The Seed of the Kingdom

I’m a sucker for a good story. I can be taken from the most efficient levels of productivity and focus to pure distraction in a matter of moments if I hear the start of an interesting story.

As a child, like many children, one of my most cherished memories is having the privilege of growing up very near my grandparents. Children of the 30’s and 40’s, which seemed to me worlds apart from my time, there was no shortage of stories to be told. My Grandfather, to make things better, has a fantastic memory, so the details of his childhood adventures come across to this day crystal clear.

Throughout Matthew so far, we have seen Jesus put on display as the Master Teacher that he is. Now, if you remember way back when we did the introduction to Matthew, you might remember me mentioning something about the major teaching discourses in Matthew - that is, large sections of the book which are just Jesus’ teaching.

The book is sort of organized around these sections. We have already seen two of them. The sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5-7, and Jesus’ instructions as he sends out his disciples in Matthew 10. These are the first two major Discourses of Matthew. We get a clue that Matthew is organizing his writing this way, because after all these occurences, Matthew uses the phrase “When Jesus had finished these sayings....”

Well, in Matthew 13, we start into the third major teaching discourse of Jesus, and that is the section on the Kingdom Parables.

We have all heard the word parable, we are probably mostly familiar with many of Jesus’ parables. In fact, one of the most gripping and vivid pictures and stories that Jesus gives, I believe, is the parable of the Prodigal Son.

What is a parable?

Well, to start, the word “parable” means to “cast alongside.” That is, it is a truth or message that is cast alongside a story from life in order to deliver that message in a unique way.

A parable is different from other kinds of teaching stories. For instance, in our own culture we have the famous Aesop’s Fables. But while a fable is a teaching story, a parable is different in that it is not fantastic and imaginary - a parable is a very real-life possibility. An everyday occurrence, or at least something someone could easily imagine taking place.

Parables are also different than Allegory. An allegory is a story in which nearly every detail of the story has a parallel meaning or hidden truth. While some of Jesus’ parables have a bit of allegory to them, we should be careful not to view them as strict allegory.

Most of Jesus’ parables have one major element or theme that they are communicating, and the exceptions to that are the cases in which he tells us exactly what the details do mean. Otherwise, they are meant to be rather oblique.

And that is one of the interesting things about Jesus’ parables for sure - and we will see it in the text - is that they are not really illustrations, in which a story is told to make a truth clearer. They are actually teaching tools of revelation to those with ears to hear and eyes to see. The meaning of Jesus’ parables was concealed from many in his day, much like the true depth of God’s Word is concealed from many even today.

One thing more. In the Old Testament, A parallel teaching device to parables would be the proverbs. In fact, in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word for Proverbs is the word Parable - so in the Hebrew mind, the idea of a parable included the proverbs.

The proverbs are parables in their own right. Not that they are given in full story-form, but in that they deliver truth in picturesque and comparative ways. Sayings, aphorisms, and even riddles at times are used all throughout the Old Testament, so Jesus is not reinventing the wheel here - he is carrying on a tradition of God’s message going forth in ways that are not simply “on the surface.”

That fact, that the meaning of parables is not “on the surface” is an important element for this time in Jesus’ ministry. For this is a time of transition and declaration. He has, at this point, faced severe opposition and outright rejection by the Jewish leadership and ruling class, and one of the judgment factors of that is the use of parables to further conceal the truth of His Kingdom from them.

So then, in Matthew 13, it is interesting that all these parables have to do with the Kingdom - and they have to do with somewhat of a progression. The first, which we will see today, tells about the beginnings and the seed form of the Kingdom.

The Next parables show how the Enemy seeks to thwart the spread of the Kingdom.

Two after that show that, despite the enemies greatest attacks, there are many who still consider the Kingdom of God their greatest treasure and seek it diligently even with the opposition.

The final parable, then, is a parable of the consummation of the Kingdom, when all is called into account and judgment, and the righteous and unrighteous are separated.

All these parables, then, show us about God’s Kingdom - which is no surprise because that is the message that Jesus came on the scene with, it is the message that John gave as the forerunner. It was the main message of Jesus ministry, and the main theme of Matthew’s Gospel. To Miss the Kingdom of God was to miss Jesus, and vise-versa.

And what this first parable teaches us is that the Kingdom starts in the hearts of men and women. Like a seed that is planted, sprouts, takes root, and grows fruit - that is how the Kingdom of this Majestic King is established and spread. Not by force, not by political might, not by false claims of authority or power, but in the hearts of people.

The Parable of the Sower shows us that the seeds of the Kingdom root and grow in the hearts of men. Has the seed of God’s word taken root in your heart?

1. Why Parables? Vs. 10-17

To this point, Jesus had given many illustrations, many stories and comparisons that are parable-like. I have even referred to some, like the story about the demon that went out and came back in, as parables because they are in the broad sense of the term. But this section really starts a new and specific kind of parable-teaching by Jesus.

These parables have not only very specific subject matter, the Kingdom, but also very specific recipients.

We will get into the parable in a moment, but this first one is important and unique because between the telling and the explanation, Jesus gives a general teaching about why he speaks in parables at all.

The disciples ask, in verse 10, “why do you speak to them in parables?” Now, keep in mind that Hebrew understanding of parables included proverbs, aphorisms, mysteries, and parables - so we can really hear that question as “why do you speak to them in such cryptic language?”

And that is a great question - because as we have already seen and will see, some of Jesus’ teaching is very cryptic and not immediately clear. So why does he do that?

Well, we find that the answer has to do with God’s grace of revelation, with his purpose to reveal and conceal, just as we saw in the end of Matthew 11.

Matthew 11:25–26 (ESV)

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

And if you’re thinking that I’m being obtuse and misleading you, we have to look at the rest of Jesus’ words here, and also the words from Isaiah that he quotes to explain himself.

In Isaiah 6:9-10, Isaiah was given some of the hardest instruction that any prophet every recieved. He was told that he was going to preach to people that would not hear, would not believe, would not change, would not grow. Their understanding would be closed, their eyes would be shut, their ears would be clogged, and their minds would be set against the truth he would proclaim.

Isaiah 6:9–10 ESV

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

We see, again, that while there was an element of people’s eyes being shut and ears blocked, one of the instructions to Isaiah was to “make the hearts dull, the ears heavy, and the eyes blind.”

That is why Jesus says in verses 11-13

Matthew 13:11–13 (ESV)

And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Much like in Matthew 11, where God actively, purposely conceals truth from the wise and prudent, here Jesus, by his parables, is actively and purposely concealing it from those who have their eyes closed and ears blocked to the message of the Kingdom.

This is important, because this comes right after the rejection and blasphemy of the Pharisees has reached its crescendo, and now will spiral down all the way to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

So Parables, in part, are a concealing tool of Jesus as much as a revealing tool. God’s gracious will includes both revealing and concealing - that is a truth we simply cannot get around in scripture. Now, we can talk until we’re blue in the face about different causes reasons and purposes, but ultimately it is a truth we have to accept and reckon with, even if it is difficult.

Jesus does not make this entirely bleak, though, because as always there is an element of blessing here.

Matthew 13:16–17 (ESV)

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

That is, just as much as it is God’s will to conceal at times, it is a gracious blessing and miraculous revelation when someone does hear, see, and understand God’s truth.

There were mysteries, secrets, and parables all throughout God’s revelatory history.

Daniel 2:18–19 ESV

and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel was blessed with “mysteries” revealed to Him that were not revealed to any before.

In both Colossians and Ephesians, Paul speaks of the Mystery of the Gospel - the fact that Christ is within us, and the Gospel is available to all who believe.

These are mysteries, not because they are misunderstood, but because they were once hidden but now revealed.

The blessing of having God’s truth revealed to you, to know it, understand it, accept it, and bear fruit from it, is a blessing beyond imagine.

So parables to conceal from some, but for those with ears to hear, they enrich the goodness of God’s Word to the hearer.

2. The Parable Told - Vs. 1-9

Now, lets go back to the beginning of the chapter and start again.

“That same day” is specific. Sometimes matthew will say something happened “then” or “after that,” which could mean any point after the previous events. But here, we know that what Jesus says comes directly on the heals of what had just happened - which was the height of the controversy with the Pharisees, their accusation of Him working by the power of Satan, and Jesus multiple declarations that they were in fact “evil” and “adulterous” in heart.

Where we left Jesus last week, was in his teaching on how we can become his very family by doing the will of the Father. He was teaching inside a house, and if you remember, his mother and brothers were outside the house seeking to speak to Him when he gave that lesson.

Well, he had piqued the interest of many again, so much so that we are told he had to go out on a boat, probably on the shore of Capernaum, to give himself some space to speak.

What Jesus does next is indicative of His teaching nature. He sat down.

Matthew 5:1 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Jesus was getting ready to teach, and he took the typical position of the teacher in his day - he sat while the listeners stood. Now, we could try that today if you’d like. But perhaps it would be met with opposition. Either way, we are told he “told them many things in parables.” Starting with this one.

Matthew 13:3–9 ESV

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Jesus gives his first proper parable, and it has to do with the Kingdom and Seeds.

Jesus was a story telling man, and he was a man who was acquainted with his surroundings and culture. He wasn’t cloistered off by himself, secluded in his own little world away from the experiences of the people. He lived among the people, ate with the people, shared the customs of the people, and knew the daily burdens and activities of the people. When he told his stories, he could speak to what was real, known, and experienced. And he does that here with this first parable.

Now, in subsequent parables, this is the time when we would set out to find the one main element or detail that Jesus is packaging within the story. But, in this case, Jesus gives us an explanation that has much to do with what we just talked about in verses 10-17.

3. The Parable Explained - Vs. 18-23

At this point, it seems that Jesus is only speaking to His disciples. If he shared the parable with a loud voice for the crowds of crowds, now he shares it in more hushed tones to those who are perhaps in the boat with him.

And, because it “has bee given to them to know the mysteries of the Kingdom...” Jesus explains the meaning of this first truth.

Now, catch the imagery here. Because he has just told this parable to this immense crowd with hundreds, perhaps thousands of listeners. There are all kinds of hearers - he even says, at the end, “he who has ears let him hear.”

And now he explains that the parable itself was about the crowds, and everyone else in history, who ever hears the truth.

Four kinds of hearers, but its more than four kinds of hearers, we see it is four kinds of hearts.

Matthew 13:18–19 (ESV)

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

We see then, that the seed of the Kingdom has been sown “in the heart.”

Jesus has spoken much about the heart in Matthew, hasn’t he?

He has told us that within the heart we murder and hate. Within the heart we hold treasures of our desires and longings.

The heart is the inner person, who we truly are. And the heart has been so important all along because it is within the very hearts of men and women that the Kingdom of God is planted, takes root, grows, resides, and produces fruit.

Luke 17:20–21 (NKJV)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

So the place where the seed is planted is in the hearts of men. But what is the seed?

Well, verse 19 calls it the “word of the Kingdom.”

Luke, however, in his account of this same parable, gives perhaps a more applicable definition.

Luke 8:11 (ESV)

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

So the beginning of the Kingdom is the Word of God spread as seed in the hearts of men. What a picture, what an image.

Not a political overthrow. Not a battle and uprising. Not a revolution, not fire and brimstone. It is the Word of God being given and spread in the hearts of men.

Jesus, then, gives four kinds of hearts.

The Stubborn Heart

Matthew 13:19 (ESV)

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

The stubborn heart is a hard heart. It is the heart that Pharaoh had when he wouldn’t let God’s people go. It is the heart that the Pharisees had when they refused to believe in Jesus even when faced with irrefutible proof and signs. The hard heart is the heart that will not, cannot believe.

The seed makes it to the heart, but finds an impenetrable barrier. And lest it remain for any softening, the evil one “snatches it away” by indifference or forgetfulness.

Paul describes this kind of person in Romans 1 as the person who so loves their sin, and has so rejected God’s revelation that they are “given up” to their own devices and desires. A hard hart is a heart in total opposition, often violent and outspoken, regardless of the truth being proclaimed.

The Shallow Heart

Matthew 13:20–21 (ESV)

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

This second kind of heart is very common. We see it, regretfully, rather often. The seed of God’s Word penetrates into the heart but only to a very shallow depth. The soil is rocky, so that it cannot take root, and as soon has hardship comes, whatever signs of life were there are taken away with the storm or trial.

Jesus had many of these in his ministry - eager followers who went away sad when the message was difficult or the prospects looked grim. So it should not be a surprise to us that there are many of these followers today as well.

A mere profession of faith is not ultimate proof of a person’s spiritual life. A heart can show some signs of initial life while not holding any life at all.

The Strangled Heart

Matthew 13:22 (ESV)

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

This third kind of heart is one that we see often. Now, this is not the only case, but one example of this is times when we hear a celebrity or famous person claim to follow Christ, or have been converted. And initially, there may be some acceptance - but before long, the same cares, vices, and patterns have “choked” the growth out.

It is interesting that Jesus uses the “deceitfulness of riches” as one of the apparent thorns.

Self-sufficiency is a blight on the Word of Christ’s Kingdom. Self sufficiency of wealth, of morality, or of strength all tell us that we do not need what Christ gives us.

Matthew 19:24 (ESV)

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Riches of any kind can give us a false sense of security, but they also can choke out the work of God’s word in our heart. It doesn’t have to be money - it can be wealth or security in any form or facet. Beware the strangled heart.

The Soft Heart

Matthew 13:23 (ESV)

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Finally, Jesus gives to us the great picture of the soft and fertile heart. This is the heart that not only gladly receives the word, but it takes root, and grows, and not only does it grow - it produces fruit.

That is the decisive factor between all the other hearts and the soft or good heart. It is the presence of fruit.

In every other case, Stubborn, Shallow, or Strangled, the seed did no ultimate good and the person fell away. But with the soft heart, there is fruit. And fruit is what Jesus desires, fruit is what indicates real discipleship, real spiritual life.

So what is good fruit?

Well, the first and most obvious good fruit is that despite the cares of the world, despite the deceitfulness of riches, despite the attempts of the evil one, faith remains. Genuine, lasting, persevering faith is the first and most obvious fruit that we bear.

The fact that we keep on believing and following despite the world, flesh, and devil’s greatest attempts is sign that the seed fell on soft and fertile ground.

John 15:8 (ESV)

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

That we bear fruit, and that the fruit remain, is part of God’s gracious calling to us - part of his gracious revealing to us - part of his regenerating and transforming work that works in soft and fertile soil of a good heart.

In that same passage, Jesus goes on to speak about how “love” is one of the primary fruits that we bear.

And it is not only love, but Paul gives us an entire list of fruits of rightousness in Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Notice, love is first. But also notice, the rest of these have to do not with just “not sinning” or being “moral.”

These are positive fruits of righteousness that we bear out before others. That we live out in the world, in our relationships. These are the fruits that transform homes, families, churches, relationships, and societies. And notice, they are fruits of the Spirit - fruits from God - fruits that only come when the seed of the word penetrates and takes root in the hearts of men.

Why is Christ’s message of the kingdom so important? Because it is the only one that can truly transform. Why is the heart so important? Because it is the seedbed of God’s Kingdom, and the place where real transformation takes place.

Psalm 119:9–11 ESV

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Has God’s word taken root in your heart? Has it produced the fruit of righteousness?

The hundredfold, sixty fold, thirty fold, is all miraculous. Some believers will seem to have immense amounts of fruit, but any fruit at all is a sign of life. We may never produce the fruit of an apostle Paul, or a David Livingstone, or a Billy Graham, but if we produce fruit, we are given assurance of the seed taking root in good soil.