LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 13:18-23, “Listen then to what the parable of the Sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the Word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, and thirty times what was sown.”  Jesus

When He was alone with His disciples, they asked Him to explain what this parable meant. He explains to them that He is the Sower and that His work was to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God. The explanation focuses on what happens when the seed – the Word of God – is proclaimed. For all who hear the Word of God today, this still applies. For the seed that falls on the path refers to those who hear but do not understand nor desires to understand the gospel message. There are those people who just do not want to hear about the salvation Jesus has to offer and do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God. The result is still the same as the birds come and eat or snatch the seeds away. The bird represents the devil and his followers who keep people from hearing the gospel message by deception and lies. By doing this the words of the gospel do not reach the hearts of the hearers. The heart is the center of one’s willingness to receive and make a commitment to follow Jesus. For those represented in this soil, the willingness to be deceived by the devil and the pleasures of the world is greater than the desire to believe and follow Jesus.

The stony soil represents those who hear the words of Jesus and seem to be converted by them. But because persecution or some trouble comes, the person stumbles. The trouble spoken of comes because of the Word itself. This person soon finds himself falling away, not saved to begin with; this person experienced a shallow and emotional experience.

The third soil is full of thorns. It depicts the person who seems to have received the Word of God; however, he has a heart that is full of the desire for riches, for pleasures, and has lusts for the things of the world. These things occupy his time and take his attention away from the Word of God. Because he spends so much time on worldly pursuits, he has no time for the Word and he eventually pursues his worldly interests instead of pursuing a walk with God.

The last soil is the soil that produces a harvest. This is found in the person who hears the Word, receives it into his heart, and then allows the Word to change his life. His desire for worldly pleasures, worldly treasures, recognition and awards, and all things that were problems with the other soils are replaced with a true desire to follow the Lord and His Word. The results of the good soil are seen in the fruit produced and the harvest. Jesus indicates that the harvest will exceed anything His followers had experienced. Fruit will be produced as a result of true repentance and the desire to follow the Word of God.

Do you have a better understanding of why there are so many on the broad way and so few are on the narrow way? Do not be deceived. Do not allow the philosophies of the world cause you to be led away from following Jesus and the Word of God. Remember that anything that removes God from the center of your belief and tries to get you to continually pursue worldly beliefs is not of God! You and I must stand firm on His Word continually!