Having the Right Mindset For Listening

Matthew 13:1-9

Matthew 13:1–9 (NLT)

1 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.

2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

INTRODUCTION:

I- FOUR TYPES OF MINDSETS (Matthew 13:4-8)

Matthew 13:4–8 (NLT)

4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

A- A Closed Mind (Matthew 13:4)

Matthew 13:4 (NLT)

4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ἃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἐλθόντα τὰ πετεινὰ κατέφαγεν αὐτά.

1- This represents those who have already closed their minds to what God says.

a- Their minds are like the hardened footpath or road ( ὁδόν,) upon which it is impossible for the seed of God’s word to take root.

b- Satan can immediately snatch away that seed.

2- While this can apply to the lost man, it is also possible for the believer to harden his heart to the voice and word of God.

a- If you have a closed mind, having already determined what you are unwilling to hear, you will not likely hear from God.

b- If you have made a choice to be a passive listener, with no intent of obeying God, this is you.

B- A Cloudy Mind (Matthew 13:5-6)

Matthew 13:5–6 (NLT)

5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

5 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη ὅπου οὐκ εἶχεν γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐξανέτειλεν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς,

6 ἡλίου δὲ ἀνατείλαντος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη.

1- The seeds fall upon shallow ground that is on rocks (πετρώδη).

a- The seeds sprouted quickly, but lacked any root system.

b- The tender plants quickly died under the harsh Palestinian sun.

2- This mindset represents those who hear and immediately get excited, perhaps get saved, and then want to praise the Lord and enjoy the thrill, but who do not take time to study God’s word and sink roots into it.

a- The lack a good scriptural or doctrinal foundation.

b- When the storms of life come, they quit following Christ.

c- These people do not bear fruit.

d- These folks are prime candidates for deceivers to come and subvert their faith.

C- A Cluttered Mind (Matthew 13:7)

Matthew 13:7 (NLT)

7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ ἔπνιξαν αὐτά.

1- The seeds fell on the ground covered with thorns (ἀκάνθας).

a- The plants did not have a chance to grow because the thorns “choked-out” (ἄκανθαι) the plants before they could grow.

2- This mindset represents the individuals who have a “cluttered mindset.”

a- Their mind is always upon the things of this world, even when they are involved in worship (personal or corporate).

b- If we allow him to, Satan will continually bombard our minds, cluttering them with worries about people, business, money, etc.

D- A Committed Mind (Matthew 13:8)

Matthew 13:8 (NLT)

8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπόν, ὃ μὲν ἑκατὸν ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.

1- The seed in this example fell upon prepared, good soil (τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν).

a- This was the soil that had been tilled and cultivated and was ready for the seed to be planted.

2- This represents the believer with the mindset that is committed and ready for God to speak.

a- It is teachable and committed to listen and obey what God says.

II- ACQUIRING THE RIGHT MINDSET (Matthew 13:9-23)

A- Recognize the issues at stake. (Matthew 13:9)

Matthew 13:9 (NLT)

9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

διὸ καὶ φιλοτιμούμεθα, εἴτε ἐνδημοῦντες εἴτε ἐκδημοῦντες, εὐάρεστοι αὐτῷ εἶναι.

1- Jesus stresses the importance of really hearing and obeying.

a- Jesus uses this admonition again to the seven churches in Revelation.

B- Re-evaluate the importance of the message.

1- Refusal to pay attention to the Lord and obey Him is dangerous. (Matthew 13:10-18)

Matthew 13:10–18 (NLT)

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.

15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:

2- Refusing to allow God’s word to take root results in spiritual shallowness and failure. (Matthew 13:20-21)

Matthew 13:20–21 (NLT)

20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

21 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.

3- Replacing commitment to Christ with a focus on the world, which is hazardous to the Christian life. (Matthew 13:22)

Matthew 13:22 (NLT)

22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

C- Realign your mindset by committing it to God.

1- Realignment of your mindset with the Lord’s will and way produces fruitfulness. (Matthew 13:23)

Matthew 13:23 (NLT)

23 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!”

2- This realignment is accomplished by submitting to God and allowing Him to change the way we think. (Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

CONCLUSION: