Planting on Good Ground (4)

Who is Matthew and History of the Text.

Matthew was the Tax Collector

Written by Matthew 50-60 AD

Possibly written in Mathews homeland of Palestine

He writes to the Jews and quotes the Old Testament to show how prophecy was fulfilled

Other Gospels don’t do this.

6th era of the Bible lasting from 7 BC to 90 AD

This is a story of Salvation.

Who is Mark and History of the Text.

Mark was the companion to the Apostle Paul

Mark was not an Apostle

Meet Simon Peter in Galilee and considered him to be a father after his father died.

Gospel Begins with the ministry of John the Baptist

Mark would present Jesus as a humble son and a servant to man.

This is a Synoptic Gospel

Written by John Mark

Written in 50-60 AD and covers 7 BC to 26 AD

Looking at Matthew 13:1-23

Matthew 13:1-23 “On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Anyone who has ears should listen!” Then the disciples came up and asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. For whoever h…”

Where was Jesus?

Matthew 13:1-2 “On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.”

This story begins in the Morning as Jesus would preach both morning and evening> this is one reason many churches have day and night service.

This sermon was for the masses not the scribes or Pharisees- they would listen to him in the synagogue not with the common people.

Why a boat? it acted as his pulpit

Sitting down- He was exhausted Chapter 12 talks of his hectic ministry schedule such as healing a mans withered hand, healing the sick, a demonized man, and so on. I would be tired just walking as much as he did.

He was a mile southwest from Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. Sea was lower and the cliffs made an auditorium for his word.

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:3-9 “Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Anyone who has ears should listen!””

Sower went out to sow

He walked to the garden and as he walked seeds began to fall without the purpose of the sower.

in Chapter 12:1 we saw Jesus walking his disciples through a field of cultivated grain.

they knew how it got there - farmer would break the ground to soften it and then cast the seeds not in rows. Fields were marked by a wall or a paved path.

Types of Terrain which seeds fell.

Footpath or road- hard ground

shallow soil- rocky ground

thorny soil- soil close to the edges of the field Thorns were left growing on the edges to mark corners of field.

Good Soil- deep rich soil without rocks, thorns, and soft.

verse 9 says that anyone with ears should listen

This is ment not only for the farmers but all man.

What are the Symbols in the Parable?

Seed sown is the word of God

Sower is Jesus Christ

Ground is the hearts of men.

Hearts of men

path- man who blind to the truth can’t receive the understanding of the word because of Satin. Their condition is voluntary and of a rebellious heart.

Stony ground- men have a shallow heart. First have high emotions after hearing the message but don’t think through things. (Fad Followers)

Thorns- crowded heart- to busy focusing on the worldly interest and desires. Always worrying and focused on riches of the Earth.

Good Soil- Open heart to hear the truth. Soft heart ready to be taught with humbleness towards the Holy Spirit. They are saved from Sin through Faith and are genuine disciples.

What ground Will I Be?

Faithful and fruitful

worried or wordly

Shallow and Shady?

Why use Parables?

Matthew 13:10-16 “Then the disciples came up and asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back— and I would cure them. “But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!”

Tells apostles that just because they know the truths it doesn't mean that it is known to all.

Jesus doesn’t say that good ground is free from rocks or thorns but happily freed from the reign of it.

We must seek God and listen so we can see and hear the word with a pure and Open heart.

Jesus Explains The Parable of the Sower.

Hears the word and not understand Satin takes from his heart - Sown on the path

Hears the word with immediately receives joy but short lived because he is focused on his own glory and faces pressure he stumbles- rocky ground

hears the Word but has worries of the world and seduction of wealth, and personal success he becomes unfruitful.

Hears and understands the Word, bears fruit and produces yields of 100, 60, and 30 times what was sawn. A true disciple and follower of Christ.

Mark 4:1-20

Bay of Parables is the name of the Cove. Sitting was a traditional posture for teaching in the Near East.

A Parable is a pithy story designed to illustrate a truth using familiar images or experiences.

They are designed to be told not written. Many of Jesus followers were common people and so he used common topics to relate to the people who he was speaking to.

The way he spoke from a boat/ship gives a symbol of Jesus transporting the Word as a presage of him sending the gospel to the isle of the Gentiles and shipping off the kingdom of God from the Jewish nation.

Parables would comprise more than a third of Jesus’ recorded sayings.

When Interpreting the parables we must avoid

guard against missing important and hidden truths

resist the temptation to over analyze every detail.

What must we have to understand?

willingness to understand.

spiritual discernment= must rely on Holy Spirit to aid in understanding.

He who has ears to hear 4:9 alluded to two passages from the Old Testament

Jer. 5:21 “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t hear.”

Ezek.12:2 ““Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.”

Both cases gives a warning from God by was of prophets to warn Isreal to listen and repent this was leading up to their impending exile to Babylon.

Explanation to the Disciples

Here he was telling his disciples/ apostles that he didn’t want it to be hard for people to seek and find him.

Choose your Soil Wisely.

Are you a productive and preserving believer?

you don’t have to be perfect but you must be open to being responsive to the Scripture. Will you maintain grace and be hungry for righteousness? If you are good soil you must stay There.

Are you to busy or preoccupied with life so much that it interferes with your growth?

Don’t look for the power, position, or privilege that modern society forces on us but look to keep your relationship with Christ at the top of your list.

Are you in shallow soil of a superficial seeker?

You may be without roots and be unstable. Don’t look to please a friend, or the company you keep.

Are you hard-hearted or stubborn?

Your focus is only on worldly things and not the Spiritual things you should seek.

1 Peter 5:6

1 peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,”