8:18 {3} Take {f} heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that {g} which he seemeth to have.
(3) Heavenly gifts are lost when one is sparing with them, and increase when one is liberal with them.
(f) That is, with what minds you come to hear the word, and how you behave yourselves when you have heard it.
(g) Either to himself, or to others, or to both: for there are none so proud as these fellows, if it were possible to see those things which they disguise: neither are there those that deceive the simple more than they do.
8:18 Take heed. Mark says, Take heed 'what' you hear (Mr 4:24); Luke, 'how' you hear. What we hear depends on how we hear; i.e. our attention and honesty.
8:18 The word commonly translated seemeth, wherever it occurs, does not weaken, but greatly strengthens the sense. Mt 13:12; Mr 4:25; Lu 19:26.
8:4-21 There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.
