The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 NKJV
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
Jesus explains: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
I recall a friend of mine trying to explain to his young sibling why the stars he was looking at may have actually died out thousands of years ago. This was not a concept that he could easily grasp and it was soon forgotten. Very much like those by the wayside in the above passage. Having knowledge without having any real heart understanding, can be easily snatched away.
5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
Jesus explains: 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.[G4624] skandalizo? To “scandalize”; from G4625; to entrap, that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure): – (make to) offend.
The above passage happens more often than we would like to admit but God is so gracious and patient with us. His word does not return to him empty handed and I believe that as long as there is life in our mortal bodies, there is hope in God. People often return to God when they have come to the end of themselves and realize of how much they really need him. Removing stones from a patch of ground for the purpose of planting a crop can be a long process.
This truly is an interesting passage because it clearly indicates to me that man indeed, has a free will.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
Jesus explains: 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
This passage not only speaks of those who have received the word as new believers but also relates to mature believer’s as well. We can get so busy with life at times, some also finding themselves falling into the trap of desiring to get rich due to various pressures and eventually they become unfruitful. The bible identifies three things that can easily entangle us as believers. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. An unfruitful tree will eventually be cut down and burned in the fire….yet God is amazingly patient with his creation and the opportunity to be restored is still available to all who turn back from their waywardness and repent. [As long as we have life, we have hope] Even the mature in Christ can inadvertently step off that narrow path. If we look at some of the Churches today, we can see how easy it is to be deceived by the riches of this life.
8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Jesus explains: 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The word is the good news of the gospel which brings salvation. It is sown into our hearts like seed planted in good ground. The heart who understands the good news of the gospel bears fruit, the very attributes of Christ in us. The outworking of such fruit produces a harvest for Christ.
Glory!
Source
3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
Jesus explains: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
I recall a friend of mine trying to explain to his young sibling why the stars he was looking at may have actually died out thousands of years ago. This was not a concept that he could easily grasp and it was soon forgotten. Very much like those by the wayside in the above passage. Having knowledge without having any real heart understanding, can be easily snatched away.
5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
Jesus explains: 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.[G4624] skandalizo? To “scandalize”; from G4625; to entrap, that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure): – (make to) offend.
The above passage happens more often than we would like to admit but God is so gracious and patient with us. His word does not return to him empty handed and I believe that as long as there is life in our mortal bodies, there is hope in God. People often return to God when they have come to the end of themselves and realize of how much they really need him. Removing stones from a patch of ground for the purpose of planting a crop can be a long process.
This truly is an interesting passage because it clearly indicates to me that man indeed, has a free will.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
Jesus explains: 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
This passage not only speaks of those who have received the word as new believers but also relates to mature believer’s as well. We can get so busy with life at times, some also finding themselves falling into the trap of desiring to get rich due to various pressures and eventually they become unfruitful. The bible identifies three things that can easily entangle us as believers. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. An unfruitful tree will eventually be cut down and burned in the fire….yet God is amazingly patient with his creation and the opportunity to be restored is still available to all who turn back from their waywardness and repent. [As long as we have life, we have hope] Even the mature in Christ can inadvertently step off that narrow path. If we look at some of the Churches today, we can see how easy it is to be deceived by the riches of this life.
8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Jesus explains: 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The word is the good news of the gospel which brings salvation. It is sown into our hearts like seed planted in good ground. The heart who understands the good news of the gospel bears fruit, the very attributes of Christ in us. The outworking of such fruit produces a harvest for Christ.
Glory!
Source
