John 8:47
“He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.””
What does John 8:47 mean?
Jesus is making a direct connection between who we belong to and what we're able to hear. He's saying that people who are genuinely connected to God—who have opened themselves to him—naturally recognize and respond to God's truth when they encounter it. It's like how a child recognizes their parent's voice in a crowded room. The second part isn't meant as a permanent condemnation but rather an explanation of what's happening in that moment. The religious leaders Jesus is speaking to are rejecting his words not because they lack intelligence, but because they've closed themselves off to God's leading. When we're resistant to God's voice, we become unable to truly hear it, not because God isn't speaking but because we've built barriers. This verse invites us to consider our own posture toward God: Are we listening with openness, or are we defending positions we've already decided on? Real hearing requires willingness.