Matthew 13:9

13:9 The one who has ears had better listen!” ¹ 

Matthew 13:43

13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ²  The one who has ears had better listen! ³ 

[13:9]  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 11:15, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8, 14:35).

[13:43]  ² sn An allusion to Dan 12:3.

[13:43]  ³ 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).