“Those Who Have Ears”: Hearing Beyond the Surface

Understanding Jesus’ Profound Call to Listen Deeply

If you’ve ever read the Gospels, you might have noticed Jesus often saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” On the surface, it sounds a bit puzzling—after all, we all have ears! Why would he need to point this out? As it turns out, this phrase is packed with meaning, and it’s a profound invitation for us to listen with more than just our ears.

Physical Hearing vs. Spiritual Understanding

Let’s start with the basics. Hearing is something most of us do automatically—sounds enter our ears, and our brains process them. But Jesus wasn’t just talking about the act of hearing. He was pointing to a deeper kind of listening: understanding with the heart. It’s possible to hear words without truly grasping their meaning. In other words, someone can hear the gospel message, but not let it sink in or transform their life.

Key Interpretations: Inner Sensitivity and Significance

When Jesus says, “those who have ears,” he’s highlighting the need for inner sensitivity. It’s a way of saying, “Pay attention! Don’t just let these words bounce off you.” The phrase calls us to be open, receptive, and ready to understand something spiritual. This isn’t just about intellectual curiosity—it’s about letting the message touch our innermost being.

The significance of the phrase is also a gentle warning. It reminds us that there’s a difference between hearing and listening. To “have ears” in Jesus’ sense means to possess a willingness to understand and respond. It’s a call to action: don’t just hear—act on what you hear.

Scriptural Context: Parables, Warnings, and Prophetic Roots

Jesus used this phrase frequently, especially after telling parables—stories meant to teach spiritual truths. For example, after the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:9), he said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Parables often require listeners to look beneath the surface, and this phrase is Jesus’ way of urging us to dig deeper, to seek spiritual meaning rather than just a literal story.

There’s also a connection to the Shema, a central prayer in Deuteronomy (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one”; Deuteronomy 6:4). The Shema isn’t just about physical hearing—it’s about responding faithfully. Prophets throughout the Hebrew Bible echoed similar themes, challenging people to truly listen to God’s words and respond with changed hearts and actions.

Universal Call: The Challenge of Spiritual Receptivity

What’s remarkable about Jesus’ phrase is its universal nature. Everyone has physical ears, but not everyone has the spiritual perception to understand divine messages. It’s a reminder that the gospel is accessible to all, but it requires more than passive listening. It asks us to be alert, open, and responsive—to let spiritual truths shape our lives.

Conclusion: Listening Deeply and Responding

So, the next time you come across “those who have ears” in the Gospels, remember—it’s not just about your physical ears. It’s an invitation to listen deeply, to be attentive not just to words, but to their meaning and impact. Jesus encourages us to tune our inner ears, to hear with the heart, and to respond with action. It’s a call to seek understanding, to be transformed, and to live out the truth we receive.

May we all have “ears to hear”—and the willingness to listen and live out what we discover.

Minister A Francine Green, April 2026