having saved us or ruined us. (E. de Pressense, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. |
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