In the biblical context, the concept of "listeners" is deeply intertwined with the themes of hearing, understanding, and responding to God's Word. The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of being attentive listeners, not only in the physical sense but also in a spiritual and moral capacity.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, listening is often associated with obedience to God's commandments. The Hebrew word "shema," which means "hear" or "listen," is foundational in Jewish tradition, as seen in the Shema prayer: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This call to listen is not merely about auditory reception but involves a commitment to follow God's laws and teachings.

The prophets frequently called upon the people of Israel to listen to God's message. For instance, Isaiah 55:3 states, "Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, My loving devotion assured to David." Here, listening is linked to life and covenantal relationship with God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ often addressed the importance of listening with understanding. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus highlights different types of listeners through the metaphor of seeds falling on various types of soil (Matthew 13:3-9). The good soil represents those who hear the word and understand it, leading to fruitful living.

Jesus frequently used the phrase, "He who has ears, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15), urging His audience to be attentive and discerning listeners. This call to listen goes beyond mere hearing; it requires an openness to spiritual truths and a readiness to act upon them.

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of listening in the context of faith. Romans 10:17 states, "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Here, listening is directly connected to the development of faith, underscoring the necessity of engaging with the Word of God.

Practical Implications

The biblical call to be listeners is not passive but active. It involves a readiness to hear God's voice through Scripture, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. James 1:22 admonishes believers, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." This verse highlights the danger of being mere listeners without corresponding action.

In the community of believers, listening also plays a crucial role in fostering unity and understanding. Ephesians 4:29 encourages, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." Here, listening is part of the edifying communication that strengthens the body of Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of listeners encompasses a holistic approach to hearing God's Word, involving obedience, understanding, and action. It is a call to engage deeply with the divine message and to allow it to transform one's life and community.213. alazon -- vagabond, hence an impostor, boaster
... enough to take him seriously! This kind of person , so he must always keep
moving on to new, naive listeners. [As a masculine noun ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/213.htm - 7k

191. akouo -- to hear, listen
... 1), give heed (2), grant (1), hear (115), heard (216), hearers (1), hearing (24),
hears (21), heed (2), listen (24), listened (1), listeners (1), listening (14 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/191.htm - 11k

Four Soils for one Seed
... threefold kinds of vainly-sown ground is the transcript of His clear and sorrowful
insight into the real worth of the enthusiasm of the eager listeners on the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/four soils for one seed.htm

Gregory the Patriarch and the Society at Kunwald, 1457-1473.
... "I know you are right," said he, "but if I joined your ranks I should be reviled
on every hand."7 But these listeners were not to be cowed. ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter v gregory the patriarch.htm

The vineyard and Its Keepers
... The pungent severity of this parable, with its transparent veil of narrative, is
only appreciated by keeping clearly in view the circumstances and the listeners ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the vineyard and its keepers.htm

The Lonely Defender of the Bible
... Most of the reverend listeners are reported, in fact, to have been peacefully asleep
when late in the evening Grundtvig finished the reading of his lengthy ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter twelve the lonely defender.htm

The Guide into all Truth
... Revelation is progressive, and Christ is reticent, from regard to the feebleness
of His listeners. Now that same principle is true in a modified form about us. ...
/.../the guide into all truth.htm

Berea and Athens
... strange. Some of these men sought Paul out and entered into conversation with
him. Soon a crowd of listeners gathered about them. Some ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 23 berea and athens.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... if less experienced in bloodshed and bodily peril, yet in some fashion have had
our share of battle and storm; and we, too, like the first listeners, drink in ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

The Exordium or Introduction
... begin their cause, have specified by the same application that which they say by
way of preface for securing for themselves a kindly feeling in the listeners. ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the exordium or introduction.htm

Division and Argument
... But the listeners' passions ought to be excited, and their attention diverted from
its former bias, for it is the orator's business not so much to instruct as ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/division and argument.htm

Hallowed be Thy Name
... of their souls, and who addresses words of exhortation that are like dew, and who
in the edifying torrent of his words turns upon his listeners showers most ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xiv hallowed be thy.htm

Listeners (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Listeners (1 Occurrence). Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath
had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many ...
/l/listeners.htm - 6k

Listening (47 Occurrences)

/l/listening.htm - 19k

Listened (120 Occurrences)

/l/listened.htm - 36k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... 59 BC was defending Flaccus he speaks of gold being sent out of Italy, and all the
provinces, to Jerusalem, and there was present among his listeners a large ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

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