True Faith Perseveres and Produces Fruit, Matthew 13:1-23

Intro…

Jesus is the king, and these parables teach us about the kingdom of God.

What are parables?

“A parable is a story from real life or a real-life situation from which a moral or spiritual truth is drawn.” Boice

What are the rules of a parable?

Things to know to correctly read a parable in the Bible:

1. Direct discourse between characters in a parable is always significant

2. When reading a parable the emphasis is on the end of the parable.

3. Parables are not allegories, hidden messages, or historical accounts.

4. Parables are not deeper than they read.

5. The point of a parable is directly related to its context, and aimed at those who are hearing it.

This means to rightly understand the parable you have to make sure you understand the point Jesus was making to those who heard it in person. This is why the context of the parables are so important, and why the writers of the gospels provide the setting and situation for us.

Given that context makes such a difference in our understanding of the parable let’s look at both the place of the parable in Matthew’s gospel, and the context in which Jesus delivers the parable.

Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes the theme of God’s kingdom with Jesus as the promised King, the heir of King David who would reign forever. The Pharisees and other Jewish leaders are rejecting the truth that Jesus is the one they have been waiting for. In the context of their rejection, and the acceptance of this truth by the crowds Matthew gives us the first parables in his gospel.

The first parables Matthew gives us are related to the kingdom of God. And the first one, the one we are looking at today, starts where every good lesson starts, at the beginning. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 13:1-23 how His kingdom begins and He gives us a glimpse into its growth.

Matthew 13:1–3a (CSB)

“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…”

Matthew records a shift in Jesus’ teaching here in the first few verses. Look with me at what happened right before this moment in Matthew 12:46–50 (CSB), it says:

“46 While he was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 49 Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

On the same day, and in the same house, where Jesus stretched out his hands and declared that his family was made up of all those who do the will of the Father and follow Him; Jesus went out and began addressing the crowds with parables. This shift in His approach to teaching raised questions among the disciples.

Matthew 13:10 (CSB) says, “10 Then the disciples came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?”

And Jesus answered them in Matthew 13:11–15 (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. 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.”

Jesus taught in parables to make one impactful truth in the moment to those who heard it.

1. The parables were a fulfillment of prophecy

Matthew 13:14 Jesus says that through the parables Isaiah’ prophecy will be fulfilled.

2. The parables reveal those who have rejected Christ

The parables don’t make sense to those who have rejected the truth about Christ. They are the ones who are looking for the Messiah, but missing the truth standing in front of them. They are the ones yearning to know the mystery of God’s kingdom, and yet they are missing out on its beginning.

3. The parables are light to those who believe

The parables are exciting, encouraging, and enlightening to those who do believe. On the heels of being rejected by the Pharisees and other religious leaders Jesus begins the process of encouraging those who believe through parables.

And, like we mentioned before, to rightly understand the parables we must understand who Jesus was talking too and why He was making the point to them.

Jesus was talking to a crowd made up of those who believed in Him, those who had rejected Him, and those who were still unsure. The Jews were looking for the Messiah to come and usher in the Kingdom of God. But, the Jews did not understand how God would establish His kingdom through the Messiah. As such, those who rejected Jesus also missed the manner in which God was building His kingdom.

Jesus begins teaching about the kingdom here in Matthew 13, but first He teaches us the way the kingdom begins.

The meaning of this parable: Jesus teaches us that

True faith perseveres and produces fruit

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."

Matthew 13:18-23 CSB

[18] "So listen to the parable of the sower: [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. [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. [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. [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."

There is one seed in the parable and four different soils. The seed represents the gospel message and the soils represent the four different kinds of hearts that the seed of God’s Word is sown in.

One Gospel and Four Hearts

1. One Gospel: Jesus Saves

The issue with the growth of the seeds is the soil and not the seed. The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. This is the Word of God, the truth, the revelation that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Messiah, the promised King of Israel.

The Gospel is the good news for sinners. God’s Design, Sin, Brokenness, Christ, Repent and Believe, Recover & Pursue God’s Design.

The Gospel is the bad news and the good news, and it hinges and focuses on Jesus Christ as the one and only way to be right with God, forgiven of your sins, and right with the Father.

2. Four Hearts: 3 Bad & 1 Good

The first three soils demonstrate those who reject Christ

The “Hard” Heart

Matthew 13:4 & 19

This is the heart that is calloused and not open to the truth about Jesus. It’s like hard ground that you can’t plant a seed in.

The “As Long As It’s Easy” Heart

Matthew 13:5-6 & 20-21

This is the person who says I like the way this sounds and says I’m all in until it goes against the crowd, draws attention, and results in some kind of persecution.

The “I haven’t really surrendered” Heart

Matthew 13:7 & 22

This is the person who says I want Jesus, but I am not willing to let go of the world. Holding on to the world is more than wanting material stuff. This person walks away from God by being focused on the world and its trials rather than on Jesus. This person is also enticed and lured away by the temptations of the world, but it is also more than that.

The “I’ve counted the cost” Heart

Matthew 13:8 & 23

The fourth soil reveals the signs of true faith- perseverance and fruit.

Jesus has been teaching about who He is and the kingdom of God. He has made it clear who He is and what He has come to do. He has also made it clear that His kingdom is different than many expected. In Matthew 10-12 Jesus has prepared them to face persecution, experience division, and to be tempted by the world and its lesser offerings.

The fourth heart is the one that hears and understands.

This is in contrast to the hard heart. This is the one that knows the truth about Christ and understands what Christ is calling Him too. This is the person who trusts Christ as He has revealed Himself, and believes that following Him will be worth it, but that it will also come with sacrifice and denial in this world. The I’ve counted the cost knows what it is giving up and what it is gaining.

In contrast to the “as long as it’s easy” heart… This is the person who faces persecution and difficulty for following Christ and stays faithful, because Jesus said it would be expected.

In contrast to the “I haven’t really surrendered” heart

This is the person who is immersed in the world and all that if offers, but stays faithful to Christ because the promises He has made far outweigh anything the world has to offer.

This is the person who trusts and obeys Christ in the middle of the anxiety and stress of the world because the way of Jesus is true and the only path to real peace.

Jesus teaches us that His kingdom begins with hearing and understanding the truth of who He is and what He has come to do. This is why He ends the parable with “Let anyone who has ears listen.”

Like Jesus said in Matthew 12:50, “ 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Those who have ears are those who understand, and respond with a heart and life of faith are in the kingdom of God.

And those who have ears to hear will persevere and produce fruit that grows the kingdom of God beyond all expectations.

Jesus teaches us that

True faith perseveres and produces fruit.

1. True faith perseveres

Focus on persevering, not because we can lose it, but because we want to produce fruit that is in keeping with faith and perseverance.

2. True faith produces fruit

At the end of his gospel Matthew records Jesus sending His disciples out to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples. It has always been Jesus’ intent to grow His kingdom through those who believe.

The growth of the kingdom is in God’s hands, but the church is called to plant and water the seed and trust God with the results. 1 Corinthians 3:7 (CSB) says, “7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

True faith perseveres and produces fruit.

Over my years in pastoring I have learned that looking to perseverance and fruit is uncomfortable for many southern church goers. I understand why it’s that way, but because of what Jesus and His Word say we must shift our focus from the profession of faith to the perseverance of faith and the production of fruit.

We have spent most of the last few decades focusing on the profession or start of someone’s faith but Jesus consistently draws our attention to the end, the fruit.

Just look at the parable here in Matthew 13. Jesus points out that we cannot judge true faith by the initial responses. True faith is tested and revealed as sincere and saving. James 1:2–4 (CSB) says, "2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

This means that...

Baptism is the beginning, not the end

When you are baptized as a believer you are marking and professing your faith Christ. It’s the testimony of the change God has made in your life through your faith in Christ.

Even if you haven’t been baptized as a believer, I want to make sure you know that the intent of baptism in Scripture is to signify the change Christ has made and your entrance into His kingdom, the church.

Far too many people treat baptism like it’s the top of the mountain, the goal of your life. But, the truth is that baptism is a first step of obedience taken on the journey of a life of faith. Baptism is the beginning, not the end.

But, for a long time many churches have ignored the attention Jesus puts on perseverance and producing fruit by focusing only on professions of faith.

(A church roll like ours proves our dilemma… we have 3000 plus on roll, but a 1/3 in attendance each week.) While we cannot know the hearts of all people, we can focus on perseverance and fruit in the members of our own church.

If the goal is to get people to the starting line, we have done a great job. But the goal isn’t getting to the starting line. The goal is finishing the race

1 Corinthians 9:24 (CSB) says, “24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.”

In 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (CSB) Paul said, “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”

The focus of perseverance and fruit is not just in Jesus’ parables, this is throughout the NT. Therefore, we must focus on persevering and producing fruit. Jesus has made it clear that He is going to grow His kingdom through those who truly believe. This means that those who truly believe will share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The gospel came to you on its way to someone else.” - Robby Gallaty

But, the churches that God is using to reach the crowds with the gospel are the churches that are committed to persevering and producing fruit together.

Applying this to Harrisburg:

1. Commit or covenant together to share the Gospel, persevere in the gospel, and produce fruit in keeping with the gospel.

We have a church covenant that actually talks about membership at Harrisburg being about perseverance and producing fruit… but for some reason we either quit using it or never used it. But, how great would it be if everyone who joined, if all of our members were committed to persevering and producing fruit?! What if we all signed a covenant to that effect?! Not a covenant to prove we are Christians, but a covenant as members thst our relationship with one another is different than those in the world. Our relationship is centered on Christ and we are committed to glorifying Him and persevering and producing fruit together.

2. Equip and encourage one another through the Word

3. Celebrate and focus on professions of faith, perseverance, and fruit

Applying this to your life

1. Which soil are you?

Hard heart

As long as its easy

I haven’t really surrendered

I’ve counted the cost

2. Be good soil

James 1:21–23 (CSB)

21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror.

3. Be ready to persevere

(anticipate the reality of persecution because you follow Jesus)

James 1:12 (CSB)

12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

4. Be ready for temptation and trials

James 1:2-4

”2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

True faith perseveres and produces fruit.

Focus on persevering, not because we can lose it, but because we want to produce fruit that is in keeping with faith and perseverance.