TAKE HEED HOW YE HEAR by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 23, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 34.

"TAKE HEED HOW YE HEAR."

By G.

This is a very important injunction, for the reason that hearing the truth adds to one's responsibility. The more one knows, the more he is to blame if he does wrong. Of itself, "knowledge puffeth up." Those who have had educational advantages, without the wisdom that adheres to humility, are apt to consider themselves superior to those who are not so endowed. But knowledge does not justify any one; unsanctified, it strengthens guilt, adds to the condemnation of the guilty. A hearer of the truth who does not practise it, is self-deceived. So the Spirit says, "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

Along with this counsel is a promised blessing to those who heed it: "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty [considering its requirements], and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

As Jesus was teaching the people on one occasion, "a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live."

Now that lawyer's knowledge of the law had not been of any advantage to him; for in spite of it he was presumptuous enough to "tempt" the One who had given the law. And if, after this information of the Saviour, this essential gem of Gospel truth, he still neglected or refused to do that which he knew, his condemnation would be the more certain.

"Take heed how ye hear." G.