Ears to Hear

The loss of the ability to hear - what is commonly referred to as "being hard of hearing" - is a physical trait found in my biological family. I observed it in my grandfather, uncle, and brother. These family members are like many in our culture who lose the ability to hear. Thankfully, hearing aids can help address hearing loss in many cases.

The inability to hear is a common metaphor in scripture. It refers to a spiritual condition in which a person cannot recognize or embrace spiritual truth. Jesus, quoting the call experience of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10), identified this condition in many of the people who listened to him teach (Matthew 13:13-15). It was almost as if they refused to hear the truths he proclaimed. It spoke of them as a hard path that the seed of truth could not penetrate. Isaiah, too, preached to a people who did not want to hear what he had to say.

Jesus identified their hearing problem as a heart problem. "This people's heart has grown dull  and their ears hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn" (Matthew 13:15). Jesus observed that the people's heart had become dull - meaning insensitive, callous, unresponsive. Their unresponsive heart resulted in ears that couldn't hear. The condition of the heart impacted what they were able to hear and see.

Jesus' words suggest this spiritual condition is chosen. It was, Jesus said, as though they consciously shut their eyes so they would not see. The inability or refusal to hear spiritual truth is a way to avoid having to change. If they saw with their eyes and heard with their ears, Jesus said, then they would understand with their heart the spiritual truth that called them to turn - i.e., to repent, to change.

Spiritual truth is a heart issue, not a matter of the intellect (although the mind is involved). The heart recognizes spiritual truth. It resonates with truth. The heart - the interior realm - is the realm of the Spirit. The heart recognizes the Spirit's witness to spiritual truth.

The inability to hear (embrace) spiritual truth is the result of a process. The heart is naturally pliable, responsive. It was created for God and for relationship with God. The heart grows dull - insensitive, callous, unresponsive - when we repeatedly resist the Spirit's teaching ... as we cling to old, comfortable ways of thinking ... as we resist the change that spiritual truth produces.

I see a lot of evidence of this spiritual condition in today's polarized culture. On the national level, I am amazed at the overt rejection of anything that does not agree with the position someone holds. News reports are rejected as fake news. Scientific study is rejected as a ploy used to deceive, manipulate and control. Medical advice for dealing with the COVID pandemic is rejected as a violation of personal rights. People are demonized so that their opinion is discounted and outright rejected. Within The UMC, we defend our positions by quoting scripture that reinforce our belief. The old saying comes to mind: "don't confuse me with facts; my mind is made up!" Or to say it another way: "don't tell me what I don't want to know."

Don't tell me anything that will require me to change.

The inability to hear and a callous heart reflect the arrogance inherent in the human condition. We want other people to adapt to us. We want reality to be on our terms. ("I don't need a mask." "I have a right to go to the beach or bar." "We shouldn't presume that a group of experts somehow knows what is best," Senator Rand Paul. "You will not die," said the serpent (Genesis 3:4).) What we want becomes reality. What we believe becomes the measure of truth. We are right so why should we change.

No wonder Jesus would often say, "Let him with ears to hear, hear" (Matthew 13:43).

Lord, give us ears to hear. Give us a heart that is responsive to you, to your Spirit, and to your truth. Give us a teachable spirit that we might learn, grow and change.