Pay Attention:Your future depends upon it.

Mark 4:21-23 "...And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear...”

Luke 8:16-17 “...No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light..."

Matthew 5:15 “...Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house..."

How are hidden things revealed?

- hiding places are exposed by being illuminated.

How are secret things made known?

- information comes out that was intended to be hidden.

Was Jesus trying to obscure the truth?

- Jesus was actually shining light on things that were hidden or secret.

Who is interested in obscuring the truth?

- primarily the devil, who is the author of lies.

- secondarily people who love darkness rather than light.

Can things be hidden and secret indefinitely?

- both passages say no, plus another passage in Matthew says no.

Matthew 10:26 “...So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known..."

What things do we hide and try to keep secret?

- anything that we don't want people, or God, to know about. AS IF!

Mark 4:24-25 "...And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away...”

Luke 8:18 "...Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away...”

Context:

- “measuring” is the language of weighing food and other commodities at the market.

- it would imply paying careful attention to proper protocols.

How can our attention to what Jesus says vary?

How are outcomes effected by our attention to Jesus words?

- receiving in good measure is an ongoing condition - ever increasing light.

- failure to receive results in greater loss - greater ignorance and darkness.

Is there any difference between "what you hear" (Mark) and "how you hear" (Luke)?