John 8:47
“He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who belong to God hear his words; their refusal to hear proves they do not belong to God.
Context
Jesus offers a final test: true children of God are characterized by their ability and willingness to hear his words.
What Does John 8:47 Mean?
The final verdict is simple and stark. There is a connection between our nature and our responsiveness. A child of God hears God's words. Not hears as in passive listening, but hears as in understands, receives, acts upon. The ear of the heart recognizes the voice of the Father. And they, by contrast, do not hear. Not because the words are too quiet or obscurely spoken. But because they are not of God. Their nature is other. They have aligned themselves elsewhere.
This is less a judgment than a diagnosis. Jesus is saying: look at the evidence. You do not hear God's words. That tells you something about your spiritual parentage. But the diagnosis also contains an invitation. To become of God, to join the family of those who hear and obey, you must turn. You must open your ears. You must let his word reshape you.
Application
Can we hear God? The answer is not about our ears but about our hearts. To hear God's voice is itself a sign of belonging to him. If we struggle to hear, the answer is not better theology but deeper openness.