Friday, June 24, 2011

Matthew 13: Part I - The Parable of the Sower (NIV)

Summary:

The Parable of the Sower
Verses 1-23

The same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lake.  The crowd became so large that He got into a boat, where He sat as the people stood on the shore.

Jesus spoke in many parables (short stories).  A farmer went to sow seed...

Landing Spot - Path.
Result - Birds came and ate it.
Meaning - Hear the message and don't understand, so the devil snatches it from their heart.

Landing Spot - Among rocks without much soil.
Result - Quickly sprang up and withered in the sun, because it had no root.
Meaning - Receives the Word with joy.  Since they have no root, it is ephemeral.  When trouble and persecution comes, they quickly fall away.

Landing Spot - Among thorns.
Result - Grew & choked.
Meaning - Life's worries and wealth's deceitfulness choke them and they are unfruitful.

Landing Spot - Good soil.
Result - Produced a crop 100, 60, or 30X what was sown.
Meaning - Hear and understand, so they produce a crop 100, 60, or 30X what was sown.

"He who has ears, let him hear."  (Verse 9)  [Jesus wants us to understand and grasp the good news about salvation.]

The disciples asked why Jesus spoke in parables.  Jesus answered that the knowledge of heaven's secrets have been given to the disciples, but not to the people.  Those who have will be given more and will have in abundance.  Those that don't have, what they do have will be taken from them.

" 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not understand.' "  (Verse 13b)

The prophecy in Isaiah 6:9,10 was fulfilled:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.  For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.' "  (Verses 14-15)

Jesus said that the disciples were blessed because they could see and hear.  Many prophets and righteous men longed to see and hear what they had.  Then, he explained the meaning of the parable (which I've already written above).

Lori's Thoughts:

Jesus' stories were meant for those who seek God.  Those with faith enough to look for Him will gain much more.  They will know Him and speak with Him.  Those that do not desire to understand, those that choose to doubt, will lose their faith in everything.  They will soon find that their dependence upon money or status or other humans will fall through.  Those that have will gain.  Those that lack will lose.

The prophets and righteous men were told about Jesus' first coming.  They longed to see Him.  They were blessed because of their faith, even though they didn't see.

In the disciples' time, many saw Him, but they did not accept Him.  The disciples were blessed because they saw Him and believed.  Because they believed, the secrets of heaven were revealed to them.

Those that don't understand the gospel, because they do not seek, will have the seeds of the gospel stolen from them.  Some people see the beauty of the gospel, but refuse to surrender to God.  So, they easily fall away when things get hard.  How can they receive mercy and grace when they aren't connected?

Some people grow in faith, but aren't fully committed.  So, when finances fail and times get hard, they falter.  Those that surrender their all to God will grow.  The gospel will be spread to many more people because of their faith.

Get rooted!  Life is good with God.
      

No comments:

Post a Comment