Ancient Stories for Modern Life I: The Sower
A. Background & Comments:
• we begin a series of sermons for these summer months that are focused on the parables of Jesus Christ from Matthew Ch. 13. This series is valuable because it is in the summer that we often have a little more time to sit & think about ourrelationship to God.
• Jesus spoke in parables (symbolic stories) as a way of instructing his followers, knowing that they – as well as we – are very often unable or unwilling to hear the instruction of God’s Word. He understood the power that “story” has in helping us to hear truths in a more indirect way.
• today, we move specifically to the impact the Bible, the Word of God, has upon our lives. If you look at verses 10-18, Jesus is looking back at the characteristics of the religious in the OT, harshly criticizing their inability to hear the truth of God’s Word due to their hearts being hardened by life.
B. Main Thought:
- The passage we consider today is a parable that focuses the hearer upon the dynamics of hearing the Word of God. Everyone responds to the Word in one form or another…
C. Key Question:
- How can we become people who hear the Word of God proclaimed or read and respond in a way that is pleasing to the God?
If we will understand & receive the Word of God, it is important that we acknowledge the fact of God sowing seeds of truth in our lives. First of all, lets see…
I. (vs. 3-9) “The Sower”: The Story Presented & Taught to the Hearer
Jesus first presents the symbolic story, focusing on a farmer who “sows” (plants) seed into various types of ground & growing conditions. The seed fell on to:
A. Some Seed Fell Upon a Beaten Path (vs. 3,4)
“ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”
- Result: the birds descend upon the seed that has been sown, consuming as much as is possible. The beaten path is unable to receive the seed because it is fallow.
- Fallow: “not in use; inactive”
B. Some Seed Fell Upon Shallow Soil (vs. 5,6)
“ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”
- Result: the seed was sown on to ground without much soil. Although there was a quick growth, the inability of the plant to root, when the hot sun came out, made long term growth impossible.
C. Some Seed Fell Amongst Thorns (vs. 7)
“ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ”
- Result: the seed also fell where the soil was OK but the thorns choked out any subsequent growth. The conditions around the site overwhelmed the potential of the seed & the ground.
D. Some Seed Fell Upon Good Soil (vs. 8)
“ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
- Result: finally… good news! The seed scattered by the sower fell on good ground, without any other circumstances that kept it from growing. Good soil & good conditions are the keys to growth.
II. (vs. 18-23) The Sower: The Story Explained & Applied to the Hearer
Some biblical commentators believe that the symbols in this story are pointed toward four different types of people. I would like to suggest that this might also include four different ways in which we receive the Word of God:
A. Receive the Word: Expect Evil’s Impact (vs. 18,19)
“ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”
• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you will also be sure to see evidence of evil in your life. You can be quite sure that the evil one will leave you alone if you ignore your relationship to Jesus Christ… and the opposite if you, “Seek first the Kingdom of God…”
B. Receive the Word: Expect Trying Conditions (vs. 20,21)
“ The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”
• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you may run into real & significant conditions that “try” your soul. Not only are they a part of life at all times, it is safe to say that you will undergo trials that bring discouragement & fear. Part of testing & trials is to confirm whether or not we will fall away from Christ when hard times inevitably come.
C. Receive the Word: Expect Competition! (vs. 22)
“ The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
• when you read or hear God’s Word expect that you will undergo increased competition for your attention & energy. Have you ever noticed that when you take steps to move toward Christ that the intensity of life’s main tasks – jobs, family, money, other concerns – seem to increase as well?
D. Receiving the Word: Expect God’s Growth (vs. 23)
“ But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
• there is nothing better in the Christian experience than to sense that you are growing in Christ! It is a satisfying & exciting thing to see the truths of God’s Word taking root in your life & impacting people around you. When our lives –character & behavior – begin to change apart from our own efforts we know that God is at work. See Phil. 1:4-6
Implications
A. It is important, in order to grow as a Christian, that we be aware of & identify when the “ground” and “conditions” of our lives are not in a place for seeding. When we find ourselves in those places (impacted by evil, trying conditions, wrong priorities) it is critical that we take steps back to ensure our lives are better places. If the conditions are bad for God’s seed then be sure that it’s also a bad place for you!
B. Be prepared, secondly, to be a seeker! God honours those who seek him – an active, sober, consistent & sincere journey of those wanting his reality in their lives. Does that describe your walk with Christ?
