Some hear a lot. Some hear in part. Some can't hear whatsoever. That's how God set the system of hearing His Words.
Mark 4:24
Some mix together that which is non-literal with that which is literal... which I suppose comes from not being able to read, or rather not understanding what is written.
Paul called it not rightly diving the word.
Example:
Nope. Jesus didn't say we are unprofitable servants.
He said to for us to say, after we have done what we are told: we are unprofitable servants only doing what we are told.
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.
We have done what was our duty to do.’”
Luke 17:6-10
Jesus said to obey what we are told to do.
When we have obeyed what we have been commanded to do, we are to say,
We have done what was our duty to do.
Taking the position that we did what we were told to do, not that we ourselves originated this work, but rather we, in and of ourselves are unprofitable servants, we only did what we were commanded to do, which is the definition of faith.
Unprofitable servants
who do not do [disobedience] what they are told or entrusted to do is an entirely different position.
Jesus didn't call the ones who did what He commanded them to do: Unprofitable servants.
He told them to say this about themselves, AFTER,
they had obeyed and done what they were commanded to do.
This is the way He wanted His Apostles to represent Him, and His Kingdom. HUMILITY. FAITHFULNESS. HONOR
- We have done what was our duty to do... - "we are unprofitable servants" = Humility
Verses -
- Not doing what they were told to do... - then making excuses - unprofitable servant = Rebellion
Matthew 25 -
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look,
there you have
what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give
it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
These were called unprofitable servants by Jesus.
JLB