By way of a simple reminder we are looking at the hidden things of Mark 4:10-12 with its link to Isaiah 6:9, 43:8; Jeremiah 5:21 and Ezekiel 2:2, which were quoted here by the Lord Jesus. By this action all warnings against unbelief and hardheartedness addressed in the OT a testament of works and the Law's curse for disobedience maybe carried forward by His actions. We are now at the "hearing" portion of verse 12. I want to look at the spiritual aspects first and the unbelievers carelessness by way of their characteristics.
Spiritual Believers Hearing,
Proverbs 8:32-36 "Now, O sons, listen to Me: blessed are those who keep My ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting beside My doors (ancient Hebrew Strong's H1817, gate and door speak of a lid over what is hidden inside). For whoever finds Me finds life and obtains grace from the LORD, but he who fails to find Me injures himself; all who hate Me love death."
Proverbs 15:28-33 "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the humbled repentant righteous. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear (dread) of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor."
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 with Habakkuk 3:2 "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words."
Habakkuk 3:2 " O LORD, I have heard the report of You, and Your work, O LORD, do I (reverence in) fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."
Luke 8:11-15 (Jesus is speaking) "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."
James 1:19-25 with Revelation 2:11 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the (loves work within you the) word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of (loves) liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Revelation 2:9-11 (the Ascended Lord Who is LORD, is speaking) "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'"
Dullness condemned,
Psalm 92:5-9 with Isaiah 44:19 and Ezekiel 12:2 "How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but You, O LORD, are on high forever. For behold, Your enemies, O LORD, for behold, Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered."
Isaiah 44:18-20 "They know not, nor do they discern, for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And will I make the rest of it an abomination? Will I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on (in the communion of) ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
Ezekiel 12:1-6 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You will go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You will bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you will go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. In their sight you will lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You will cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel."
Luke 12:54-56 "Jesus also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
Romans 3:9-19, 20-21 "What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: (Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3) "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Psalm 5:9, 104:3) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." (Psalm 10:7) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." ((Isaiah 59:7f) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." (Psalm 36:1) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Now we know that whatever the Law says it speaks to those who are under the Law's curse, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin."
Now here are some of the characteristics of dullness found in the following verses, Psalm 82:5, Micah 4:12, Matthew 13:13, Acts 28:27, Romans 1:31 and 2Timothy 3:7, with these comes spiritual darkness caused by hardness of heart.
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