Ears to hear

Jesus went back to his hometown when he was doing ministry and the people there knew who he was, they knew who his parents were, and they knew that he was a carpenter. They were offended by the things that he said and so Jesus left because of their unbelief- he healed a few sick people then left, but he was amazed by their unbelief. They missed out on sharing the blessings of being a Christ follower and receiving the Kingdom of God. Why would he stay? Only to be mocked, rejected, and blasphemed? No, Jesus instructed his disciples that when people refuse to listen or welcome you when you proclaim the Gospel, shake the dust from your feet and leave.

In another instance, Jesus is in the boat talking to the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod but the disciples related the leaven to bread, they weren't understanding. So they begin to argue over the fact that there was only one loaf of bread, they had nothing else to eat on the boat with them. Then Jesus told them;
17 ...“Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” Mark 8:17-19

Jesus was talking about the miracles he preformed when the crowds followed him and there was nothing to eat. Jesus had compassion for them and didn't want to send them away hungry so he made sure they were fed then he sent them home. Jesus broke 7 loves of bread but the miracle is that those seven loves and a few fish fed 4000 people! And there were leftovers, 7 baskets to be exact. This was the second incident, he did this again when there were 5000 people to feed! Yet the disciples didn't understand, were hard hearted, saw things Jesus did, yet didn't really see. They had very short memories too. Then Jesus reminds them about those times when there were even leftovers. And they are distressed about only having one loaf. Being in the presence of Jesus = Bread.

God's chosen people the Israelites wandered around the desert for 40 years with the presence of God going before them, performing miracles, providing protection, and yet the Israelites still didn't trust in God. They didn't enter into the Promise land because of disobedience and unbelief.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:


“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,.. Hebrews 3:7-14

Unbelief is sin. Its so easy to have an unbelieving heart and this world wants us to doubt, to believe that things are only coincidental, that God doesn't do amazing things anymore, that he doesn't really care, or he's not that interested. Each and every person is precious in his sight and he cares even for the smallest detail in their lives. The just live by faith, praying according to the will of God and believing in His living Word that speaks to us today. May we trust in his precious word and live lives of faithfulness to him, remembering the things that he has done in our lives and praising him with thankful hearts. Jesus let us have ears to hear and hearts to see. Let those scattered seeds be seeds that grow deep into the ground and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Jesus prayed this for his disciples;
Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

Blessings.