Luke 8:18

Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples and the surrounding crowd immediately after declaring that concealed matters will be brought to light (Luke 8:17). He issues this warning just before his mother and brothers arrive to see him but cannot reach him because of the pressing crowd (Luke 8:19).

The words — Βλέπετε (blepete) commands "do take heed," directly modifying ἀκούετε (akouete) "you hear" to stress the manner of reception. The text uses ἔχῃ (echē) to denote "shall have," establishing the condition for what follows.

The thread — The identical principle of spiritual accumulation appears in Matthew 13:12 and Luke 19:26, which repeat the formula of granting increase to those who possess and removal from those who lack. Mark 4:23 is grouped in the same context but only states "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

Why it lands — The text says attentive reception yields greater understanding, while neglect causes even perceived knowledge to be removed. It requires a reader to evaluate the quality of their listening rather than assume current possession guarantees future retention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Cross-references

Matthew 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Luke 19:26 He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Matthew 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Proverbs 2:2 if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
Hebrews 2:1 We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Acts 10:33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.