Suggested reading: John chapter 9 verses 1-34.

There are people who will LISTEN to what you say to them but only if it fits into their own preconceived ideas. The religious leaders in the city of Jerusalem, during the time Jesus was on earth, were like this. For example, when He healed a man who was born blind, instead of LISTENING to the man and his parents about the miracle, they closed their minds to their first-hand explanation as to what had happened; indeed, they were only prepared to LISTEN to the things that fitted into their preconceived ideas about the event.

Once healed, the blind man confidently answered their questions as to how he could now see: ‘I told you already, and YOU DID NOT LISTEN. Why do you want to HEAR it again? Do you also want to become His disciples? . . . If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing’, verses 27, 33. However, they had made up their minds and were not even prepared to accept the evidence of a changed life that stood before them! In fact, they cast him out!

Sadly, such closed hearts and minds are still seen in many unbelievers today. They refuse to accept the evidence of a changed life, through faith in Christ, that stands before them; however, they have their own explanations as to what has happened and place more credence on them than on the truth! They LISTEN but they do not truly HEAR!