Mark 4:16

4:16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.

Psalms 106:12-13

106:12 They believed his promises; ¹ 

they sang praises to him.

106:13 They quickly forgot what he had done; ² 

they did not wait for his instructions. ³ 

Ezekiel 33:32

33:32 Realize ⁴  that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. ⁵  They hear your words, but they do not obey them. ⁶ 

John 5:35

5:35 He was a lamp that was burning and shining, ⁷  and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time ⁸  in his light.

¹ tn Heb “his words.”

² tn Heb “his works.”

³ tn Heb “his counsel.”

⁴ tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.

⁵ tn Heb “one who makes playing music well.”

⁶ sn Similar responses are found in Isa 29:13; Matt 21:28-32; James 1:22-25.

⁷ sn He was a lamp that was burning and shining. Sir 48:1 states that the word of Elijah was “a flame like a torch.” Because of the connection of John the Baptist with Elijah (see John 1:21 and the note on John’s reply, “I am not”), it was natural for Jesus to apply this description to John.

⁸ tn Grk “for an hour.”