Matthew 13:1-23

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.’ Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ And he answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’”

Surrendering in the Mission

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.”

The ministry has been established, the sermon on the mount delivered, the twelve apostles chosen. Just prior to this text, in chapter twelve Jesus has declared Himself the Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath. In the growing scope of the ministry we now see Him at the beginning of chapter 13 teaching to a crowd of people on the beach from a boat, something that immediately calls me back to Luke 5 when Jesus steps into Peter’s boat and asks him to put out a little from the land so that he might address the people, right before He calls Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him. There’s a reminder here that despite the depth of His teaching, the varied lessons he’s presented and the ever growing following He has cultivated, His message has not changed. The single line spoken by John the Baptist and then Jesus Himself was just as relevant at this point in the ministry as it was in the beginning and is now: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.’”

A somewhat new element in this chapter is the introduction of extensive parables. While Jesus has certainly given metaphors up to this point, this is the first time we see Him presenting a series of parables as opposed to something like the sermon on the mount where He was much more pointed with His speech. Ending the parable with one of my favorite of His expressions, “He who has ears (to hear), let him hear” foreshadows the purpose of the parable before He explains it to the twelve. There is a required awakening to understand the teachings of the Spirit, something that does not come from within, but requires surrender to God and His divine blessing to understand.

1 Corinthians 2:9-11, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’ these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

This quoting Isaiah 64:4, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.”

And this (I know thanks to my study Bible), references verse 19 of the 31^st Psalm, “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!”

All this begs a question: Where does wisdom, insight, understanding come from? Where does the “ear to hear” come from if not from God? Does God bestow this enlightenment, does he open eyes at random without regard or purpose? Surely not! Love of God, submission before Him, waiting for Him and living in a manner in accordance with His will, seeking to be found pleasant in His sight – in these things He grants understanding, be it of metaphor or greater mysteries of the Spirit.

“Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ And he answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

I have heard “For to the one who has, more will be given… but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” referred to as “the Matthew Principle.” Like so many things in God’s design, it’s something that isn’t singular or limited, being found all throughout the physical world. It’s relevant with wealthy investors, successful artists and dominating sports teams, it can be seen in nature with dominant pack and herd leaders and apex predators. It’s possible to see the principle play out in the stars and planets above us, as galactic clusters exist in the vast emptiness of space. But even the heavenly bodies are a pale imitation of the spiritual implications of Jesus’s words. It’s a comparison between that which God has created to endure eternally and that which is destined to burn into nothingness.

To those who have accepted Jesus into their hearts, who have the Holy Spirit within them, who have been made blameless in the sight of God, this life is made sweeter. Salvation in Christ doesn’t guarantee that you’ll always be rich and full, with a roof over your head and strength in your limbs, but as referenced in 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 above, we are given knowledge from the Spirit that grants a sense of peace in the midst of a fallen world. We have assurance given in 2 Corinthians 5:1, 

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

We are given incalculable, miraculous blessings in this life, and then there’s what awaits us:

Revelation 21:5-8, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.’”

We are given salvation with the promise of eternity with our creator. We walk through this life with a light before us, His Word on our hearts granting us more than we can ever need. But to live without God, in rebellion to Him and His righteousness gives an existence that’s hollow and forever grasping – and all that awaits you is eternal separation, a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’ For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Here Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10, “And he said, ‘Go, and say to this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.’”

It’s saddening to see how the issues present during Isaiah’s time are still present at the time of Jesus’s ministry (and today for that matter). But we see in his delivery on the message through parable that not all are blind and deaf, not everyone who hears is devoid of understanding. This parallels with what He said in John 10:1-6,

“’Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”

Not particularly surprising, but tying into previous observations, in addressing a group of pharisees the metaphor falls on deaf ears. He goes on to elaborate in verses 14-15,

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus and the Father are one, so in knowing Jesus, in being filled with the Spirit there is a oneness created between us and God. The words of Truth resonate within us, the parables make sense because in God we’re given understanding and as His sheep we know His voice.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was own along the path.”

God warned Cain in Genesis 4:6-7,

“The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.’”

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:8 cautioning all of us,

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

I know for some people it can be difficult to remember that Satan exists, out in the world, actively hating God and us as His children. I’ve heard the quote before, “The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist” (which to be clear, I’m aware did NOT come from the Bible), and there’s a measure of truth to this. To hide in the shadows, to twist the understanding of holy Truth through the sin nature of man is a fitting tactic for the serpent, deceiver, and father of lies. But Biblically, we are without question warned of the enemy, the need to resist sin and the danger there.

“As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

There is amazing joy and liberation in being allowed to have a relationship with God. It is also important to remember that this world is fallen, it’s not our home and is in a perpetual state of discord with the Father. Speaking on the end of days, Jesus says in Matthew 24:9-13,

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

There is a call in Christ to take spiritual fortitude from our relationship with Him. Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5,

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

If we try to endure by what the world gives us, we will fall short, dry up and break. But through the Holy Spirit we have access to God-given perseverance in the midst of our trials and suffering.

“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”

Matthew 19: 16-22 and Mark 10: 17-22 both tell the account of Jesus speaking with a young man who is seeking eternal life. While the two gospels are almost identical, Mark’s account tells us,

“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Jesus says in Matthew 6:24,

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

And James warns in James 4:4,

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

While I sympathize with the difficulties of contending with the pitfalls and distractions of the fallen world, the warning is clear. God has made us as servants and friends, not mindless slaves, robbed of will and choice. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” there is peace, nourishment and Holy rest to be found in a relationship with God. But that doesn’t mean that the world cannot prove seductive or enticing, and in choosing the world over God we invite our own destruction.

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’”

I know it can be a bit of a controversial topic, but I really love deer hunting. One of the things I love, possibly what I love most is the overall lack of control. You can buy the best camouflage, use all the right odor eliminators, you can have the most expensive rifle or top of the line bow – in short, you can do everything right and not see a single deer. You also will harvest zero animals from your couch. You have to actually go hunting if you’re going to hunt anything. And once you’re there, in the woods, in a tree, dressed up like a smaller tree, you are entirely at the mercy of wind and weather and however nature in its design ends up behaving that day. It’s important that you surrender to the process, but it’s what’s in God’s hands that matter. Likewise, the sower has no control over what the seed will yield. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He says in Mark 16:15-16,

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

He says in Luke 24:45-47,

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

He didn’t tell Peter, “Hey, make sure you preach a sermon at Pentecost, I’m going to use you to save around 3,000 people.” We’re not told the exact impact we’re going to have, and to be honest it doesn’t matter. God is in control, God is limitless and so it is not our job to grow the seed and manage its fruit, our joyous calling is simply to sow, to spread the Truth we’ve been given and in the wisdom of the Spirit, know the good fruit from the bad.

Pastor Chris’s sermon on the text: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-yhDhpXDys&t=1s