Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. Matthew 13:13 (WEB)
“The harshness of the Gospel is kind.“
Is that right? Believers sometimes quickly react to soften what they perceive to be the harsh Gospel.
Well, if that is what we are doing, then we need to stop that.
There was nothing harsher than an innocent Savior dying for our sin.
The Gospel warns lost people that separation from God is real. It is the price paid for rejecting Christs’ Gift of redemption. It would be unkind to have a remedy for sin but not share the Good News with those who would accept it.
For this study, I think the best way to have clarity is to unwrap the story as Jesus tells it. Have your Bible handy for context.
“…the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true…” 1 John 2:27 (WEB)
It is when we just give a cursory glance to this parable that we may be prone to think that Jesus was harsh and unfair. Let’s see how Jesus opens the parable in Matthew 13:12-13.
Jesus told the crowd that if they were intentionally listening to understand He would help them. He even promised to give them understanding with abundance.
But in this passage, Jesus said the parables would not be understood by those who didn’t care to hear. These were people with hard hearts. Jesus knew that they would not hear and believe. For that reason, Jesus spoke in parables. God knows who will reject Him.
We know that by reading John 3:17, that Jesus came for every lost soul and was not willing for anyone to perish.
Okay, so there is more to it than that Jesus is just not willing for anyone to perish. He did something, didn’t He? He began to sow the seed of the Gospel of life in this dark, wicked world. The Seed of the Gospel that Jesus sowed gives life if people would just accept it.
But many people have chosen to reject life. These are the people who would never understand any of the parables.
And this is what some believers feel apologetic and defensive about? Hearts are not hard that don’t reject Him.
You will notice this passage tells us that the people would close their own eyes. The end of the passage reveals God’s sorrow for the lost “their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them.” Matthew 13:14-15
The Seed that fell on the footpath of hard ground.
When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. Matthew 13:19 (WEB)
Jesus begins the parable with the illustration of the seed that falls on the footpath. This represents people who have had the seed of the Gospel laid upon their hearts, but they haven’t taken it into their hearts.
They are either disinterested or don’t understand it and don’t care to pursue the truth. Satan quickly snatches it away. Do you know people facing this danger? Pray for them. Share the Gospel. Do not argue or nag. Jesus never did.
The Seed that fell on Rocky Ground
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But 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. Matthew 13: 20-21 (WEB )
This passage is about the people who receive the Gospel with joy, at first. But these seeds fall on rocky ground. There is a thin layer of soil (learning the Word). It begins to grow and mature.
But life happens. Maybe they are ostracized by other unbelievers in their lives. Some just struggle with the daily day. So, God gets put on a shelf.
Some may actually have been redeemed. Those will never lose their salvation. Yet they are living their lives abusing the grace of Christ.
Others in this scenario, falsely believe they are redeemed because they know about Jesus. Just knowing about Jesus is not the same as giving your life to Him.
Examine your faith. Be sure. Jesus is nearby. Psalm 34:18
The Seed that fell on Thorny Ground.
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 (WEB)
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is pushed back with spiritual laziness or the desires of this life and the lure of wealth.
No fruit is produced. Wealth isn’t the only distraction for a body of believers. Think of what may be replacing God in your life. Don’t judge others that have fallen to this trap. Pray for them.
The Seed that fell on Good Soil.
The 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!” Matthew 13:23
This is the verse that represents the believers that are walking with their Savior. They know how to follow God’s plan for their lives. They are not perfect at all.
They have no promises of wealth, worldly happiness and health.
Rather, these believers love living for Jesus. They know the difference between happiness and joy.
These believers are quick to confess sins and to stay connected to God by reading the Bible, talking to God and enjoying the fellowship of other believers.
They love being in Church (Church with capital “C” is the Body of Christs’ believers, not a building).
These believers take seriously the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus, and make no apologies for the kindness of the Gospel of Christ.
Just like non-believers, Christians still experience sorrow and hardship of every kind. But contentment in the faith is very real. They have sorrow for lost people, and they want to tell them about Jesus. These people remember what life was like before giving their hearts to Jesus. They would never go back.
I hope the seed of the Gospel has found a place in your heart.
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 