WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.040 Please have a seat. 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:04.080 Let's pray together. 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:10.939 As we've just sung, Lord, that is our humble prayer. 00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:15.599 That you would speak to us in a way that we cannot ignore. 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:18.400 In a way that we cannot dismiss. 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:23.500 In a way where we hear your voice and are changed by it. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.240 Speak, Lord, and give us ears to hear. 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:31.399 For Jesus' sake, glory and honour. 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:32.780 Amen. 00:00:33.739 --> 00:00:35.239 So we're starting a new series. 00:00:35.379 --> 00:00:36.839 We finished 1 John last week. 00:00:37.519 --> 00:00:40.640 And for the next four weeks, we're going to be looking at Matthew 13. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.599 This great chapter. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.179 Right in the middle of Matthew's gospel. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:49.019 A chapter full of parables. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:53.700 And today we're doing something ever so familiar. 00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:54.840 Matthew 13. 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:58.420 And this parable of the sower. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:03.859 So I want you to listen really carefully. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:09.780 I want you to listen really carefully to the story that I'm telling you. 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:13.680 It's Tuesday. 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:16.060 The 3rd of July. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:19.099 And it is a very hot day in Edinburgh. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.439 Nearly 25 degrees Celsius. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.140 It's 11 a.m. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:30.260 And you are on platform 5 at Waverly Station. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:36.280 You are holding a skinny, wet, extra hot, extra shot macchiato in your left hand. 00:01:37.019 --> 00:01:39.299 The Scott Rail train arrives two minutes late. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:43.840 And you press the open door button before letting seven passengers board in front of you. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:46.719 You embark the train at Carrad C as the engineer. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:52.179 There are 136 people on board the train. 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:57.180 At the first stop, 43 get off and 12 get on. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:03.120 At the second stop, no one gets off and 25 people get on. 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:10.639 At the third and penultimate stop, 14 people get off and 29 people get on. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:16.079 As the train pulls into the station, here's my question. 00:02:17.679 --> 00:02:19.219 What was the name of the engineer? 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:26.179 O'Neill in your case, I guess. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:28.939 He got on the train as the engineer. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:31.539 Listening carefully is vitally important. 00:02:32.959 --> 00:02:39.539 Every husband knows the awkwardness of being in a conversation but not really in a conversation with their wife. 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:42.139 And you're so conscious that... 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:50.419 I'm so conscious that my wife stopped talking, asked a question and I have no idea what we're talking about. 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:55.519 To which the answer is, of course, whatever you think, dear. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:03.459 Every parent, I guess, knows the difficulty it is to get a child to listen. 00:03:04.899 --> 00:03:07.399 And then once they've listened, to get them to obey. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:16.159 And every preacher knows the difficulty of getting a congregation to listen. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:19.340 And not just going mentally AWOL. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:26.040 And letting the words brush over you as you think about lunch or work or holidays. 00:03:27.219 --> 00:03:28.360 Or Wales. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:35.400 Listening very carefully is very important. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:43.620 And in the opening parable in Matthew 13, listening is the topic that Jesus is particularly addressing. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:52.960 In fact, in just 23 verses, he uses the phrase, hear, ears, listening, hearing, 20 times. 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:58.080 It is the absolute focus of all that he's trying to tell us this morning. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:01.960 So could I invite you in your Bibles to turn to Matthew 13? 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.780 And once you've got there, please would you stand? 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:05.100 And... 00:04:05.100 --> 00:04:21.939 That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:30.019 Such loud crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat in it while all the people stood on the shore. 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:34.359 Then he told them many things in parable, saying, 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:38.959 A farmer went out to sow his seed. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:43.419 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:46.839 Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. 00:04:47.219 --> 00:04:49.699 It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 00:04:50.419 --> 00:04:55.839 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:59.819 Other seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the plants. 00:05:00.479 --> 00:05:05.979 Still other seed fell on good soil where it produced a crop 160 or 30 times what was sown. 00:05:06.799 --> 00:05:08.979 Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. 00:05:10.099 --> 00:05:11.699 The disciples came to him and asked, 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:13.799 Why do you speak to the people in parables? 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:15.299 He replied, 00:05:15.419 --> 00:05:20.519 Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you, but not to them. 00:05:21.179 --> 00:05:24.859 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:29.160 Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:31.720 This is why I speak to them in parables. 00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:36.160 Though seeing they do not see, though hearing they do not hear or understand. 00:05:37.220 --> 00:05:39.400 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. 00:05:39.840 --> 00:05:42.160 You will be ever hearing, but never understanding. 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:44.639 You will be ever seeing, but never perceiving. 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:46.860 For this people's heart has become calloused. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:51.699 They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:58.879 Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them. 00:05:59.659 --> 00:06:04.459 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:10.480 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see, but did not see it. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:13.659 And to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:17.000 Listen then to what the parable of the sower means. 00:06:17.400 --> 00:06:21.020 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:25.400 the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:28.120 This is the seed sown along the path. 00:06:28.760 --> 00:06:34.500 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.540 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:42.800 When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:47.819 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, 00:06:48.020 --> 00:06:53.720 but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:07:00.800 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. 00:07:01.400 --> 00:07:08.140 This is the one who produces a crop yielding 160 or 30 times what was sown. 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:12.740 Now Jesus says the whole of Matthew 13 while the people are standing up. 00:07:13.140 --> 00:07:14.379 But I'll let you have a seat. 00:07:20.020 --> 00:07:28.600 Matthew 13 is the probably second most famous parable that Jesus says behind probably the good Samaritan. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:34.460 And Matthew 13 forms the third major discourse in Matthew's gospel. 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:39.180 Matthew arranges his gospel around five discourses. 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:42.959 Around five bits of prolonged teaching. 00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:47.620 And the parables of the kingdom form the middle one and they're quite unique 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:51.560 because at least at the start Jesus is talking to the entire crowd 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:54.899 and not just his disciples. 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:59.099 Jesus told around 40 parables. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:03.040 That is, depending on your definition of a parable. 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:06.640 They make up about a third of all his teaching. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:13.000 And Matthew 13 is not the first time he's preached in parables in Matthew's gospel. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.820 We had the wise and foolish builder at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:24.220 We had this simile parable about clothes patches and wineskins in the middle of Matthew 9. 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:31.740 But Matthew 13 is the greatest cluster, the most concentrated arrangement of parables in the whole Bible. 00:08:32.540 --> 00:08:41.639 In fact, we get eight parables, two interpretations and one explanation of parables in this single chapter alone. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:45.879 And the Sunday school definition of a parable you cannot beat. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:57.759 In Sunday school, if you went, if you listened, you would have heard that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.220 Let's all do that together. 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:02.779 We've already stood up, now let's do some actions. 00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:07.100 An earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:08.820 Great. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.539 You can't really improve on that. 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:17.839 But why does Jesus start speaking in parables? 00:09:18.579 --> 00:09:22.819 In Matthew 13, it's very clear in verse 3. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:25.500 Then he told them many things in parables. 00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:28.079 Why now? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:29.919 Why parables? 00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:33.860 And that's what's going to occupy our time for the first bit of this morning. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:37.299 Why does Jesus start speaking in parables? 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:39.620 The purpose of parables. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:49.000 And he tells us in that middle section between the parable and the interpretation in Matthew 13, verses 10 to 17. 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:53.019 He told them many things in parables. 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:55.519 Verse 34 of the chapter. 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:58.659 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.919 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:16.959 This seems to have been a very deliberate seismic shift in Jesus' approach to move from teaching normally and didactically to now start speaking in parables. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:22.039 Using stories, using earthly stories with heavenly meanings. 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:27.779 And I think it is really significant as we get up to speed in Matthew's gospel. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:33.620 In Matthew chapter 4, verse 17, Jesus starts his public ministry with these words, 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:36.740 Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near. 00:10:37.459 --> 00:10:43.259 The kingdom of God has come near because God's chosen, anointed king, Jesus Christ, has come near. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:47.879 That the kingdom is here because the king is here. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.600 Well, you'd think that would be the end of the gospel, wouldn't it? 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:56.899 Chapter 4, verse 18 of Matthew should say, well, everyone got in line, lined up and sung the national anthem. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.139 Even Jeremy Corbyn. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:10:59.639 King's here. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:01.019 Let's all sing. 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:03.879 But actually what we find 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:12.639 is that there's a great variety, a great range of responses to Jesus. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:19.100 From the end of the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 7 to the beginning of Matthew 13, 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:25.159 the reaction to Jesus is increasingly varied and increasingly hostile. 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:32.379 After the healing of the paralyzed man, we read this of the crowd. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:40.980 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe and they praised God who had given such authority to man. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:47.379 After the healing of the blind and mute man, just 25 verses later, the crowd was amazed and said, 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.959 nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:58.200 But the very next verse, but the Pharisees said it is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons. 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:03.740 One group amazed, the other group saying he's actually a cultic. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:12.420 Even John the Baptist in chapter 11, verse 3, are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else? 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:19.639 Even John the Baptist, the one who's described as the greatest born among men. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.259 And he's not quite sure. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:31.480 Chapter 11, verse 19, the crowd call him a drunkard and a glutton. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:39.100 Chapter 12, verse 15, aware of this, a large crowd followed him and he healed them all. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:44.160 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:49.920 Chapter 12, verse 23, all the people were astonished and said, 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:51.680 could this be the son of David? 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:57.240 The very next verse, but when the Pharisees heard this, they said, 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:02.980 it is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons. 00:13:04.540 --> 00:13:06.780 People are seeing the same thing. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.340 They're hearing the same thing, but the reaction to Jesus is incredibly varied. 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:15.759 That's just to keep you awake and keep you listening. 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:19.200 Some people, you're the son of David. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:21.740 Some people, I'm praising God and I'm amazed. 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:23.420 Some people, we need to kill him. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:27.759 Others, he's possessed by a demon who gives him this power. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.879 He's a drunkard. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.700 He's a glutton. 00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:30.259 Do you see? 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.540 The spectrum is enormous. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:45.959 It is at this point where the reaction to Jesus is at its most varied that Jesus starts to speak in parables. 00:13:47.579 --> 00:13:50.199 And parables are more than just sermon illustrations. 00:13:50.200 --> 00:14:01.720 They're actually an incredible rhetorical device employed by Jesus to reveal truth to the faithful and conceal truth from the hard-hearted. 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:04.020 They do this double thing. 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.259 Those who get it get more. 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:09.100 Those who don't get it are left bamboozled. 00:14:10.140 --> 00:14:10.960 And they get nothing. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:14.360 It is more than just simply a sermon illustration. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.060 It is a rhetorical device. 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:18.759 So those with ears to hear, hear clearly. 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:25.239 And those with ears that are blocked and hearts that are hard don't get anything. 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:34.219 The use of parables perplexes those on the outside but to those on the inside. 00:14:34.859 --> 00:14:36.399 It gives them greater insights. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.379 There is an in and an out. 00:14:42.079 --> 00:14:43.159 See verse 11. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:46.279 Because the knowledge of the kingdom of God has been given to you. 00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:48.559 But not to them. 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.860 There is a them and an us. 00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:52.839 There are insiders and outsiders. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:55.759 And a parable makes that divide even wider. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.399 Because those that are in get more and those that are out get less. 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.339 See that it's divine sovereignty. 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.039 Verse 11. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:13.980 And he replied because the knowledge of the kingdom, the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you but not to them. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:17.159 This word secrets, the Greek word mysterion. 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:21.299 A secret that cannot be known unless it's revealed to you. 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:26.819 So what Jesus is saying is the reason you understand is because God has given you insights. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.779 God has revealed to you the secrets of the kingdom. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:35.500 But see, there's human responsibility as well. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.159 Verse 12. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:42.879 Whoever has more will be given more and they will have an abundance. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:47.159 Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them. 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:52.980 That God reveals the secrets but if you do nothing with them they'll be taken away from you. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:56.019 We all know what this is like in life. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:58.840 I came back from sabbatical last September. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.879 I'd taken up running. 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.899 I was the fittest I've ever been. 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:05.180 And yet, I missed one run. 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.560 And then another run. 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.960 And then a week of runs. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.100 And then a month of runs. 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.379 And I can tell you I haven't actually been running since March. 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:17.980 And my fitness level, I live on the third floor and I'm exhausted by the time I get to the front door. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:22.019 Fitness, if you have it, but don't use it. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.919 It's taken away if you play a musical instrument. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:27.220 Quickly gone if you speak a foreign language but don't use it. 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.620 You quickly get tongue-tied. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:36.019 And then Jesus quotes extensively from Isaiah chapter 6 in verse 14. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.039 We all know the first bit of Isaiah chapter 6. 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:45.899 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord seated on the throne and the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.019 We love that bit. 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:50.279 That ends with Isaiah saying, here I am, send me. 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.579 We love that bit. 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:54.060 We all would love Isaiah's commissioning. 00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:57.240 But none of us would like Isaiah's ministry. 00:16:58.060 --> 00:17:04.860 Because God goes on to say, they'll be always hearing but never understanding. 00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:07.860 They'll be seeing but they will never perceive. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.519 Why? 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:11.380 Because they've hardened their hearts. 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:16.040 They've hardened their hearts to God's word. 00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:26.420 Isaiah's preaching, rather than melt soft, waxy hearts, will only harden hard, earthen, clayey hearts. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:31.400 And so look what it says in Matthew 13 verse 15. 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:34.539 For this people's heart has become calloused. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.960 They stopped listening. 00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:39.880 They closed their ears and their heart became hard. 00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:44.680 They hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:48.080 They have deliberately turned away from God's word. 00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:53.380 And that's said against this glorious God who's looking to initiate and heal. 00:17:53.380 --> 00:18:01.240 Because if they did turn, the end of verse 15, I would heal them. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.140 A deliberate turning away. 00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:07.860 A deliberate drowning out of God's word. 00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:10.599 So the parables act as a filter. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:15.819 They widen the divide and clarify the camps between those who listen and understand. 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:20.179 And those who only hear and reject what God is saying. 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:26.519 It is only those that have been given ears to hear that really hear. 00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:34.539 This then helps us see why our understanding of these parables is a great indicator of our response to Jesus. 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:38.379 That we're invited to be in particularly this parable. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:43.440 And to discern which type of soil we are today. 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:46.019 That is the purpose of parables. 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:48.759 So now let's move to understanding this parable. 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.980 The power of the sower. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:53.399 It is ultra familiar, isn't it? 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:58.659 That I dare say if you were in Sunday school to learn that a parable was an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:04.240 You then did some kind of craft involving a piece of paper divided into four and some seeds, right? 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:12.740 But it's important that we hear what God is saying to us through it this morning. 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.200 There's four types of soil. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.519 Some of it compacted paths. 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:20.200 Some rocky. 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.720 Some weedy. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.700 And some very congenial like miracle growth. 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:29.279 But only one soil produces a crop. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:34.640 Whilst the other three make varying attempts but are ultimately unproductive. 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:43.680 To explain this very varied response to Jesus' word, he tells us a story about a farmer who sows seed. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:49.360 And then he interprets it for us so we can see what we're supposed to be. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.099 And so we get the first type of soil. 00:19:53.699 --> 00:19:54.679 The path. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:58.000 And these people are like Teflon hearers. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:01.759 You know Teflon that coats your frying pan that makes it non-stick? 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.359 That's what these people's ears are like. 00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:04.979 It's non-stick. 00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:08.159 They hear it and it's in one ear and out the other. 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:11.339 There's nothing keeping it there. 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.839 There's no absorption. 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.759 It just sits on the surface. 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:17.599 And then it's snatched away. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:21.019 Then the birds come and they eat it up. 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.279 And it's unfruitful. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.539 It doesn't even get a look in. 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:32.200 It's dining day for the pigeons but no production, no fruitfulness in the heart. 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:36.619 These people remain blind to the truth about Jesus. 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:40.519 And I wonder how do we hear this morning? 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.779 How do you hear this morning? 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:46.480 I'm not talking about how you heard a year ago or when you became a Christian. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.859 How do you hear today? 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.720 Is it like this? 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.559 You used to listen intently. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.759 You used to read your Bibles and obey. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:58.819 But now it just washes over you and is all too quickly snatched. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:04.259 Is this word just sitting on the surface at a superficial level of your life? 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:06.279 Or are you internalizing it? 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:10.500 Because Jesus says don't be a Teflon hearer. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.180 Because it bears no fruit in your life. 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:23.460 Does this word penetrate and continue to resonate and reverberate in your life through the week? 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:31.620 Or will it be left on the surface and snatched away as soon as the words have dissipated into the air? 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.039 Don't be a Teflon hearer. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.420 Then he talks about the rocks. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:40.160 And if that was a Teflon hearer, this is a fair weather hearer. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:43.259 Do you see what it says? 00:21:45.060 --> 00:21:47.620 They received the word with joy. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:50.620 These people really seemed to get it. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:53.380 They listened and they went, that's amazing. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:58.800 And it grew up fast, which it would do if there was rocky soil. 00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:02.780 Where the bedrock is just below this very thin surface of topsoil. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.540 Because it's warm and it keeps water. 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.620 And the plants grow very quick. 00:22:07.760 --> 00:22:10.920 But as soon as they shoot up, they wither and die because there's no roots. 00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:15.280 And I wonder, how do we hear? 00:22:17.040 --> 00:22:18.440 How do we hear? 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:18.559 How do we hear? 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:23.720 Because it says when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:25.039 There's no depth. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.460 There's no roots. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.140 They hear. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.519 They're excited. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.080 But when the excitement fades, the plants die. 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:35.340 There's nothing keeping them there. 00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:42.259 A fair weather hearer, when it's all good, will grow. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:46.360 When it starts to get tough, I want nothing to do with it. 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:48.799 It withers and dies. 00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:51.419 It's a short-lived spurt of growth. 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:54.099 But there's no nutrients, no root system. 00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:55.539 So it withers and dies. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.219 Receive it with joy. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:00.719 It looks so promising, but it never goes deep. 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:03.179 And I wonder, how do we hear? 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:07.359 When God tells us things we want to hear, we're like, yes. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:15.719 But when he challenges us or calls us to change or do an about-turn in the way we're living, 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:18.939 I don't really like that word that much. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.839 We'll just pretend we didn't hear it. 00:23:21.959 --> 00:23:24.500 Fair weather hearers, no depth. 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:26.159 Don't be a fair weather hearer. 00:23:28.199 --> 00:23:30.419 Third type of soil is amongst the weeds. 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:34.279 And again, this has some sort of growth. 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.519 There is some growth, but the thorns choke it out. 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:40.100 They get distracted. 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:46.700 They get distracted with two things in particular, the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth. 00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:49.820 When I read this, I couldn't help but think of only fools and horses. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:54.640 You've got this guy, Del Boy, and Del Boy starts every episode by saying, 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:58.220 Oh, I've got this new scheme, this new scam, which always follows with, 00:23:58.300 --> 00:24:00.880 Rodney, by this time next year we could be millionaires. 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:08.140 But by the next episode it's all gone wrong and he's distracted by another thing and then another thing and then another thing. 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.360 That's like these hearers. 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:16.480 They hear the word and it starts to grow, but they're then distracted and they start thinking about their wealth or their worries. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:25.440 And this word doesn't have a chance because these worries and this wealth become so big in their life that the word is choked out. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.279 It's choked out. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:36.759 It loses the competition between eternal treasure and worldly worries. 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:45.059 Things like comfort in the bank account, the possessions and pleasures and pleasures of life. 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:50.379 And we go, I much prefer them today than what you're saying to me, God. 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:53.240 And the word is choked out. 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.639 Don't be a Del Boy hearer. 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:59.200 What is it that's getting in the way of you hearing this word? 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.839 Of you feasting on this word? 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:04.799 What is the dividedness of your heart about? 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:10.539 Because there's many thorns and weeds out there that will choke out this word. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:14.000 And unless we love this most, it will never grow. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.960 And we'll never feast on it as we should. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:21.159 And we'll never bear the fruit that we could. 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:24.539 And finally, there's the good soil and I love this advert. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.039 Heineken hearing and I love Dr. Spock. 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:30.680 Do you see what happens to his ears? 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:33.599 And what's the Heineken tagline? 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:37.299 Heineken refreshes parts that other bears can't reach. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:42.779 And that's what it seems to do to this, this word seems to do in people's lives. 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:45.059 That it gets right down deep. 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:46.579 It's got huge roots. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.319 It grows. 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.440 They've got ears. 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:51.039 It's a virtuous circle. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:53.279 They love what they read, so they read it more. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:55.419 And they love what they read, so they read it more. 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.940 And it bears fruit. 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:01.180 It bears great fruit. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:04.580 It bears an unbelievable yield. 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:11.980 In the time that Jesus is writing, one ear of corn would maybe produce six, seven, eight ears of corn. 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:19.320 In our day of GM and all that selective breeding, 30, 60, and 100 doesn't astound us. 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.779 In this day, it would astound them. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:25.420 And it's a continuous, so it keeps on bearing fruit. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:28.580 This word is the gift that just keeps on giving. 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:41.480 If we absorb it, if we assimilate it, if we take it down deep into our lives, it produces a crop of 30, 60, and 100 times. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:46.519 One type of soil is incredibly fruitful. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:51.059 And what is it that makes that soil fruitful? 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.220 Are we here? 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:59.200 Whether we really hear, whether we really listen to what God is saying, 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:04.759 or whether it sits on the surface, gets choked out, or never develops roots. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:09.639 John MacArthur writes, fruit bearing is the whole point of agriculture. 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:16.620 In the harvest, weedy ground offers no more hope than does the hard path or shallow soil. 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:19.780 All these are equally fruitless in the end. 00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:27.700 Fruit bearing is the whole point of agriculture, and it is also the ultimate test then of salvation. 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:29.660 How do you hear? 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:33.580 How do you hear today? 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:39.059 And so I want to give you some principles from this parable as we close. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.319 Firstly, the work of the word. 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:46.259 It is the word that does the work. 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:55.500 It is this word, listened, understand, understood, absorbed into our life, and acted upon that bears fruit in our lives. 00:27:55.500 --> 00:28:00.740 It is all about the centrality of the word, and our attitude to the word. 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:06.099 Throughout church history, many people have got distracted with many things. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:10.220 The Middle Ages, the sacraments became the focus of church. 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:13.460 And the Reformation comes along, and the thing that they do is they say, 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.960 no, the Bible is center. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:19.640 Listening to what God says in his word is the point. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.640 Spiritual gifts distract. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.500 Social action distracts. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:27.500 Worship and singing distracts. 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:32.960 And if we learn one thing from this parable, it is that the word does the work. 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:38.640 It is about the Bible having the right place in our church, the right place in our lives, 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.859 and the right place in our daily schedule. 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:45.900 Fruitfulness revolves around the word. 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:50.900 It is God's word that brings life and joy and hope. 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.599 If we will but hear or absorb. 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:57.660 Secondly, we learn about the kind of kingdom. 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.359 How does the kingdom of God grow? 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:04.420 Well, it grows slowly. 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:07.740 It almost develops under the radar. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.859 How does the kingdom grow? 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:14.099 Well, as the king goes out and sows seed. 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:16.539 It's very unassuming. 00:29:16.719 --> 00:29:18.139 It's almost overlooked. 00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:26.980 Just the chapter before, Jesus quotes Isaiah 42 about his ministry. 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.299 And this is what it says of himself. 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:30.359 He will not quarrel or cry out. 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:45.719 What sort of king is he? 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:47.200 Well, he's not a triumphant king. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:51.799 This is an Aladdin with Prince Ali going to get Princess Jasmine in the story. 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:55.559 With elephants and trumpets and great pomp and circumstance. 00:29:55.559 --> 00:30:00.899 This is a humble king who sows his word. 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:03.440 And his word is what builds the kingdom. 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:06.640 He's a king who understands. 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:10.920 He doesn't break bruised weeds or snuff out smouldering wicks. 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:16.840 He's gentle and he comes alongside so he might sow his word into our lives. 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:21.640 Thirdly, I think we know what we're supposed to do. 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.940 We're supposed to scatter the seed. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.039 That's what we're called to do. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:28.519 We're supposed to do what the king himself does is scatter the seed. 00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:29.820 And the seed is the word. 00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:34.519 And as the word is scattered, some will fall on rocky ground. 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.400 Some on the path. 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:37.779 Some amongst the weeds. 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.779 But some will fall in good soil. 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:44.960 And it will grow and it will bear fruit unto eternal life. 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:48.539 We're called to faithfulness in the scattering. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:51.819 We're allowed to sow outrageously. 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.819 The bucket of seed is enormous. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:31:02.139 And our call is to sow it faithfully and outrageously. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:04.500 We're called to be sowers of seed. 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:06.460 Not soil samplers. 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.799 Oh, they look like they might respond. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.740 Oh, here's a little bit. 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:13.519 But just sowing and sowing and sowing and sowing. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:17.059 Fourthly, patchy but profitable. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:22.839 It doesn't seem like a great process, does it? 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:24.819 It doesn't seem very effective or efficient. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:30.279 That actually if the soil is a quarter, it's in a harlequin shape. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.920 Only one quarter grows. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.039 That seems pretty inefficient. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:44.639 But I think the great encouragement is when it grows, when it takes root, it produces an exponential harvest. 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:48.339 30, 60 or 100 times. 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:50.420 Season after season. 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:52.059 Harvest after harvest. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.059 It's not wasteful. 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:54.720 It's not wasteful at all. 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.559 It's abundant. 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:59.039 And incredibly profitable. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:03.139 And I wonder, is that a reflection of your life today? 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.140 Bearing fruit. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:05.020 Bearing fruit. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.940 30, 60 and 100 times. 00:32:07.040 --> 00:32:08.660 And it's the gift that just keeps on giving. 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:13.600 As we hear and listen and respond to God's word. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:17.699 Penultimately, the seed is sufficient. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.740 Everything needed is in the seed. 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:23.000 We're just to sow it. 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:27.500 Just like when you sow your geraniums, the seed is sufficient. 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:31.139 You don't need to go out and breathe on it every day. 00:32:31.219 --> 00:32:33.399 Some of you might sing to it, but that's because you're weird. 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.459 Sow the seed. 00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:41.899 Everything needed to bear fruit and life is in the seed. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:52.379 The seed is the gospel, the good news about Jesus who came to give life and hope and bear fruit in our lives forever. 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:55.299 The deficiency is not in the seed. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:57.500 It's the same seed in four places. 00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:59.039 The difference is in the soil. 00:33:00.679 --> 00:33:02.039 Romans 1.16 says, 00:33:02.159 --> 00:33:07.899 I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:13.340 This little seed, this little overlooked word is the power of God. 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:16.820 Nothing else is described as the power of God. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:23.740 As Ian started our service talking about the greatness of God in the galaxies, they're never described as the power of God. 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:32.799 The lightning we see come to earth in all its drama and noise and light, never described as the power of God. 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:33.700 The one thing. 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:36.120 This little seed. 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:49.839 This eternal story of a God who entered history, became a man, lived a perfect life and humbled himself to death on a cross, rising again to prove everything that he'd done is true. 00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:51.559 That is the power of God. 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:57.139 And it brings salvation whenever it's heard and responded to. 00:33:57.140 --> 00:34:01.660 And then lastly, there's a real duty of discipleship. 00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:07.660 Do you see, there's lots, there's lots of seed that seems to grow. 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:12.599 But particularly in the rocky soil, what stops it? 00:34:12.660 --> 00:34:13.780 It doesn't have any roots. 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:19.840 That the person's roots don't go down deep into this word. 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:25.400 And so like a bit of wheat when it has no roots, it's quickly shriveled and dies. 00:34:27.139 --> 00:34:34.699 So it's important that each of us, all the time, are encouraging one another to get our face in the book. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.099 To read, to discuss. 00:34:38.359 --> 00:34:43.539 How encouraging to see a small group report where people are saying, what do you enjoy the most? 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.359 Discussing God's word. 00:34:47.259 --> 00:34:52.139 As we hear it and respond to it, there's a real duty of discipleship. 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:58.819 Peter will talk about craving this like pure spiritual milk so that we'll grow up into maturity. 00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:01.480 I wonder, is that your life today? 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:04.219 And if not, how can we help? 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:12.779 What can we do to come alongside so we can all grow together and produce this glorious harvest unto eternal life? 00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:16.080 How are your ears this morning? 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:19.560 How are your ears this morning? 00:35:19.640 --> 00:35:21.600 One question as we finish. 00:35:22.560 --> 00:35:24.180 How many people are on the train? 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:32.900 Those who have ears, let them hear. 00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:35.300 The answer is 190. 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:38.240 Let me pray. 00:35:40.140 --> 00:35:41.120 And then we'll sing. 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:51.220 Father God, we don't want this word to sit on the surface and be snatched away. 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:58.500 We don't want it to just spurt for a little while and then shrivel and die. 00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:06.880 We don't want it to be choked out by worries and concerns and the pursuit of wealth. 00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:11.719 And yet, Lord, left to our own devices, Lord, that is what is going to happen. 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:19.619 So, Lord, would you send your spirit that this word might be seared on our hearts in indelible ink. 00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:32.219 And that we might go from here with a fresh zeal to read, to listen, to obey, to understand, to assimilate your word. 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:36.500 Father, thank you for all the promises surrounding your word. 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:44.759 Thank you for what you say through Isaiah in chapter 55, that as the rain comes down from heaven and does not return to you without first watering the earth, 00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:47.880 so is my word that comes forth from my mouth. 00:36:48.100 --> 00:36:53.400 It will not return to me void, but will accomplish everything that I've sent it out to do. 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:59.080 And so, Lord, through your word, in each of our lives and our life corporately, 00:36:59.180 --> 00:37:03.820 would you accomplish great things and great fruitfulness through your word. 00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:09.380 Father, we ask this for Jesus' sake, in Jesus' name, and for his glory alone. 00:37:10.080 --> 00:37:14.540 Father, come and may your good seed find the good soil of our lives. 00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:17.520 Father, help us produce fruit. 00:37:18.740 --> 00:37:19.060 Amen.