“Pay attention!
To how you listen!
Those who have more,
More will be given!
From those who have not,
Even what they seem to have
Will be taken away.”
βλέπετε οὖν πῶς ἀκούετε· ὃς ἂν γὰρ ἔχῃ, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ, καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ ἔχῃ, καὶ ὃ δοκεῖ ἔχειν ἀρθήσεται ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ.
Luke indicated that Jesus said that they should pay attention on how they listen or hear things (βλέπετε οὖν πῶς ἀκούετε). Those who have things (ὃς ἂν γὰρ ἔχῃ), more will be given (δοθήσεται αὐτῷ). From those who do not have things (καὶ ὃς ἂν μὴ ἔχῃ), even what they appear or seem to have (καὶ ὃ δοκεῖ ἔχειν) will be taken away from them (ἀρθήσεται ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ). All 3 synoptic gospels, Matthew, chapter 13:12, Mark, chapter 4:25, and here, have this quirky saying, almost word for word. Mark said that to those who had knowledge, more would be given to them. However, those who had nothing, even what little they had would be taken away. Matthew indicated that those who had more knowledge, even more abundant knowledge would be given to them. However, those who had nothing, even what little they had would be taken away. There would be no center ambiguous positions, it was all or nothing. What more do you want?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 