Mark 4:24

24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more.

Mark 4:24 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:24

And he said unto them
At the same time, though he had said what follows at another time, still continuing his discourse with his disciples:

take heed what you hear:
diligently attend to it, seek to understand it, and lay it up in your minds and memories, that it may be of use to you in time to come, and you may be useful in communicating it to others:

with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you;
a common proverb among the Jews, used on various occasions, and to different purposes; (See Gill on Matthew 7:2). Here it seems to intimate, that if the disciples carefully hearkened to what they heard from Christ, and studiously laboured to understand it, and faithfully dispensed it to others, in return, a larger measure, and greater degree of spiritual knowledge, would be bestowed upon them: for it follows, and

unto you that hear, shall more be given;
that is, that hear so as to understand, keep, and make a good use of what they hear, more shall be communicated to them; they shall have an increase of knowledge in the doctrines of grace, and mysteries of the Gospel.

Mark 4:24 In-Context

22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.
23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more.
25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.
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