Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. – Mark 4:20
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One of my Mom’s go to statements was,
“I know you heard me, but you didn’t listen to me.”
Example:
Mom: Kevin, Did you clean up your room? (She already knew I had not, I was being set up – I have learned well, because I now use this same move on my kids all the time)
Me: No I didn’t.
Mom: Did you hear me ask?
Me: Yes…
Mom: A long pause while licking her chops and getting ready to deliver the death blow and then So you heard me, but you did not listen.?!…
Listening has to do with obedience. Hearing means you were nearby when the word was spoken.
My Mom was an artist of using this question in various forms and ways. She painted in many colors and on many canvases. She could counter any of my arguments, and she always forced me into submission because she was right. These arguments frustrated me as a child. I liked – and still do – being right. But this question always put me in my proper place: “You heard me, but did you listen?”
And it sounds a lot like Jesus in this parable, right? If you hear my word and listen to me (embrace/accept). If you do this things will go well for you – in other words, you will produce a crop that is 30-60-100 times.
And for the record, my Mom is smiling from heaven right now that I am comparing her wisdom to the wisdom of Jesus. I am sure she is saying, “Kevin — you finally listened.”
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there.
Strength and courage,
Kevin
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