Understanding

[Jesus said,] “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given.”

Mark 4:24-25

Imagine yourself in a crowd listening to a message in a language you do not understand. Imagine that those around you are responding enthusiastically, applauding, even jumping to their feet in response. You can feel the electric atmosphere as the listeners thrill to the words of the message, but you are left cold. You are hearing the same words, but the words don’t touch you because you can’t understand them. You are locked out of their impact because you lack understanding.

Hearing is one thing, and understanding is another. When the Lord speaks, only the Holy Spirit can produce understanding. Jesus once said to his detractors, “Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!” (John 8:43). He made that statement to men who were standing right in front of him. His words were falling on their ears, yet they could not hear him at the level that brings understanding. They missed the impact of his words because he was speaking a language for which they lacked an interpreter.

Jesus makes a promise in Mark 4:24-25. If we pay attention to what he says, he will give us understanding. He will make sure that we are never locked out of his Word’s impact. If we listen closely to him, we will understand what he is saying, and our understanding will grow. The measure of attentiveness we give to his Word will be the measure of understanding we receive from his Spirit.

The Scripture is the present voice of Jesus speaking to your heart and life. Drink it in. Ask the Holy Spirit to unfold its riches to you. Before Jesus ascended into the heavens, ending his days in visible form on the earth, Luke reports that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

Jesus, let your words live in me in all their power. Deepen my understanding as I fasten my heart on you.

If you do not understand a book by a departed writer you are unable to ask him his meaning, but the Spirit, who inspired Holy Scripture, lives forever, and He delights to open the Word to those who seek His instruction.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon(1834–1892), English preacher and writer