A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

THE GATEWAY TO THE HEART      

Matthew 11:15 “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”  

John the Baptist came into the world in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He came to prepare the people for the coming of one promised in the Old Testament, namely, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, the very Son of God. He came to call the Jews to repentance. They had closed their ears to the message of God delivered by His messengers. John came that their ears might be opened to the gospel.  

The ear is a marvelous creation of God. Through it passes all the sounds of this world. Through its auditory nerve those sounds are moved to the brain that in turn translates these sounds into words that are needed to deliver messages necessary for human beings to learn, understand and be productive individuals. 

The ear is also critical to the reception of God’s Word that reveals to humanity the love and mercy of God. Through the ear is heard the Good News of God’s love for sinners and desire for all of them to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved from eternal death. Through the ear is heard the Word that reveals Jesus as the one through whom God draws men to Himself.   

There is hearing and then there is hearing. You can hear and your brain can convert the sounds you hear into words. Your brain can define the meaning of each of those words, put them together into sentences, paragraphs and entire messages. But hearing God’s word, without discernment and faith to believe it is simply hearing the sounds with no further benefit. 

Jeremiah wrote, “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive.” (Jeremiah 6:10) In today’s devotional verse, Jesus encourages you to hear, believe and be edified by God’s word that you hear. John the Baptist called his hearers to hear God’s law in order to recognize their sins, repent and be forgiven. Jesus called His hearers to hear, repent and be forgiven. Jesus calls you to hear, repent and be forgiven. Your ear is the gateway to your heart!  Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear the truth of God’s word, to believe it and be saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

How sweet the name of Jesu sounds   
In a believer’s ear!  I
t soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,  
And drives away our fear. 

It makes the wounded spirit whole   
And calms the heart’s unrest;  
‘Tis manna to the hungry soul  
And to the weary, rest. 

Dear name! The rock on which I build,  
My shield and hiding place;  
My never failing treasury filled  
With boundless stores of grace. 

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,  
My Prophet, Priest, and King,  
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,  
Accept the praise I bring. 

How weak the effort of my heart,  
How cold my warmest thought!  
But when I see Thee as Thou art,  
I’ll praise Thee as I ought. 

Till then I would Thy love proclaim   
With ev’ry fleeting breath;  
And may the music of Thy name  
Refresh my soul in death!

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds // LSB 524