Mark 4:24-26 - Consider carefully what you hear

4:24,25

These verses refer to how we receive the word of God. First we need to consider it carefully. We do not just let something wash over us. Instead we pay close attention. “With the measure you use ...” The lens through which we look at the word affects how we receive it. If we look at it through self-interest, or the eyes of the prosperity gospel then we will never receive it properly. If we look at it through a man centred lens we will never understand it. We need to approach the word from a God-centred perspective, we need to be Christ focused. When we do that we will gain ever increasing understanding. If we adopt the wrong approach then “even what we have will be taken away”. 

4:26

In the parable of the sower we learn that there will be different responses to the word, ranging from total indifference to wonderful and fruitful acceptance. Now we learn more about what happens. First there is a man scattering seed. The word does need to be sown. As it says in Rom 10:14, how can they hear without someone preaching to them. Our actions do need to be consistent with our words, but words are essential, and used again and again by God, just read the Bible. The oft quoted phrase “Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary”. It is wrongly attributed to St Francis of Assisi. Whoever it originated from, it is absolute nonsense. Words are necessary, so get over it.