Parable of the Soils

Welcome

Congratulations Graduates it was such an honor to watch all of you complete this step of your journey last night. I look forward to seeing where life takes you next.

I am going on Vacation this week and then on to Isreal. I will not return to the Pulpit until June 22.

But you are in good Hands.

Let’s jump into today’s Message and Back into our Journey Through Matthew

There is a Noticeable shift in Jesus’ message and ministry between Matthew 12 and Matthew 13.

From Matthew 1-12 Jesus has been demonstrating His Power, Teaching, and Authority.

He has also been Offering to Establish the Kingdom of God if the Jews would accept Him as Messiah.

Large numbers have accepted Him yet in Matthew 12 we see a clear rejection of Jesus by the Religious Leadership and a Claim that Jesus is a False Messiah operation under the Power Ba’al.

Due to their rejection the Offer for Kingdom Establishment is withdrawn and Jesus then moves into Chapter 13 preparing His Followers for the Road Ahead.

This Road Ahead would involve The Spiritual Formation of the Future Kingdom Subjects.

So Let’s Jump into Scripture and See How Jesus Changes course.

Matthew 13:1–3 CSB

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow.

So once again Jesus goes out and a large crowd shows up.

So Jesus Get’s on a Boat

Two Purposes

Easier to be Heard

Makes Distance between Him and the Crowd

Teaches a Parable.

This is not a New form of Teaching but New for Jesus.

Rabbis taught using three forms of teaching Halakhah(precepts), Haggadah (Stories), and Parables (comparison’s).

Parables for the most part Mirror Proverbs.

Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (A Messianic Commentary) The Purpose of Parables 13:1–3

Add to this the fact that a significant scroll of the Bible is called Mishley/Proverbs, which is actually the Hebrew root for the word parables. The Hebrew mashal has a rather wide range of meanings from similarity to a proverb, or even a fictional story. The common connection is that a mashal is used to teach an unknown reality by making a comparison with a known truth. The Greek equivalent term for parable comes from two distinct terms—para/alongside and bole/to cast. A parable is a comparison or placing alongside of similar entities.

Unlike allegories, a parable is usually focused on one significant truth. Therefore, considering a parable, one should not get too distracted by the fine details but rather look for the supreme lesson of the teaching. In the case of Yeshua, it is clear that he focuses on the use of parables at this point of his ministry to illustrate some of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. By using familiar comparisons to nature and everyday life in first-century Israel, the hearers would be able to better understand this largely unknown part of God’s universe. As we shall see, there are actually two larger purposes in Yeshua’s parables. The first is to reveal truth to spiritual seekers. The second, however, is to actually conceal some truth from those who have rejected earlier light. In this sense, Yeshua’s shift to the major use of parabolic teaching is both a blessing and a judgment.

I am going to explain it this way. Jesus is using Parables to Teach Spiritual Formation.

What is takes to Become Like Jesus and Do What Jesus Did.

He is choosing to use Comparisons to do so.

Matthew 13:3–9 CSB

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Let anyone who has ears listen.”

If you get it you get it.

But how do we learn to Get IT?

Matthew 13:10–16 CSB

10 Then the disciples came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” 11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. 12 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. 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, but never understand; you will look and look, but never perceive. 15 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, and understand with their hearts, and turn back— and I would heal them. 16 “Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.

Jesus is establishing Clear distinction between those who sincerely seek God’s Will and those who reject His Revelation.

You see this Parable is not really about the Sower it is about the Soil receiving the Seed

Predestination

Sower sows indiscriminately

So Then Jesus begins to explain.

Matthew 13:18 CSB

18 “So listen to the parable of the sower:

This is a picture of a farm going out to spread seed in hopes to raise a future crop.

While we may want to focus on the Sower the truth is this story is very much about the Soil of the Heart of the Disciple.

Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (A Messianic Commentary) The Parable of the Soils 13:3–23

While it might be tempting to focus on the sower or even the seed, the greater detail is actually given to the various kinds of soils that receive the planted seed. In each case the sower and the seed remain the same. It is the variation of the ground condition that dictates the differences in the harvest. The Talmud speaks a parallel story as it describes four kinds of disciples: “There are four qualities among those that sit before the Sages: they are like a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sieve: a sponge, which sucks up everything; a funnel, which lets in at one end and out at the other; a strainer which lets the wine pass out and retains the lees; a sieve, which lets out the bran and retains the fine flour” (Pirke Avot 5.18).

Matthew 13:19 CSB

19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.

The Path is Hard and Uncultivated.

This represents the Hardened Heart………

Satan is like a Bird that Seals the Seed God has planted due to a Hardened Heart.

Matthew 13:20–21 CSB

20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

The Second Soil is in rocky ground.

Receives the Word but due to the lack of depth of Soil the Root can’t go very deep and the Plant Gets scorched, withers, and dies.

Since the soil is not deep when hard times or persecution come the person falls away.

Matthew 13:22 CSB

22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

This is the person who tries to live in both the Kingdom World while trying to hang onto the Physical World.

All the trapping of a Confession but No Fruit.

Matthew 13:23 CSB

23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

This is the person who not only Hears but Understands: Or Seeks to Understand.

They choose to allow Spiritual Formation to Take Hold and They begin to Bear Fruit

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

And out of they Produce 100, 60, and 30 times what was sown

Out of that little seed come the ability to produce 100 times what was given to you by God.

When you allow Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control take hold.

So let’s Go back to Jesus’ is Purpose for Parables.

Matthew 13:11–13 CSB

11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. 12 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. 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.

Jesus starts by saying we all have the same opportunities.

The Sower Sows without Discrimination.

This is an opportunity for self reflection.

What Kind of Soil are You?

What are you going to Do With the Seed that Has been Sown in You.

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.