SOAP on Mark 4

By Pastor Mike Brubaker

SCRIPTURE:
Mark 4:1-20 (especially verse 9)
"And Jesus was saying, "He (or she) who has ears to hear, let them hear."

OBSERVATION:
- A repeat of the thought, "Listen to this!" in verse 3.
- It is more than a thought ... it's an exhortation, "Hear this."
- If you have ears ... use them. An expression in Biblical times "don't miss this" or "catch this."
- Not the repetition ... verses 3, 9 & 23 all in the same chapter of Mark.
- Contrast with the people in the Old Testament and New Testament who listened to the Word of the Lord but did not truly hear it ... they did not understand it, more did they obey it. Very tragic!
- There is an implication here about Jesus. He is claiming to be the Authoritative One saying this parable about the Sower & the Seed ... listen to Him as the Lord! The way we know that about Jesus' Authority is this clause ... "he who has an ear let him hear" is used at least 7 times at the end of each message to the 7 churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3.

APPLICATION:
- Mike (and church family) ... use your ears to truly hear this parable!
- Mike, (and church family) ... don't miss this!
- Mike, (and church family) ... I, the Lord of the Word and the Lord of the church have given you spiritual understanding ... now use it!
- Mike, (and church family) ... you are sowers of the seed (v. 14), the seed is the Word of God, now go sow the Word in people's lives.
- Mike, (and church family) ... hear this, preach it & teach it; know it & show it; live it & give it and say it & pray it.
- Mike, (and church family) ... you are not responsible for the soil in other people's lives ... you are responsible only for the soil of your own life
- Mike, (and church family) ... sow the Word regularly into the soil of other lives.

PRAYER:
Lord God, help me to submit my heart to King Jesus and receive this teaching from Him. Lord, forgive me when I keep the seed (Word of God) from other people out of fear or busyness. May I humbly and daily, truly listen to you, Lord, and obey Your Word.
Lord God, please give us receptive hearts and listening ears to understand and obey Your Word through Pastor Eric on Sunday, May 6! Amen.