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The people who are in trouble with God or getting into trouble with God share a common problem—they have selective hearing or no hearing at all. Jesus makes a distinction between insiders (family) and outsiders by how they “hear” his words.

Who listens to Jesus?

• Shema/ LISTEN – Deut. 6:4 – the people of God

• The Good Shepherd – John 10:3,4,14 – Jesus’ sheep

• Listen! – Mk. 4:3 – the crowd? – He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Who has been given the secret of the kingdom of God and why Jesus spoke in parables? (4:10-12)

• “The 12 and others around him” (good soil)—> the secret/ mystery of the kingdom of God

• “…those on the outside” (bad soil) –> parables – so that…

Who is good earth? (4:13-20)

How people hear the word of God separates them into who they really are concerning eternal things - in one ear and out the other or harvest-producing?

• Hard earth – indifferent, angry

• Shallow earth – looking for something easy

• Crowded earth – trying to fit Jesus in

• Good earth – hear-accept-produce

The insiders are those who crowd around Jesus until they get it, have it, and live it.

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