Response to What Jesus Says

* The past several weeks we have been studying what Jesus has said (or says) from many different passages in the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), as he taught the crowds and his closer disciples. In Matthew 13:1-23 (also found in Mark 4 and Luke 8), Jesus teaches that it is important not just that someone hears what Jesus has said (or says), but that they receive (understand) and respond to the teaching as well.
* Jesus teaches this lesson using a parable , or parallel story, about a farmer who plants seed on four different kinds (or conditions) of soils. Although the seeds that are planted are all the same, the result is quite different! Even though we may not be able to see the difference at the surface, the result is the measure of the true condition of the soil in which the seed is planted.

The Parable of the Sower

* Read Matthew 13:1-9. What appear to be the important elements of this story?

† The Bible tells us that workers of that time were employed in farming, sheep-herding, carpentry, and fishing, among other occupations. According to Vos , the majority of the Jewish population "lived off the land" as farmers, so those listening to Jesus would have been familiar with the concepts illustrated in this story.

Why Speak in Parables?

* Read Matthew 13:10-17. "The disciples came to him and asked 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?'"

• v. 11-"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." "Secrets of the kingdom" are truths not previously revealed, but which were now made known to those who believed in him, and to whom was given the spiritual insight to understand. This spiritual insight was not given to those who rejected him.
• v. 11-13-So why does Jesus speak in parables? Parables would illuminate "kingdom" concepts and challenge those who believe in him and have ready, humble hearts ("whoever has"). Those who rejected him, because of their disbelief and hardened hearts would not be able to understand (and what was revealed to them would be taken away-like the birds snatching the seeds).
• v. 14-15-Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10. God told Isaiah that people would not accept the message he brought as a prophet, and Jesus gets the same kind of response.
• v. 16-17-The disciples were privileged to hear and see (understand) truths that O.T. prophets and "righteous" people longed to hear and see (see also 1 Pet 1:10-11).

Jesus Explains the Parable

* Read Matthew 13:18-23. Jesus explains that the four soils represent the following responses to the message of the kingdom:

• along the path (v. 19)-This is one who hears the word, but due to a hard heart (not realizing and acknowledging their spiritual need) does not understand.
• rocky soils (v. 20)-This is one who initially accepts the word enthusiastically, but when difficulties come (because of the message) he/she quickly abandons it.
• among thorns (v. 22)-This is one who hears the word, but worldly worries and wealth choke it out, and leaves only unfruitfulness.
• good soil (v. 23)-This is the one who hears and understands the word, and bears much fruit.

* What is the "word," and what do each of these soil conditions look like in a person's life?

Reflection/Application

* Do you recognize any of these "soils" in your life? Have you accepted the kingdom message, believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and that he rose again from the dead, giving hope of eternal life in him? If that message has found good soil in your heart, is it producing a fruitful crop in and through your life?
* If you find that your heart is hard soil from unbelief, shallow and rocky due to neglect of God, please consider asking him to plow and soften that hard or rocky ground of your heart and make it receptive to his word. If you find that your heart is infested with weedy concerns of the world, ask him to cleanse you of worldliness and receive him without reservations.