Mark 4:24-25 24And he was saying to them, “Look to what you hear: with the measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and it will be added more to you. 25For to the one who has, it will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Jesus continues the theme of the importance of listening to his words. He tells his disciples how they can be good soil that produces a great harvest. The verb was saying uses the imperfect tense, which highlights the ongoing teaching that he was doing with the disciples. They were slow to learn, as we all are, and needed the same thing repeated in different ways. The next short parable emphasizes the responsibility involved in listening. Jesus invites them to pay attention with an idiomatic phrase about looking and hearing, which basically means, “Pay attention to what I am telling you.”
Jesus repeats the word measure (root is metros) in three words. The proverb has two parts. The first part gives a sense of accountability for how we measure things. What is measured is unclear and can apply to many things in life. The context suggests that the focus is on how a disciple gets the word of the gospel out to others. The passive verbs imply that God is the one who measures and adds. Disciples are accountable to God for how we measure out what he has given us. We are the channels of the gospel, and so we will be judged by how we use what has been given us.
The second part of the proverb indicates reward. For being faithful to the commission to spread the good news, we will be given more. Like the first part of the saying, the second part is vague and does not say what will be added. Based on verse 22, perhaps we will be given more revelation in the form of deeper insight into God’s kingdom. By being faithful as sowers of the word, the seeds we plant will grow and our harvest field will grow. God will give us more opportunities and expand our vision for the lost.
The opposite is true for those who are not faithful. verse 25 repeats the same idea as verse 24. They will be like the other three soils where the seeds do not produce a harvest. God’s response to use is based on how we respond to God. Those with ears and who listen will be given more revelation and deeper understanding. Those who refuse to believe or get preoccupied with worldly affairs will not understand the kingdom, its lifestyle, or its promises. The emphasis is on the responsibility of hearing. Those who hear with understanding will acquire more understanding (see Luke 8:18). This theme is also found in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.
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