“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
A T Robertson
What ye hear (ti akouete). Lk 8:18 has it "how ye hear" (pōs akouete) . Both are important. Some things should not be heard at all for they besmirch the mind and heart. What is worth hearing should be heard rightly and heeded.
With what measure (en hōi metrōi). See already in the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 7:2; see note on Lk 6:38).
Matthew Henry
It concerns those who hear the word of the gospel, to mark what they hear, and to mak a good use of it, because their weal or woe depends upon it; what he had said before he saith again, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear, (23). Let him give the gospel of Christ a fair hearing; but that is not enough, it is added (24), Take heed what ye hear, and give a due regard to that which ye do hear; Consider what ye hear, so Dr Hammond reads it.
Note, What we hear, doth us no good, unless we consider it; those especially that are to teach others must themselves be very observant of the things of God; must take notice of the message they are to deliver, that they may be exact. We must likewise take heed what we hear, by proving all things, that we may hold fast that which is good. We must be cautious, and stand upon our guard, lest we be imposed upon. To enforce this caution, consider,
Note, What we hear, doth us no good, unless we consider it; those especially that are to teach others must themselves be very observant of the things of God; must take notice of the message they are to deliver, that they may be exact. We must likewise take heed what we hear, by proving all things, that we may hold fast that which is good. We must be cautious, and stand upon our guard, lest we be imposed upon. To enforce this caution, consider,
1. As we deal with God, God will deal with us, so Dr Hammond explains these words, “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. If ye be faithful servants to him, he will be a faithful Master to you: with the upright he will show himself upright.”
2. As we improve the talents we are entrusted with, we shall increase them; if we make use of the knowledge we have, for the glory of God and the benefit of others, it shall sensibly grow, as stock in trade doth by being turned; Unto you that hear, shall more be given; to you that have, it shall be given, 25. If the disciples deliver that to the church, which they have received of the Lord, they shall be led more into the secret of the Lord. Gifts and graces multiply by being exercised; and God has promised to bless the hand of the diligent.
3. If we do not use, we lose, what we have; From him that hath not, that doeth no good with what he hath, and so hath it in vain, is as if he had it not, shall be taken even that which he hath. Burying a talent is the betraying of a trust, and amounts to a forfeiture; and gifts and graces rust for want of wearing.
Albert Barnes
Take heed what ye hear Or, consider well what you hear. Make a good improvement of it.
With what measure ye mete ... You shall be treated according to the use you make of your opportunities of learning. If you consider it well, and make a good improvement of what you hear, you shall be well rewarded. If not, your reward shall be small. This is a proverbial expression. See Matthew 7:1, 2.
Mete Measure. With what measure ye measure.
Unto you that hear To you who are "attentive," and who improve what you hear.
That which he hath That which he had already learned. By this we are taught the indispensable necessity of giving attention to the means of instruction. The attention must be “continued.” It is not sufficient that we have learned some things, or appear to have learned much. All will be in vain unless we go forward, and improve every opportunity of learning the will of God and the way of salvation. So what children are taught will be of little use unless they follow it up and endeavour to improve themselves.
Albert Barnes
Take heed what ye hear Or, consider well what you hear. Make a good improvement of it.
With what measure ye mete ... You shall be treated according to the use you make of your opportunities of learning. If you consider it well, and make a good improvement of what you hear, you shall be well rewarded. If not, your reward shall be small. This is a proverbial expression. See Matthew 7:1, 2.
Mete Measure. With what measure ye measure.
Unto you that hear To you who are "attentive," and who improve what you hear.
For he that hath ... The meaning here seems to be, he that diligently attends to my words shall increase more and more in the knowledge of the truth; but he that neglects them and is inattentive shall become more ignorant; the few things which he had learned he will forget, and his trifling knowledge will be diminished.
Hath not Does not improve what he possessed, or does not make proper use of his means of learning.That which he hath That which he had already learned. By this we are taught the indispensable necessity of giving attention to the means of instruction. The attention must be “continued.” It is not sufficient that we have learned some things, or appear to have learned much. All will be in vain unless we go forward, and improve every opportunity of learning the will of God and the way of salvation. So what children are taught will be of little use unless they follow it up and endeavour to improve themselves.
