Matthew 57
Chapter 13: Jesus and the parables
A break for some clarity!
Matthew 13:1–9 (NLT)
1Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.
2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.
3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
4As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
6But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.
7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
9Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Matthew 13:18–23 (NLT)
18“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:
19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
22The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
23The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Church doesn’t need to be fancy!
1Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.
2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.
· Jesus goes to the lake
· A crowd forms
· He uses a boat as a pulpit
· People lined the shores and he just spoke
How simple
· No stained glass
· No big marble clad buildings
· No props, no smoke and mirrors
· And he spoke simply and used stories
· He didn’t speak above anyone
I sometimes think we have turned church into something they were never supposed to be
· Complicated
· Messy
· And cumbersome
· It should just be people getting together to learn about our God (Dad) and Jesus (our big brother)
· And working together to get the message of love and hope to a dying and desperate world!
The story, (Parable), of the sower and the seeds
The farmer
3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
· Jesus use an example of something everyone in the crowd would familiar with
· Farming
· He never wanted to make it complicated for anyone to come to him
· He never wanted to exclude anyone from the GOOD NEWS
· So, he use easy to use and understand examples to allow everyone the chance to hear and accept or reject his teachings
And that farmer spread the seeds
4As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
We plant
· Just like the farmer we are to plant seeds everywhere, some will take some wont
· But we always plant the seeds!
· And we let Jesus sort them out
Some seeds never find good soil
· No matter how hard you try some just never make it
· Some folks will never understand
Jesus answer
19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
· Some will never understand
· Some won’t want to understand
· Some hearts are just too hard
· But we still plant that seed, and more often than not Satan we step in and destroy all our hard work, but we still plant.
The shallow soil
5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
6But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.
· I have, or had a plant like this on my front porch
· I tried to cut corners and put some mulch in the bottom of the pot to save some soil
· And planted some flowers in shallow soil
· And they took off quick, but it didn’t last long, as soon as it turned hot, they dried right up
· They could keep enough water, and food stored for the long hot days that always come!
Jesus Answer
20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
· Call it what you want, flame out
· Burn out
· But some folks come on like gang buster and walk away at the first sing of adversity
· I have seen it a lot over the years here
· Someone comes in, all gung-ho
· And within 6 months to a year are gone
o Mad at someone in the church
o Upset with me or something they have hung onto (either biblical or there past)
· As soon as the storm hits or the persecution comes, they don’t have the root system to take the heat that Satan puts on them!
· And don’t let anyone tell you different it is Satan at work!
And some choke!
7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
· Some plants just choke out among the stronger weeds
· Crab grass and Bermuda grass are like that, they choke the nicer pants nad grass around them
· Like a disease it just overtakes it
Jesus answer
22The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this lifeand the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
· The world is a powerful place
· With powerful weapons to lure us away
· Money, fame draw us
· And worry distracts us
· And some can’t take the pressure of change
· The pressure to not conform
· Some can’t deal with the reality that we won’t be the most popular
· That people will look at us different and treat us different for truly following
· Some seeds we plant can’t survive walking away from the world and all it offers!
Once we realizes that Jesus is talking about preaching the word, it is not difficult to see the first three soil samples as involving those in whom that word took no root, who thus never made any profession of faith; those whose initial commitment proved superficial and temporary at best; and those who, while first appearing like true disciples, demonstrated they could not survive competing demands for their loyalty.
Some seeds thrive!!
8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
· A few well planted seeds produce an abundance of crops
· And the harvest continues to grow
· The more we plant the more we produce
· So, we never stop planting
Jesus Answer
23The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
· Don’t ever underestimate the power we all have when we share the word to others
· We may never see the impact we have
· But know that our efforts will impact generations to come
· So never get discouraged when you see the ones that never make it
· Because for everyone that falls on bad soil, there is one that will produce a 100 fold!
· So, keep fighting the good fight!!
The parable provides a sober reminder that even the most enthusiastic outward response to the gospel offers no guarantee that one is a true disciple. Only the tests of time, perseverance under difficult circumstances, the avoidance of the idolatries of wealth and anxiety over earthly concerns and above all the presence of appropriate fruit (consistent obedience to God’s will) can prove a profession genuine.[1]
Matthew 7:16–20 (NLT)
16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
It’s not the seed that you plant (Gods Word), it’s the soil that receives it (the person hearing it) that makes the difference! KEEP PLANTING!!
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