Scripture reading:
Matthew 11:15, 13:15, II Timothy 4:4; Proverbs 2:2, James 1:19
In our study on the body and how different parts of our bodies can be used for the Lord, we will study about our ears. We saw in the past two lessons how that the eyes and the lips could be used for the Lord, but that they also could be used for Satan. This is also true of our ears. We can use the ears to hear the Word of the Lord and things of the Lord, or the ears can be used to hear things of the flesh, and things that only satisfy the lust of the flesh.
In Matthew 11:15, we find this Scripture, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The Lord, as creator of our bodies, gave us ears to hear, but we as Christians should be very careful how we use our ears. I heard about a man once who was getting a haircut. When the barber began to tell him a joke which wasn’t very nice, this man, being a Christian, quickly told the barber that he didn’t use his ears to hear such things. I have known a lady who often said she just closed her ears to gossip. These surely are things we should turn our ears away from.
In Matthew 13:15, we see people who are “dull of hearing,” and in II Timothy 4:4 we see those that turn away their ears from the Truth. Even today there are many who will just turn away when the Word is given to them. They will close their ears to God’s Word. May we take the admonition in Proverbs 2:2, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding.” We should be Christians who can know when to close our ears to the things of the flesh, but who have ready ears to hear and accept the things of the Lord. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). To hear in a spiritual way, we must hear with our hearts as well as our ears.
Below are listed some sentences which need to be completed. If you will read the Scripture given by each sentence, you will be able to complete it. Have your sentences completed and check with the answers given in the back of the book. The first seven sentences are about things our ears should do. The last seven are things our ears should not do. Carefully notice the contrast.
- Blessed are your ears for __________ (Matthew 13:16)
- And thine ears shall hear a __________ (Isaiah 30:21)
- Incline thine ear __________ (Proverbs 4:20)
- Take heed what __________ (Mark 4:24)
- And the ear of the wise __________ (Proverbs 18:15)
- He that stoppeth his ears from __________ (Isaiah 33:15)
- The __________ ear the Lord hath __________ (Proverbs 20:12)
- A wicked doer giveth heed to __________ (Proverbs 17:4)
- A liar giveth ear to a __________ (Proverbs 17:4)
- He that turneth away his ear from __________ (Proverbs 28:9)
- And their ears are __________ (Acts 28:27)
- They shall turn away their ears __________ (II Timothy 4:4)
- Whoso stoppeth his ears __________ (Proverbs 21:13)
- Speak not in the ears of __________ (Proverbs 23:9)
Look up all the Scriptures and complete the sentences.
(Answers are found in the back of the book)
