SHARING BREAD
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the
sower means: 19 When
anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil
one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown
along the path. 20 The
one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the
word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a
short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly
falls away. 22 The
one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the
word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it,
making it unfruitful. 23 But
the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the
word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or
thirty times what was sown.”
Matt
13:18-23 (NIV)
In our verses for today our Lord gives us the interpretation
to the Parable of the Sower by comparing four results of the sowing of the good
seed to four responses. To be sure, the difference in the results was
not due to the seed sown but the ground to which it was sown. Indeed, Peter describes the Good News as the “imperishable
seed”:
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)
The Good News ever remains the Good News – it is how the hearer
responds in his heart to this Good News which makes the difference. This is actually a “Heads-up!” a red flag
from Jesus - if you will - to check our lives if we too have had the immense privilege
of having the Gospel presented in our presence.
Sadly, our Lord shows us that the majority of the hearers of the Good
News do not respond positively rather they reject this treasure – sooner or
later. The Words our Lord spoke in the Sermon
on the Mount come to mind:
13 “Enter through the narrow
gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and
many enter through it. 14 But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find
it.” Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)
“What
I believe about God is the most important thing about me.” A.W.
Tozer
The
ground upon which the good seed falls in this parable is the human heart which we
discover are each differently disposed and qualified. Like soil, man’s heart is capable of improvement
– of bearing good fruit – through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is to be most pitied if it lies fallow. Four different characters are revealed by
Jesus through His description of the condition of the hearts of the hearers –
the hardened and unaffected, the short lived emotional zealot sans wisdom, the
worldly entangled and the fruitful for the kingdom – three being inferior and one
being superior.
Those who hear and remain unaffected take no heed or no hold
of the Truth – it goes in one ear and out the other - making no impression. The devil comes quickly snatching away what
was sown. Such mindless, careless
hearers are low hanging fruit and easy prey for the adversary.
We are to prepare our hearts and give earnest heed when
presented to the Truth we hear. The emotional
zealots sans wisdom appear to swallow the Truth without chewing it – never assimilating
it into their souls. They receive it
with exuberant joy yet because they are rootless they quickly fall away. They have no fixed principals in their judgment
– no firm resolution in their wills. It
is possible for these to have the green blade of profession yet no root of
grace. Emotional zeal will never carry us through trials, it will never sustain
us. We cannot live on our emotions alone in our
faith walk – we may endure for a while but not to the end. Remember, James tells us that even the demons
believe and tremble (show emotion) yet are hardly saved:
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the
demons believe that--and shudder. James
2:19 (NIV)
The Truth begins to root in those who find themselves
entangled with the world yet we discover that ease and prosperity, worries and the
deceitfulness of stuff are destroyers of the word within the heart just as much
as persecution and trials are. As the
stony ground spoiled the root we see here the thorny ground spoiled the fruit. Worldly cares can be as entangling as a
thorny bush or vine. They consume the
vigor of the soul which could be invested in more profitable kingdom work. We
are to let the focus on the future (heaven) sanctify the present for its
highest and most advantageous uses. Scripture
tells us we are to redeem the time. Never
exchange eternal glory for temporary gain.
That’s like accepting the paste gem instead of the true diamond. In the end, all of these worldly entanglements
will be charred. The writer of Hebrews
writes:
8 But
land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being
cursed. In the end it will be burned. Heb 6:8 (NIV)
“Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be
lived in the light of eternity.” Charles H. Spurgeon
The good fruitful ground is distinguished by one trait – faithful
fruitfulness. Jesus did not say this
land was without stones or thorns but none that prevailed and prevented the
producing of fruits in keeping with repentance. Saints in this world are not freed from sin
but rather from the reign of it. Not all
produce the same amount of fruit either.
Some Christians are more fruitful than others. There are degrees of true grace – not all of
Christ’s followers are of the same form yet if the ground is good, the fruit
will be right.
“The most brilliant way to live is to always look for the light.” Ann Voskamp
What I glean from this:
·
The Good
News of the Gospel is the imperishable seed.
·
I am held
accountable for my reaction to what I hear.
·
I am to set my
mind and heart on things above – not earthly things. 1 Since,
then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For
you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also
will appear with him in glory. Col
3:1-4 (NIV)
