As with the eyes, the Bible speaks of the ears in both
a physical and a figurative sense. I’m sure we are
familiar with the concept of literal/physical hearing
(even so, there is a difference between hearing of a
sound – Act 9:7 and comprehending what that sound
is – cf. 22:9). Yet the Bible also refers to ears of
desire (Ps. 92:11), of self-perception (cf. Lk. 18:11-
12), and of understanding or enlightenment (cf. Prov.
1:5).
Sometimes the idea of “hearing” is actually a
reference to one receiving or embracing something
said or taught. For example, Luke 16:29 says,
“…they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.” Well, Moses and those prophets had been
long dead at the time this statement was made; thus
one could not literally “hear” them, but one could
embrace what they taught, which was written down.
When it comes to spiritual matters, what we hear and
how we hear are vitally important (Mk. 4:24; Lk.
8:18).
There are many things one may “hear” that are not
appropriate: such as dirty jokes (Eph. 5:3-5), filthy
language (Col. 3:8), gossip (1 Tim. 5:13), etc. But
this is not the only concern the Christian should
have. Paul said, “For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they
will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will
turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned
aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). In fact, many “stop
their ears” against the truth altogether (cf. Acts 7:57).
This is a salvation issue, friends. “He who has ears
to hear, let him hear” (Mk. 4:9).