The phrase he who has ears, let him hear
calls Jesus’ audience to pay close attention, to note the importance, weight, and personal application of what is being said. In Matthew 13:43 this refrain caps his explanation of the parable of the weeds. First directed to the crowds (see Matthew 13:9), here it is addressed to the disciples, who had already shown their willingness to hear (Matthew 13:11,Matthew 13:16). Throughout the sequence of parables (Matthew 13:24–33), they received deeper insight into the mysteries of the kingdom (Matthew 13:34–35). The explanation Jesus gives in Matthew 13:37–43a shows that the disciples may not see the weeds as just a fact of life. Jesus wants them to listen intently, seeing not only the opposition, but also Jesus’ coming, suffering, and triumph. Accepting this is hard, so Jesus insists that they must truly hear. He warns against superficial reception, summoning them to fully accept his teaching. The audience accepts Jesus’ authority to teach them, wondering, earlier this day, whether Jesus might be the Son of David (Matthew 12:23). Despite the hostility of the Pharisees and scribes, the admiring crowds keep listening to Jesus all day. Even though they do not say that he is the Messiah, they do see him as a great man of Israel. The Pharisees do so too, but ascribe his greatness to the devil. The crowds have not yet taken that view and are happy that they can understand the Master better in his latest instruction, so many continue to respect him and to follow him, despite not embracing all of his teachings. Here Jesus again exhorts them to do so.
Jesus frequently repeats the phrase he who has ears, let him hear
as a way to call his audience to pay close attention. It is an urgent summons to take note of the importance of what is being said and to engage in personal reflection, because of the immense weight of his words.1
In Matthew 13:43 this same refrain concludes his explanation of the parable of the weeds. It was first directed to the crowds (see Matthew 13:9), but here it is addressed to the disciples, who had already shown themselves to be receptive (Matthew 13:11,Matthew 13:16). Throughout the sequence of parables (Matthew 13:24–33), they were given deeper insight into the mysteries of God’s kingdom (Matthew 13:34–35).
The explanation Jesus provides in Matthew 13:37–43a clarifies that the disciples are not to treat the presence of weeds as a fixed fact of life. Here too Jesus wants them to listen more intently, discerning not only the reality of opposition but also the way in which Jesus comes, suffers, and triumphs. Accepting this path will not be easy for them, and so Jesus presses the point that they must truly hear. The phrase is both a warning against superficial reception as well as a summons to embrace the full scope of his revelation.2
The audience acknowledges that Jesus has authority to teach them, but we must remember that the crowd wondered on the morning of this day whether Jesus might be the Son of David (Matthew 12:23). Despite the insinuations of the Pharisees and the opposition of the scribes, they continued to listen to Jesus all day. Their admiration remained. Even though they do not say that he is the Messiah, they do acknowledge him as a great man of Israel. The Pharisees did this too, but they ascribed this greatness to the devil. The crowds have not yet adopted that view and they are happy that they could understand the Master better in his concluding instruction. For that reason, they retain their respect for him and can continue to follow him despite not embracing all of his teachings. Here Jesus again admonishes them to do so.3
41 Le Fils de l'homme enverra ses anges, qui arracheront de son royaume tous les scandales et ceux qui commettent l'iniquité,