Matthew 11:15

11:15 The one who has ears had better listen! ¹ 

Matthew 13:9

13:9 The one who has ears had better listen!” ² 

Matthew 13:16

13:16 “But your eyes are blessed ³  because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Matthew 13:43

13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ⁴  The one who has ears had better listen! ⁵ 

[11:15]  ¹ tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35).

[13:9]  ² tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35).

[13:16]  ³ sn This beatitude highlights the great honor bestowed on the disciples to share in this salvation.

[13:43]  ⁴ sn An allusion to Dan 12:3.

[13:43]  ⁵ tn The translation “had better listen!” captures the force of the third person imperative more effectively than the traditional “let him hear,” which sounds more like a permissive than an imperative to the modern English reader. This was Jesus’ common expression to listen and heed carefully (cf. Matt 11:15, 13:9; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35).