Ezekiel 2:5

2:5 And as for them, ¹  whether they listen ²  or not – for they are a rebellious ³  house ⁴  – they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Ezekiel 3:10-11

3:10 And he said to me, “Son of man, take all my words that I speak to you to heart and listen carefully. 3:11 Go to the exiles, to your fellow countrymen, ⁵  and speak to them – say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says,’ whether they pay attention or not.”

John 16:12

16:12 “I have many more things to say to you, ⁶  but you cannot bear ⁷  them now.

John 16:1

16:1 “I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away. ⁸ 

Colossians 3:2

3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,

[2:5]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.

[2:5]  ² tn The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.

[2:5]  ³ tn This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:25 and Isa 30:9.

[2:5]  ⁴ sn The book of Ezekiel frequently refers to the Israelites as a rebellious house (Ezek 2:5, 6, 8; 3:9, 26-27; 12:2-3, 9, 25; 17:12; 24:3).

[3:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “to the sons of your people.”

[16:12]  ⁶ sn In what sense does Jesus have many more things to say to the disciples? Does this imply the continuation of revelation after his departure? This is probably the case, especially in light of v. 13 and following, which describe the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the disciples into all truth. Thus Jesus was saying that he would continue to speak (to the twelve, at least) after his return to the Father. He would do this through the Holy Spirit whom he was going to send. It is possible that an audience broader than the twelve is addressed, and in the Johannine tradition there is evidence that later other Christians (or perhaps, professed Christians) claimed to be recipients of revelation through the Spirit-Paraclete (1 John 4:1-6).

[16:12]  ⁷ tn Or (perhaps) “you cannot accept.”

[16:1]  ⁸ tn Grk “so that you will not be caused to stumble.”