THE EAR: Quick To Listen, Slow To Speak, Hearing And Obeying
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
— Revelation 2:7
THE EAR: quick to listen, slow to speak, hearing and obeying. In the Book of Revelation, Yahushua repeats a striking phrase seven times—once to each of the seven churches: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This is no casual expression. It is a divine summons that echoes throughout Scripture, calling for a kind of hearing that goes beyond sound. It demands spiritual perception, discernment, and above all, obedience.
1. Ears That Hear, Hearts That Respond
This phrase doesn’t originate in Revelation. Its roots stretch back to the prophets, who lamented the people’s spiritual deafness:
“They have ears, but do not hear.” — Psalm 115:6
“You will indeed hear but never understand.” — Isaiah 6:9
Yahushua Himself uses similar language in the Gospels after teaching in parables:
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” — Matthew 13:9
Here, Mashiach distinguishes between merely hearing sounds and receiving truth. The crowds could hear the words, but only those with open, receptive hearts could grasp the spiritual meaning. The ears of the body were working—but the ears of the soul were closed.
2. A Call to Discern the Voice of the Spirit
In Revelation, the phrase is always followed by “what the Spirit says to the churches.” This clarifies the source of the message: it is not from man but from the Holy Spirit. The challenge is not just to hear a message, but to discern its divine origin, internalize it, and act on it.
This echoes the words of Yahushua in John’s Gospel:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
To truly hear is to recognize the Shepherd’s voice and follow it in obedience. Hearing without following is not hearing at all in the biblical sense.
3. Listening Leads to Repentance and Renewal
Each message to the seven churches in Revelation includes a commendation, a rebuke, and a call to repentance. For example:
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent…” — Revelation 2:4–5
The phrase “he who has an ear” precedes promises of reward to those who overcome—those who heed the Spirit’s warning and turn back to HaMashiach. Listening, then, is directly tied to spiritual renewal, correction, and the reward of eternal life.
4. A Warning Against Hardened Hearts
Throughout Scripture, failure to listen is associated with judgment:
“But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.” — Zechariah 7:11
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15
To ignore the Spirit’s voice is to drift toward spiritual ruin. Thus, “He who has an ear” is both invitation and warning. It calls the faithful to vigilance, humility, and repentance.
5. Listening Is Obedience
In biblical Hebrew, the word shema—translated “hear”—means more than sound perception. It means to listen with the intent to obey. Consider the famous Shema from Deuteronomy:
“Hear, O Israel: YHWH(Yahuah) our Elohim, YHWH(Yahuah) is one. Love YHWH(Yahuah) your Elohim with all your heart…” — Deuteronomy 6:4–5
To truly “have an ear” is to hear God’s Word with a heart ready to respond. Anything less is disobedience disguised as neutrality.
Conclusion: Are You Listening?
“He who has an ear, let him hear” is not addressed to the spiritually elite, but to anyone willing to listen. It pierces through apathy and distraction, calling each of us to awaken our souls, soften our hearts, and heed the voice of the Spirit.
We are not judged by how much we have heard, but by what we have done with what we’ve heard.
So ask yourself: Do you have ears to hear? Are you listening — truly listening — to what the Spirit is saying?
Shalom!
