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What the Bible Says About Hearers

Overview

The Bible addresses hearers across 23 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Luke and James. Closely related themes include Parables, Converts, Sermon and Hypocrisy.

Key Bible verses about hearers

Old Testament

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 33:30

Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. against thee: of, of thee

Ezekiel 33:31

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. as the: Heb. according to the coming of the people they sit: or, my people sit before thee they shew: Heb. they make loves, or, jests

Ezekiel 33:32

And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. a very: Heb. a song of loves

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 7:24

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:25

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:26

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 7:27

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Matthew 13:15

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:19

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Matthew 13:20

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Matthew 13:21

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin

Matthew 13:22

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Matthew 13:23

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold some sixty some thirty.

Studying hearers for yourself

  • Begin with Ezekiel 33:30, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Matthew, Luke and James each treat the theme.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Parables, Converts, Sermon and Hypocrisy.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about hearers?

The Bible addresses hearers across 23 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Luke and James. Closely related themes include Parables, Converts, Sermon and Hypocrisy.

How many Bible verses are about hearers?

The Bible references hearers in 23 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention hearers?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Ezekiel 33:30: “Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. against thee: of, of thee”

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