Ears to Hear

“Andrew and Philip return from their trip with desperate news: they need Jesus’ help to solve a huge crisis in the Decapolis. Jesus leads them on a trip to the dangerous region, where they face opposition from all sides. Literally. Meanwhile, John is assigned to bring an angry Simon to Jesus.”

Luke 2:4, Genesis 35:18, and 7 more

1. Esther 7:7-10

   00:21-01:02

   A reading of the story of Purim, specifically the downfall of Haman.

   1. 7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
   2. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
   3. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
   4. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

2. Esther 9:17-19

   01:02-01:33

   The conclusion of the Purim reading, describing the institution of the holiday.

   1. 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
   2. 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
   3. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

3. Luke 14:16-24

   07:37-09:23

   Andrew and Philip recount Jesus' Parable of the Great Banquet to the people in the Decapolis.

   1. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
   2. 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
   3. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
   4. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
   5. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
   6. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
   7. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
   8. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
   9. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

4. Isaiah 43:19

   09:41-09:44

   Referenced by a listener of the parable as a counterpoint or contextual anchor.

   1. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

5. Luke 2:4

   16:46-16:49

   The shepherd Matthew (not the apostle) describes the lineage of Jesus.

   1. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

6. Genesis 35:18

   28:05-28:21

   Matthew (the apostle) recounts the story of Benjamin's birth to explain the meaning of 'Ben-oni' (Son of my sorrow).

   1. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

7. Numbers 15:38-40

   40:53-41:21

   Matthew explains the significance of the Tzitzit (prayer tassels) as commanded in the Law of Moses.

   1. 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
   2. 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
   3. 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

8. Luke 14:35

   43:55-43:58

   Jesus says 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear' after discussing the parable's implications.

   1. It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9. Mark 7:31-37

   51:40-54:05

   Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment in the Decapolis, using the command 'Be opened' (Ephphatha).

   1. 31 ¶ And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
   2. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
   3. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
   4. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
   5. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
   6. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
   7. 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.