Matthew 11:15 kjv
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:15 nkjv
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 11:15 niv
Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Matthew 11:15 esv
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:15 nlt
Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Matthew 11 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 13:9 | "He who has ears, let him hear." | Direct parallel to this saying, after Sower. |
| Mt 13:43 | "He who has ears, let him hear." | Direct parallel, after Tares parable. |
| Mk 4:9 | "And He was saying, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'" | Direct parallel, after Sower parable. |
| Mk 4:23 | "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." | Direct parallel, about light and hearing. |
| Lk 8:8 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Direct parallel, after Sower parable. |
| Lk 14:35 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | Direct parallel, regarding salt's use. |
| Rev 2:7 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Ephesus. |
| Rev 2:11 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Smyrna. |
| Rev 2:17 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Pergamum. |
| Rev 2:29 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Thyatira. |
| Rev 3:6 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Sardis. |
| Rev 3:13 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Philadelphia. |
| Rev 3:22 | "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." | Call to hear the Spirit for Laodicea. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Keep on hearing, but do not understand..." | Prophecy of spiritual dullness/resistance. |
| Jer 5:21 | "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have ears, but hear not..." | Lament about spiritual inability to hear God. |
| Ezek 12:2 | "...who have ears to hear, but hear not..." | People seeing truth but refusing to perceive. |
| Deut 29:4 | "But to this day the LORD has not given you... ears to hear." | Divine withholding of full comprehension. |
| Mt 13:13-15 | "...because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear..." | Explanation for speaking in parables (Isa 6). |
| Acts 28:26-27 | "You will indeed hear but never understand..." | Paul quotes Isa 6 on Jewish resistance. |
| Rom 11:8 | "God gave them a spirit of stupor... ears that would not hear..." | Spiritual hardening of Israel. |
| Jn 8:43 | "Why do you not understand my speech? Because you cannot hear my word." | Inability to comprehend due to spiritual state. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God..." | Spiritual truths require spiritual discernment. |
| Jam 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." | Call for action in response to hearing. |
| Lk 11:28 | "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Blessing on receptive obedience to God's word. |
| Prov 1:5 | "Let the wise hear and increase in learning..." | Wisdom from attentive listening. |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 15 Meaning
Matthew 11:15 serves as a profound call for spiritual discernment and attentive reception of divine truth. Following Jesus's revelation about John the Baptist as Elijah, this verse emphasizes that only those with a spiritual capacity for understanding, given by God, will truly grasp the weight and meaning of what He has declared concerning the Kingdom of Heaven and its unfolding mysteries. It distinguishes between merely physical hearing and the deep, transformative comprehension required to engage with God's revelation.
Matthew 11 15 Context
Matthew 11:15 concludes Jesus's discourse regarding John the Baptist. Earlier in the chapter, John sent disciples to inquire if Jesus was "the One who is to come." Jesus affirmed His identity through His miraculous works and then publicly declared John's unique role as more than a prophet, indeed, as the messenger prophesied to prepare the way (Mal 3:1), and explicitly identified him as the Elijah who was to come (Mal 4:5-6), if "you are willing to accept it" (Mt 11:14). This revelation was astounding to many, as it reshaped contemporary messianic expectations. The phrase "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" immediately follows this profound declaration, signaling that the spiritual implications of John's identity and Jesus's ministry are deep truths accessible only to those spiritually endowed or receptive to perceive them beyond mere human reasoning. The cultural context views "hearing" not just as perceiving sound but as understanding and obeying, contrasting with the spiritual dullness prevalent among many.
Matthew 11 15 Word analysis
- He who has (ὁ ἔχων, ho echōn): This isn't just a simple statement of possession. It implies the presence of a faculty, capacity, or spiritual condition that enables understanding. It points to a distinct quality of receptivity.
- ears (ὦτα, ōta): The Greek plural for 'ear' (ous). While physically present in all hearers, "ears" here metaphorically represent spiritual organs of perception, discerning beyond the literal or surface meaning.
- to hear (ἀκούειν, akouein): The infinitive verb "to hear," indicating the capability or potential for spiritual comprehension. It denotes the ability to truly grasp and receive the deeper significance of the words spoken.
- let him hear (ἀκουέτω, akouetō): This is a command in the imperative mood. It is not a gentle suggestion but a solemn, urgent exhortation or even a challenge. It demands an active response and calls the hearer to earnestly attend, discern, and interiorize the truth presented.
- Word-group "He who has ears to hear, let him hear": This idiomatic phrase, used repeatedly by Jesus, serves as a solemn clarion call, distinguishing between passive audition and active, spiritual reception. It acts as an internal literary signal, marking the preceding statement as one of profound spiritual significance that demands more than mere physical hearing. It underscores that understanding spiritual truths of the Kingdom is a selective process, dependent on divine enablement and individual responsiveness. It highlights the mystery element of God's revelation: not everyone, despite physical proximity or intelligence, will grasp its import.
Matthew 11 15 Bonus section
This particular saying functions as a rhetorical marker within the Gospels, indicating that the preceding discourse carries exceptional weight, spiritual depth, or even prophetic significance, particularly related to the unfolding mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Its repetition across various contexts in Jesus's teachings, and notably in Revelation as the Spirit's call to the churches, underscores its enduring theological importance throughout biblical revelation. It emphasizes that while the message of salvation is freely offered, the spiritual discernment required to fully apprehend its implications is a divine gift that necessitates human humility and responsiveness. The phrase thus highlights both human responsibility to seek understanding and divine sovereignty in granting it.
Matthew 11 15 Commentary
Matthew 11:15 acts as Jesus's explicit instruction for His listeners to spiritually lean into the preceding, weighty statement about John the Baptist. It underscores that the truths He speaks are often veiled and require not just intellectual assent but a profound spiritual awakening or openness to truly comprehend. This capacity to "hear" is less about human intellect and more about a receptive heart and, ultimately, divine grace that unveils understanding. It subtly separates those who are receptive to the mysteries of God's Kingdom from those who remain hardened or unperceptive. It compels listeners to move beyond the superficial and prayerfully seek divine insight, knowing that spiritual truth is often hidden from the wise of this world but revealed to the childlike (Mt 11:25). It’s a challenge to engage deeply with God's word, understanding that genuine spiritual insight requires intentionality and divine enablement. For example, some heard Jesus's parables about the Kingdom and only saw earthly stories, while others, by spiritual hearing, understood profound truths of God's reign. Similarly, when Jesus identified John as Elijah, many could not accept it because it challenged their traditional expectations, lacking the "ears" to perceive this revolutionary fulfillment of prophecy.