WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 So let's go ahead, go into our text, we'll read it, and get into it. 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:08.460 Matthew 13, starting in verse 1, says, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:55.700 And then down to verse 18, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Matthew 13, starting in verse 1, 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:45.340 Before we get into it, let's pray. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:02:09.340 Amen. 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:09.860 Amen. 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:10.860 Amen. 00:02:39.860 --> 00:03:09.860 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:39.860 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:51.180 He also is providing us a promise. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:56.159 Jesus provides a promise that there will always be people who will not respond to his message. 00:03:56.939 --> 00:03:59.000 There are those who will simply not accept it. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:05.599 But at the same time, there are those who will, and he promises that they will produce an abundant harvest. 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:10.240 No amount of weed-infested soil or untenable ground will be able to stop that. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:13.400 This is what we can expect from the kingdom of heaven. 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:19.800 Matthew further expounds on these ideas, and he presents Jesus' teaching on the parable of the sower. 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:23.720 But before we get to the parable itself, Matthew sets the scene for us. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:27.620 At the very beginning of our text, Matthew mentions that same day. 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:33.100 So it's all happening on the same day, and for good reason, because quite a lot has happened up to this point. 00:04:33.100 --> 00:04:39.560 Before the event of our text, Jesus has performed a number of miracles, ranging from healing to casting out a demon. 00:04:40.080 --> 00:04:44.660 He has also engaged with scribes and Pharisees, and on a couple of occasions called them an evil, 00:04:44.760 --> 00:04:48.760 or on one occasion called them an evil and adulterous generation because they asked for a sign. 00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:55.879 This work and this routine of Jesus' healing, performing miraculous signs, and teaching was more than just some attractional method. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.740 It was to prove his divinity and his authority. 00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:06.340 Matthew has recorded the day full of events to further validate Jesus' message and prove that he is the Christ. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:11.879 Matthew is saying that as difficult as they may be, Jesus' words have authority. 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:18.360 Just before the events of our passage, and literally right before it, in Matthew 12, 46-50, 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:22.819 Jesus' mother and brothers were seeking him, but instead of rushing out of the house to see them, 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:26.340 he took the opportunity to talk about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:28.500 In that text it says, 00:05:28.799 --> 00:05:48.959 Notice in that text both the exclusive nature of the response in addition to the visual imagery of separation. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:54.419 Those who do the will of Father being inside the house, while even Jesus' own family are on the outside. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:59.479 Matthew is helping to prime his readers for this type of exclusive language that is about to follow. 00:06:00.659 --> 00:06:03.399 So, let's pick up where the narrative starts in our text. 00:06:03.919 --> 00:06:04.859 Matthew records for us that, 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:19.180 Our passage begins with Jesus leaving the house to go and sit beside the sea on his own. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:23.220 In all cases, Jesus knew what was about to happen next, 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:26.740 but Matthew does not tell us why exactly he does this in the text. 00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:30.879 From a practical standpoint, Jesus may have been seeking some time alone. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:38.079 He often does this to pray, to prepare for the next task, before making a decision, to grieve, and even just to rest. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:43.000 As is often the case, though, the crowds find him and gather all around. 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:46.879 In order to alleviate some of the chaos of the amount of people, 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:49.100 and perhaps allow the crowd to hear better, 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:52.439 he gets into a boat while the crowd stands on the beach. 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:56.079 Although it is not mentioned, we see that later in the text, 00:06:56.219 --> 00:06:58.719 the disciples are able to ask him a question privately, 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:02.240 so it would seem that they were able to join him in the boat as well. 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:05.019 Here is yet another distinction being made, 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:06.939 this time between the crowd and his disciples. 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:09.579 Lastly, one other thing to notice. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.439 After getting to the boat, Jesus does something significant. 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:14.379 He sits down. 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:16.439 If you are an astute Bible reader, 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:19.920 you may have noticed that this was something he does a lot before he begins to teach. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.939 He does this in rabbinic fashion, as was common for teachers of the day, 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:25.699 as an authoritative stance. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.840 If the signs were not enough, 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:30.780 even the way that he sits expresses his teaching authority. 00:07:31.640 --> 00:07:33.480 The words that are about to come forth are profitable, 00:07:33.740 --> 00:07:34.939 so we would do well to listen. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:36.520 So let's do that. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:37.939 Let's begin starting in verse 3, 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:40.860 and see what he begins to teach the people. 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:42.400 Verse 3 says, 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:44.340 And he told them many things in parables, 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:45.060 saying, 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:47.120 A sower went out to sow. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.540 This image would be quite familiar to the listeners, 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:52.540 and they would have easily pictured a farmer 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:54.959 utilizing what is known as broadcast sowing. 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:56.980 This is taking seed by hand 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:59.040 and then scattering it over the surface of the field. 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:00.540 In this context, 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:03.100 the most common seed would probably have been some kind of wheat or barley, 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:04.740 and that was very common in that region. 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:08.459 Jesus then goes on to talk about where these seeds fall. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.040 And that will be where we take most of our time, 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:13.139 and how we will unpack the rest of our text. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:14.300 We're going to talk about, 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:15.680 firstly, the soils. 00:08:15.840 --> 00:08:16.920 That will be our first point, 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:17.980 is the soils. 00:08:18.259 --> 00:08:19.020 And then secondly, 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:20.439 we'll have the interpretation. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:24.680 We'll talk about the situations that are presented to us as they come, 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:26.960 and then we'll discuss their meaning afterwards. 00:08:28.020 --> 00:08:29.300 So, point number one, 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:30.879 we have the soils. 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:32.940 Starting in verse 4, 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:33.860 Jesus says, 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:59.240 So, our first soil that we're going to talk about is the path. 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:02.460 The first soil will be the path. 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.660 This is found in verse 4. 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:07.519 See, these types of paths would have been all over the area. 00:09:08.160 --> 00:09:10.320 With much of the land being used for farming, 00:09:10.780 --> 00:09:14.400 these paths were used to cut between plots of land during travel, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.100 either from one farm to another, 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:17.580 or just simply going through the country. 00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:19.379 They were well used, 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:21.340 and the dirt on it would be well packed down, 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:22.700 and pretty hard. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:24.720 The seeds fell on the ground, 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:27.000 and do not find soil to be in good condition. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:28.200 It's too hard to penetrate, 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:29.840 and so they remain on the surface. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:32.560 This allows birds to come and eat. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:34.100 And in addition to that, 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:34.920 Luke, in his account, 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.980 mentions that not only did the birds eat, 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.720 but the seeds were also trampled underfoot 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:39.620 by some of those travelers. 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:41.100 In other words, 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:43.840 the seed has no chance to take any root. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:47.040 So that is the path. 00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:49.720 Our second point under soils 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.160 is the rocky ground. 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:53.940 This is found in verses 5 through 6. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:56.240 Now, when you think of rocky ground, 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.040 you might, as I did at first, 00:09:58.160 --> 00:10:00.160 think of soil that has just a bunch of rocks in it. 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.920 And this was not the type of rocky ground 00:10:01.920 --> 00:10:03.100 that Jesus was referring to. 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:04.520 Rather, in that region, 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.780 it was common that the bedrock was quite high 00:10:06.780 --> 00:10:08.420 and allowed for little depth of soil. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.600 This stone, probably limestone, 00:10:10.780 --> 00:10:11.900 would lead to shallow ground, 00:10:12.020 --> 00:10:13.200 where plants would have difficulty 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.780 finding any actual depth, 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:15.960 and the roots, therefore, 00:10:16.040 --> 00:10:18.120 would have a difficult time accessing nutrients. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:21.560 What looked initially like a promising and healthy plant 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:23.179 that were growing at a remarkable rate 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.679 would be dead and withered away 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:26.580 not long after the sun scorched it, 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:28.279 resulting in a dead plant. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:32.779 This brings us to our third type of soil. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:35.159 We had the path, the rocky ground, 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:36.539 and now we have the thorns. 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.940 This is found in verse 7, the thorns. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:42.600 This seed falls into an area 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.419 where there are competing plants to worry about. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:46.919 It is less that the thorns grow around it 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:48.399 and literally cut and choke the plant, 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.000 and more likely that they would have been 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.379 competing thorns around it 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:53.419 and simply blocks too much sunlight, 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:54.500 used too much water, 00:10:54.579 --> 00:10:56.059 or literally entangled its roots 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:57.319 with the roots of the good plant. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:10:59.839 The soil might have been healthy. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.299 It might have even been the best soil of them so far. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.179 But the thorn plants grew along it 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:05.379 so that the good plant ended up 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:07.039 producing nothing worthwhile. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:10.980 The case in all three of the previous soils 00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:12.519 and the commonality between them 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:14.899 is that they had no yield or fruit. 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:17.179 Notice the progression of the three. 00:11:17.319 --> 00:11:19.319 The first had no chance to begin at all. 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:21.639 The second started but withered away, 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.000 and the last grew some 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:24.600 but ended up producing nothing. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.840 A good harvest cannot be gained 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:28.459 in any of these cases, 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:30.179 and all three are going to fail 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:31.959 to produce anything worthwhile. 00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:35.240 Jesus mentions one other thing, 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.659 and we'll see that in verse 8. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:37.159 He says, 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:39.379 Other seeds fell on good soil 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.279 and produced grain, 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:41.419 some a hundredfold, 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.179 some sixty, 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.220 some thirty. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:45.139 That brings us to our last 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:46.240 and final type of soil, 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:47.740 and that is the good soil. 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:50.139 The good soil. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:52.220 Unlike the other types, 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.080 in this circumstance, 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.379 the seeds fall on the ground 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.320 in good soil and produce a crop. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:57.620 There are nutrients, 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.360 water, sunlight, 00:11:58.560 --> 00:11:59.440 and no competition. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.300 The plants not only grew, 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.860 but produced a significant crop 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.700 with varying levels 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:05.779 of a hundred, sixty, and thirty fold. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.519 This is the main difference 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.340 between that soil 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.259 and the previous three. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.259 These produce a grain. 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:14.120 Jesus then ends the telling 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:14.559 of the parable 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.919 with the phrase in verse 9, 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.360 He who has ears, 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.259 let him hear. 00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:20.980 Stealing a bit from verse 10, 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.000 the narrative continues, 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.539 because the disciples 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.139 seemed to know 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.120 that Jesus was talking 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.039 about more than just 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:26.840 the forming practices 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.460 of the day. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.259 They ended up coming to him 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.080 and asked him, 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.159 Why do you speak to them 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.659 in parables? 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.679 This is a good question, 00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:34.519 as Matthew records 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.519 that following this parable 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:36.200 and the explanation 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.419 that Jesus gives, 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.179 then places three more parables 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:39.879 before the crowd. 00:12:40.199 --> 00:12:42.479 In verse 24, 31, and 33. 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.839 And then ends in verse 34, 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.719 or Matthew ends in verse 34, 00:12:46.859 --> 00:12:47.079 saying, 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.459 All these things Jesus said 00:12:48.459 --> 00:12:49.500 to the crowds in parables. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.439 Indeed, he said nothing to them 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.439 without a parable. 00:12:53.699 --> 00:12:54.719 The disciples are curious 00:12:54.719 --> 00:12:56.319 why Jesus would use this method 00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:57.079 when it was clear 00:12:57.079 --> 00:12:58.139 the crowd would not be able 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.719 to hear and understand. 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:03.179 The answer seems initially 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:04.279 pretty unfair. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:06.259 Jesus tells them in verse 11, 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.939 To you, that is the disciples, 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:09.200 it has been given to know 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.100 the secrets of the kingdom 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.580 of heaven, 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.420 but to them it has not been given. 00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:14.980 TJ talked in depth 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:15.880 about the purpose of parables 00:13:15.880 --> 00:13:16.340 last week, 00:13:16.380 --> 00:13:17.160 so I will not go 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:18.180 in that depth today. 00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:20.080 But to answer the disciples' question, 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:20.940 remember, 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.060 parables are the method 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.340 that Jesus often employed 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.140 to share the mysteries 00:13:24.140 --> 00:13:25.060 of the kingdom. 00:13:25.640 --> 00:13:26.040 To some, 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.780 the knowledge of the kingdom 00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.200 was given, 00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:27.840 and to others, 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:28.480 it was not. 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:30.080 Both divine sovereignty 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.080 and human responsibility 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.060 are on display 00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:33.380 simultaneously here. 00:13:34.020 --> 00:13:35.480 So, from a narrative perspective, 00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:36.840 picture the distinction 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:38.340 that Matthew is displaying for us. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.920 You not only have the crowd 00:13:39.920 --> 00:13:40.780 separated from Jesus 00:13:40.780 --> 00:13:41.960 physically by the shore 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:42.780 and by the boat, 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:44.100 but the disciples, 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.480 close enough to ask Jesus 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.300 these questions, 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:47.420 showing the distinction 00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:48.120 in knowledge. 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:49.759 Many of the people 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.160 on the shore 00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:50.960 will not understand, 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.879 and all the while, 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.460 he is revealing to the disciples 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.240 the true meaning. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.379 It is a visual portrayal 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.360 of the parable itself 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.000 in action, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.840 and begins to provide 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.600 our explanation 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.139 on the polarizing response 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.800 that he is beginning 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:03.400 to receive. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.500 We will see exactly 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.159 how this parable 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.639 explains the distinction more 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.399 as we continue 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.419 to our second point, 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.299 and that is 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:10.899 the interpretation. 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:13.539 So, we had the first point 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.340 talking about the different 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.019 types of soil. 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:15.860 Now, we will get 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:16.860 into the interpretation. 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.980 Before we do, 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.399 let's see how Jesus 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.220 interprets the parable. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.079 Starting in verse 18, 00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:24.539 he says, 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.199 this evil one comes 00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:25.980 and snatches away 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.679 what has been sown 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.219 in his heart. 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.579 This is what was sown 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.459 along the path. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.120 As for what was sown 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.939 on rocky ground, 00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:32.719 this is the one 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:33.539 who hears the word 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.879 and immediately receives it 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.299 with joy, 00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:36.679 yet has no root 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.419 in himself, 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:38.899 but endures for a while, 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.819 and when tribulation 00:14:39.819 --> 00:14:40.919 or persecution arises 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.879 on account of the word, 00:14:42.219 --> 00:14:43.599 immediately he falls away. 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.219 As for what was sown 00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:45.799 among thorns, 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:46.500 this is the one 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.279 who hears the word, 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.519 but the cares of the world 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.339 and the deceitfulness 00:14:49.339 --> 00:14:50.500 of riches choke the word 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:52.039 and it proves unfruitful. 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:55.019 Before we get 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.659 into the interpretation, 00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.659 I said we would, 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.319 but before we get 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:57.639 into that, 00:14:57.719 --> 00:14:58.019 first, 00:14:58.339 --> 00:14:58.939 notice that Jesus 00:14:58.939 --> 00:14:59.839 tells us the seed 00:14:59.839 --> 00:15:00.879 is the word of the kingdom. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.419 Mark makes it 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.159 even more clear 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.819 by telling us 00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.559 that the seed 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.679 that the sower sows 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.459 is the word, 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.019 and Luke simply says 00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:10.019 the seed is the word of God. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.039 This word is the message 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.019 about Jesus Christ. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.459 He himself says 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.179 in John 5, 00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:16.179 you search the scriptures 00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:16.959 because you think 00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:17.459 that in them 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.379 you have eternal life, 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.639 and it is they 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.500 that bear witness 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.279 about me. 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:22.599 So, 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.519 the seed is the word 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.419 that takes root 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:24.899 in the soil. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.759 The soil are examples 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.539 of different types 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:28.019 of hearts. 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:29.500 When talking about 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.379 the soil on the path, 00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:31.679 Jesus says the evil one 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.559 comes and snatches away 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.360 what has been sown 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.199 in his heart. 00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:35.339 The heart seems 00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:36.120 to be the place 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.699 that the sower 00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.500 sows the seed. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.299 The sower 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.099 is the one 00:15:40.099 --> 00:15:40.559 who is spreading 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.419 the word of the kingdom 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.179 to different types 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.599 of people. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:43.860 In this case, 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:44.679 the primary sower 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.240 in our passage 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.240 is Jesus himself. 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.939 He is the ultimate sower, 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:48.839 and as the word 00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:49.439 made flesh, 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.679 are the ultimate seed. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.879 Any believer 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.939 who sows Christ's word 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:53.739 is doing so 00:15:53.739 --> 00:15:54.719 in the sower role 00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:55.939 on the Lord's behalf. 00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:57.399 There is a sense 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.339 that this is a timeless 00:15:58.339 --> 00:15:59.279 ongoing action 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.539 of sowing and growing 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.519 when he uses the phrase 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.039 when anyone hears the word. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.159 It implies a sower 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.739 and then someone 00:16:04.739 --> 00:16:05.439 to hear that. 00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:07.179 And this word 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.639 of the kingdom 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.819 is referring to the time 00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.759 when Jesus is reigning 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.699 as king on the throne, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.319 but his kingdom 00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.459 not fully realized. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.719 In this parable, 00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.479 Jesus has revealed 00:16:14.479 --> 00:16:15.019 for us 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.039 some of the expectation 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:16.659 we should have 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.359 about the age 00:16:17.359 --> 00:16:17.959 of the church. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.460 So, 00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.540 with all that in mind, 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.940 now let's look at 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:22.759 Jesus' explanation 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.840 about the different soils. 00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:25.120 And while doing so, 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.759 take a moment 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.840 to see how we might 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.920 apply this teaching 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.800 to our lives. 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:29.800 So, 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.519 under interpretation, 00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.700 we have the first type, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.900 and that is the path. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.720 It's going to be very similar 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.780 to the previous soils 00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:35.639 because they follow 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.200 one to one. 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:36.879 So, 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.379 the first one 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.120 will be the path, 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:38.639 and that's found 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.420 in verse 19. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.800 These are those 00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.600 who hear the word 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.740 and do not understand. 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.500 There's nothing wrong 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.139 with the message. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.580 The seed was not defective 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.460 or something like that, 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:48.300 but rather, 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:49.360 the issue is the hardness 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.440 of the person's heart. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:51.820 They are not interested 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.700 in anything regarding 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.440 the gospel message 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.780 or of who God is. 00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.300 They are the person 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.280 who thinks the message 00:16:57.280 --> 00:16:58.020 to be foolish, 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.020 all the while, 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.100 they are the fool 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.120 who says in his heart, 00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.180 there is no God. 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:04.120 The person is prideful, 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.860 self-righteous, 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.720 and under the impression 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.000 that they do not need God. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.340 There's also a quickness 00:17:09.340 --> 00:17:10.240 in the word snatch 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.360 that Jesus uses 00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:11.860 when he says, 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.519 the evil one comes 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.400 and snatches away 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:13.980 what has been sown 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.460 in his heart. 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:15.779 The evil one takes 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.359 no chances 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:16.879 and ensures 00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.359 that there is 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.160 zero opportunity 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:18.899 for a root 00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.700 to even begin 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.399 to take root. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.940 This person will surround 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.519 him or herself 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:23.960 with teachers 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:25.059 to suit their own passions 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.299 and assure themselves 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.279 that everything is okay, 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.619 that they are an amazing person 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.799 and no need for approval 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.680 from some God. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.519 They have all they need 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.319 right here and now, 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:33.960 be it fame, 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:34.660 money, power, 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.359 comfort, praise, 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.160 or even a type 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.220 of self-righteousness. 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.720 Different though 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.539 from the thorns, 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.299 these vices serve less 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.180 as a distraction 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.680 and more the main focus. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.420 There's no second thought 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.360 about the message at all. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:48.039 The word is given to them 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.600 and it immediately 00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.539 just bounces off. 00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:52.299 The gospel absolutely 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.460 has the power to save them, 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.759 but their heart is too hard 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.259 to acknowledge 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.000 their own need 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.600 for a savior. 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.500 There is a sense 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.019 that this person 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.120 is unconcerned 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.900 because there's nothing 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:01.880 in their minds 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.039 to be concerned about. 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.720 The question for us is, 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.840 do you give up 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:08.100 on this type of person? 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:10.419 I know that I am tempted 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.059 to do so, 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.439 but the reality is 00:18:12.439 --> 00:18:13.559 we are not responsible 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.159 for the response 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.799 of this person. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.939 We are simply called 00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:17.839 to provide a faithful 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.539 presentation of the message. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.659 God can soften any heart 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:22.740 regardless of how packed 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.299 down and hard 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.199 the soil might be. 00:18:25.179 --> 00:18:26.059 Our work is to pray 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.480 for the Lord 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.439 to change their heart 00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:28.319 so that they might be able 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:30.019 to hear and understand. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.939 Ezekiel 36, 26 says, 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:33.959 and I will give you 00:18:33.959 --> 00:18:34.559 a new heart 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.279 and a new spirit 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.199 I will put within you 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:36.920 and I will remove 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.559 the heart of stone 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.220 from your flesh 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.840 and give you 00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:39.779 a heart of flesh. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.299 And I will put my spirit 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:41.759 within you 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.259 and cause you 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.319 to walk in my statutes 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:43.940 and be careful 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.440 to obey my rules. 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.680 It is God 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.559 who does this work. 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.980 Our next type of soil 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.480 that we are going 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.360 to interpret is, 00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.240 as you guessed, 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.580 the rocky ground. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.539 This is found 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:57.319 in verses 20 and 21. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.039 The rocky ground 00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.580 is the person 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:00.600 that has much initial 00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.640 emotional excitement. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.759 Notice the term 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.160 immediately, 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.000 it is happening quickly. 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.180 And Matthew wants us 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.840 to see the speed 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.659 at which this person 00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.720 accepts the message. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.139 This response 00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:09.759 often results 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.799 in happiness and joy 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.619 as they accept it, 00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.459 as his or her feelings 00:19:14.459 --> 00:19:15.459 are changed by the word 00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:16.599 at a breakneck speed. 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.099 What a difference 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.279 from the previous soil, right? 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.099 Like, this is great. 00:19:20.699 --> 00:19:21.919 But it is short-lived. 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.480 They have heard 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.299 and even received 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:25.699 but never fully understood. 00:19:26.459 --> 00:19:27.059 There is no true 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.720 change of heart. 00:19:28.199 --> 00:19:28.799 And if we follow 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.359 the parable, 00:19:29.679 --> 00:19:30.459 it is even worse 00:19:30.459 --> 00:19:31.139 than we think, 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.779 as the hardness 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.459 from the dirt 00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:33.659 in the first type 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.200 of soil, 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.279 is nothing compared 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.759 to the hardness 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.680 of heart that we find 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.580 in the rocky depths 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:38.480 of this ground. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.380 Their heart is as hard 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.700 as stone, 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.960 with no marks 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.759 of true remorse 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.240 for sin. 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.600 There is no repentance, 00:19:46.060 --> 00:19:46.860 no brokenness, 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:48.180 and no humility. 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:50.779 The thing that causes 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.800 the person with rocky soil 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.519 to fall away, 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.360 as Jesus says, 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.100 is persecution 00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:55.279 and trials. 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.759 Just as quickly 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.759 as this person accepts, 00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:58.440 notice the other 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:58.800 immediately, 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.900 so immediately they accept 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.400 and immediately 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.480 they fall away, 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.380 is this persecution. 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.840 Anyone who accepts 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:05.460 the word, though, 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:06.120 we're reminded, 00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:07.840 is promised this trouble. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.019 Paul reminds us 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.019 in 2 Timothy 3, 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:10.580 Indeed, 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:12.019 all who desire 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.060 to live a godly life 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:13.660 in Christ Jesus 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.720 will be persecuted, 00:20:15.300 --> 00:20:16.040 while evil people 00:20:16.040 --> 00:20:16.600 and imposters 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.120 will go on 00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:18.060 from bad to worse, 00:20:18.280 --> 00:20:18.720 deceiving 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.040 and being deceived. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.700 The problem is that 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:23.040 they have not firmly believed, 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.940 and since they have not 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.660 firmly believed, 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.860 they are not encouraged 00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.720 by the sanctification 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.160 and growth 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:28.640 that comes after persecution. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.460 1 Peter 5 reminds us, 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:32.340 After you have suffered 00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:32.960 a little while, 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:34.040 the God of all grace, 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:34.880 who has called you 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.780 to his eternal glory 00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:36.220 in Christ, 00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:37.320 will himself restore, 00:20:37.780 --> 00:20:38.180 confirm, 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:38.840 strengthen, 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.840 and establish you. 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:42.080 What causes the unbeliever 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:42.800 to fall away 00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:44.020 as quickly as they came 00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:44.900 is what actually 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:46.040 increases the faith 00:20:46.040 --> 00:20:46.980 of a true believer. 00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:50.460 This shallow acceptance 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.400 that we're talking about 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.300 is often the result 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:52.960 of a shallow 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.960 gospel presentation 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.240 by those that may 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.960 let a person know 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.660 about the benefits 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.440 of salvation, 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.660 but fail to talk 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.559 about the cost. 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.440 They focus on things 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.100 like being saved 00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:02.539 from hell 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.420 or a vague idea 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.380 of the love of Jesus, 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.220 but no mention 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.320 of repenting from sin, 00:21:06.820 --> 00:21:07.640 dying to self, 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.759 or what Christ's love 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:10.120 has actually accomplished. 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.840 In Matthew 16, 24, 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.640 Jesus tells us that 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.420 if anyone would come 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:14.880 after me, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.039 let him deny himself 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.980 and take up his cross 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.680 and follow me. 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:19.220 For whoever would lose, 00:21:19.580 --> 00:21:20.360 or whoever would save 00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:20.799 his life, 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.700 he will lose it. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.019 Whoever loses his life 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.620 for my sake 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.320 will find it. 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.660 This is the type of heart 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.460 that we're looking for. 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.480 John MacArthur 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.340 on this type of person 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.519 says in his commentary, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.220 he has come to Christ 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.940 for what he thought 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:33.480 he would get 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.900 in the way of personal benefit, 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.100 but when confronted 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:36.900 with the high cost 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.380 of salvation, 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.940 he will not pay the price. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.759 He's built his religious house 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.299 on the sand 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.460 of emotional experience, 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.519 and when the storms 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.120 of affliction 00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:44.799 or persecution 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.700 beat on his house, 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.279 it crumbles 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.480 and washes away. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.259 He has the foliage 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.480 of a religious experience, 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.420 but has no root 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.320 in spiritual reality, 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.700 and therefore cannot 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.340 produce spiritual fruit, 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.579 which, as Jesus goes on 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:56.919 to say, 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.599 is the only reliable evidence 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.399 of true conversion. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:02.319 Our question for today 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.819 is, 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:04.019 does your life show 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.279 this evidence of fruit, 00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.500 or are you simply 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:08.419 writing a religious experience? 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:10.800 If you have no concept 00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:11.820 of dealing with your sin 00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:13.039 or of having a true desire 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.960 to seek after God, 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:15.400 to know him by his word, 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.259 then you might know 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.340 something about God, 00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:18.340 but do not know 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:18.860 the salvation 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.740 that this text 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.560 is referring to. 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.779 Do you perhaps know 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.920 others in this situation? 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.660 Are you being open 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.440 and honest with them 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:26.840 about it? 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.300 These interactions 00:22:28.300 --> 00:22:28.920 need to be handled 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:30.019 with the utmost love 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.900 and care for sure, 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.140 but all these conversations 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.779 must be guided by truth. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.480 If a life is not 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.259 evidenced by fruit 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.900 and it is hard 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.900 to find genuine faith, 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.320 the most unloving thing 00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:39.900 that you can do 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.740 is allow them 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.840 to continue believing a lie. 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.120 Brings us to our next 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:46.740 type of soil 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:48.120 that's found in verse 22, 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.840 and that is the thorns. 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:52.120 So we're back with the thorns. 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.720 This person finds the world 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.540 to be more interesting 00:22:56.540 --> 00:22:57.640 than the things of God. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.940 Perhaps in the beginning 00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.580 they grow well 00:22:59.580 --> 00:23:00.360 and there's some promise, 00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:01.460 but there are weeds 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.759 and thorns in the picture 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.000 that grow up with the plant. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.620 Think of the man 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.300 with many possessions 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:07.200 and so turn back 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.059 from following Jesus. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.420 But what started 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.539 as a healthy shoot 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:12.380 beginning to rise up 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.299 starts to weaken 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.200 and they become 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.200 more and more consumed 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.140 with other things. 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.519 Soon enough, 00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:18.140 they find that they have 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.420 no need for the good word 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.380 when they have the world 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.580 to fulfill their needs. 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:23.340 All the while, 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.120 not knowing, 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.759 those needs 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.640 will never be filled 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.140 by the world 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:27.160 with true satisfaction. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.259 The plant is all but 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.019 choked to death. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.380 Their faith fails 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.160 because they're caught up 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.220 in the care of the world 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.079 and the deceitfulness 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.880 of riches. 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.460 The true difference 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.180 between the thorns 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.740 and the path 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:40.640 come from that initial response. 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.980 While those on the path 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.079 don't consider it long enough 00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:44.839 to make any difference, 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.380 those in the thorns 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:47.600 initially show promise 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.039 for however long or short. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.940 Even the rich young man 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.980 was willing to follow Christ 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.900 until, of course, 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.420 he learned 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.779 what the cost was. 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.440 1 John 2 reminds us, 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.660 Do not love the world 00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.700 or the things in the world. 00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.900 If anyone loves the world, 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.720 the love of the Father 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.700 is not in him. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.140 For all that is in the world, 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.200 the desires of the flesh 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.779 and the desires of the eyes 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.440 and pride of life 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.539 is not from the Father 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.880 but is from the world. 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.799 And the world is passing away 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.799 along with its desires 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.299 but whoever does the will of God 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.100 abides forever. 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.759 At some point 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.680 in the life of a person 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.500 who has heard the word, 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.539 they will come to a moment 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.100 where they discover 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:22.140 that being in the world 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:23.340 and of the world 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:24.880 cannot happen simultaneously. 00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.779 The person must forsake 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.440 one of the two 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.119 and prove to be 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:29.399 a true or false disciple. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.359 I want to be careful 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.519 and I'm not saying 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.359 that this action 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.359 is what saves a person 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.379 but I am saying 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.740 that one who is saved 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.559 will prove to be saved 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.259 by not being of the world. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.940 This soil can look 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.819 a little bit different too. 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.579 It can look like 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.460 the anxious one 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.379 from Matthew 6 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.220 asking, 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.039 What shall we eat? 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.819 What shall we drink? 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.619 What shall we wear? 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.019 Throw in whatever question 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.079 of anxiety in there. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.139 All the while 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.839 not remembering 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.319 that life is more than food 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:55.920 and the body 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.720 more than clothing. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.359 Our Heavenly Father 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.480 feeds the birds of the air. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.559 He clothes the grass 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.119 of the field 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.220 so there is no need 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.500 to be anxious about life 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.720 and ask such questions. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.220 Our Heavenly Father 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.700 knows that we need them all. 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.859 Jesus calls us 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.660 to do one thing 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.420 in verse 33 of chapter 6. 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:13.119 Seek first the kingdom of God 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.899 and his righteousness 00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:15.180 and all these things 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.079 will be added to you. 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.099 My encouragement 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.859 for this person 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:20.399 is not to give in 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.240 to temptation. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.200 Even if what in front of you 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.379 might seem good 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.480 or be an important thing 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.460 to be concerned about 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.780 if it pulls you away 00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:28.300 from Christ 00:25:28.300 --> 00:25:29.560 it is not of the kingdom. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.220 So in the case 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.520 of all three previous soils 00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:34.120 the path, 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.800 the rocks, 00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.360 and the thorns 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:37.060 the point is 00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:38.520 I'm sure that you've seen 00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:39.420 is that we see 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.060 no fruit. 00:25:41.020 --> 00:25:41.320 The parable 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:41.940 gives us 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.100 harvest. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.660 In all cases 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.519 the seed was not able 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.059 to take root, 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.519 grow, 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.500 or produce. 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.660 In other words, 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.380 they were not able 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:49.860 to hear, 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:50.759 understand, 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.500 and believe. 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.640 So, 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.600 what would it look like 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.200 for a seed 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.900 to take root? 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.680 Before we look 00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:00.480 at what Jesus says, 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.279 let's first look 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.279 at John 15, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.480 verse 5 says, 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.279 I am the vine, 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.000 you are the branches. 00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.580 Whoever abides in me 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.259 and I am him, 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.220 he it is that bears 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:08.779 much fruit. 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.920 For apart from me 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.700 you can do nothing. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.080 By this my Father 00:26:12.080 --> 00:26:12.759 is glorified, 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.019 that you bear much fruit 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.720 and so prove 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.860 to be my disciples. 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.480 In this passage 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.980 from John, 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.740 not only is there 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.720 language of bearing fruit 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.519 as being the sign 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.420 of true discipleship, 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.819 but also the exclusive 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.080 nature of the relationship. 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.779 There's only those 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.720 who abide in Christ. 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:27.840 And who are those 00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.880 that abide in Christ? 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.240 Those whose heart 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.440 has received the word 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.259 and accepted it. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.420 And what do those 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.200 people look like? 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.480 Matthew tells us, 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.779 starting in verse 23. 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.299 As for what was 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.299 sown on good soil, 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.299 this is the one 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.119 who hears the word 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.980 and understands it. 00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.500 He indeed bears fruit 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.019 and yields, 00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:45.399 in one case a hundredfold, 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.559 and another sixty, 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.059 and another thirty. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.960 This is our last type 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.539 of soil under interpretation, 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.440 and it is the good soil. 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.419 The good soil. 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:58.500 All of the other soils 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.099 heard the word, 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.839 but the difference 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.379 in this one 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.159 is understanding. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.619 This soil has been 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.500 prepared by the Spirit 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.519 and therefore able 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.559 to receive the word. 00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:07.099 And this is not a work 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:07.919 of that person 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.620 or the soil. 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.259 John 16, 8 says, 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.060 and when he comes, 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.900 that is the Spirit, 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.480 that's what he was 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.080 talking about, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.360 he will convict the world 00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.200 concerning sin 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.900 and righteousness 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.660 and judgment. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.000 The Spirit is the one 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.580 that does this. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.580 It is not because 00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:20.720 of anything more amazing 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.500 or good that someone 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.220 has done to receive 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.740 this conviction, 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:24.460 it is simply by grace. 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:26.500 There are those 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.000 who have received 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.460 the word, 00:27:28.060 --> 00:27:28.720 these are the ones 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.259 who have received 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.420 the word of God 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:30.940 and understood. 00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:31.519 They not only know 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.460 stuff about God, 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:33.360 the difference, 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:33.840 if you remember, 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.600 is not knowledge, 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.359 but commitment. 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.679 This commitment 00:27:36.679 --> 00:27:37.539 produces joy 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.579 and that produces 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.759 action and that 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.599 leads to proclamation. 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.379 This is the sign 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.079 of a true believer 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.819 and what it means 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.559 to yield fruit. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.519 In Galatians, 00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.219 Paul tells us 00:27:48.219 --> 00:27:49.559 exactly what this fruit 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.219 should look like. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.179 He says, 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.379 but the fruit of the Spirit 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:52.879 is what? 00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:53.939 Love, 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.599 joy, 00:27:54.939 --> 00:27:55.299 peace, 00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:56.119 patience, 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.619 kindness, 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.139 goodness, 00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:57.980 faithfulness, 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:58.799 gentleness, 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.879 and self-control. 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.779 This fruit leads them 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:03.139 to become sowers as well, 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.039 sowing the seed 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.019 of the word of God 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.019 and inviting others 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.879 to true life. 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:08.920 These are those 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.619 who respond, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.279 God, 00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.460 be merciful to me, 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.240 a sinner. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.639 See, 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.740 Jesus' kingdom came 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.339 not through 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.619 a conquering king 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.579 like Israel expected, 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.819 but as a baby 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.720 born in a stable. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.779 He came not to be saved 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.599 or serve, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.599 but to serve, 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.659 to give his life 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:26.559 as a ransom for many. 00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.659 Jesus Christ served 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.639 not only in his long 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.359 days of ministry, 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.619 pouring out his life 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.159 for the disciples 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.680 and the people, 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.460 but ultimately 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.720 by dying on a cross 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.200 for us. 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:36.400 You see, 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.019 our hardened 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.559 or rocky 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.279 or choked hearts 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.960 are the result 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.519 of sin. 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.940 We are all sinners 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.500 before God 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.500 in need of his grace. 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:43.819 We are, 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.840 as Paul says in Ephesians, 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.059 dead in our trespasses 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.640 and sins. 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.019 We're following this world 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.840 and carrying out 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.799 the desires of the flesh 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.559 and the mind 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.460 and by nature 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.480 children of wrath. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.940 This is the state 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.819 of all humanity 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:56.259 and this is the unproductive 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.000 soil that Jesus 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.799 is talking about. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.500 We could not do the work 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.500 of becoming good soil 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.279 on our own. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:03.099 It took God himself 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.700 through his son 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.420 to save us. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.579 Paul continues 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:07.240 in verse 4 of Ephesians 2, 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.220 but God, 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.180 being rich in mercy 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.160 because of the great love 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.160 with which he loved us, 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.400 even when we were dead 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.359 in our trespasses, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.779 made us alive together 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.400 with Christ. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.559 It is by grace 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.460 you have been saved 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.079 through faith. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.819 This is not your own doing, 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.880 this is a gift of God, 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.319 not a result of work 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.039 so that no one 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.700 may boast. 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.000 Christ is the only one 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.180 who can change your heart 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.200 and is more than capable 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.980 of doing so. 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.779 He can change your hard 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.240 or rocky 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.319 or thorn-infested heart 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.900 and cause the seed to grow, 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.059 for he is the one 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.019 that causes the growth. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.639 He brings forth rain 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.899 and created the sun 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.440 to rise. 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.599 As a believer, 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:43.159 we become his workmanship, 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.359 created in Christ Jesus 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.059 for good works 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.220 which God prepared beforehand 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.460 that we should walk in them. 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.899 This is good fruit, 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.119 works that will ultimately 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.259 bring glory to God. 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.759 If this is a new word for you, 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.579 I would ask that you 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.299 turn to Christ 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.980 for the salvation 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.700 of your soul. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.539 Do not let it bounce off, 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.299 but take time 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.039 to truly consider 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.599 these words 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.299 in the cost. 00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.559 This is also 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.079 an encouragement 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:05.199 for Jesus' disciples 00:30:05.199 --> 00:30:06.099 and for us. 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.299 It would seem 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.019 that we may serve 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.779 in different measures, 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:09.659 some 100, 00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:10.559 some 60, 00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.240 and some 30, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.359 but it would also seem 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.099 that we are called 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.839 to be sowers 00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.740 in some capacity 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.219 or another. 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.139 Jesus provides 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:18.759 a promise 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.980 that through the sowing 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.599 that there will be 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:22.019 those who truly believe. 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.539 Think about that. 00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.319 What an encouragement. 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.159 He is promising 00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:26.740 that those who hear word 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.599 will accept it 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:28.119 and believe. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.859 Jesus is promising 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.599 that in this age 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.179 we will encounter 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:32.019 those who will not 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.000 accept the message. 00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.740 This is for sure. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.699 He is promising 00:30:34.699 --> 00:30:35.419 this distinction 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.819 and all of the difficulties 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.359 with it. 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.479 But by promising 00:30:38.479 --> 00:30:39.099 that distinction, 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.559 he is also promising us 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:42.240 that seed will bear fruit. 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.839 He is promising us 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.439 that there will be 00:30:44.439 --> 00:30:45.359 those who hear, 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:45.899 understand, 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.359 commit, 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:48.019 and also join in 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.740 proclaiming, 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.919 resulting in a great 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.659 harvest of faith 00:30:50.659 --> 00:30:51.419 through the fruit 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.159 of their lives. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.699 Isaiah 55, 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.959 verse 11 says, 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.919 For as the rain 00:30:56.919 --> 00:30:57.679 and the snow 00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.639 come down from heaven 00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.759 and do not return, 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.259 there, 00:31:00.479 --> 00:31:01.339 but water the earth, 00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:02.219 making it bring forth 00:31:02.219 --> 00:31:02.699 and sprout, 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:04.199 giving seed to the sower 00:31:04.199 --> 00:31:05.099 and bread to the eater, 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.659 so shall my word be 00:31:06.659 --> 00:31:07.959 that goes out of my mouth. 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.219 It shall not reach, 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.839 I sent it. 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.779 We are not able 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.679 to discern exactly 00:31:12.679 --> 00:31:13.519 where all the seed 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.000 will go. 00:31:14.179 --> 00:31:14.959 Only God knows 00:31:14.959 --> 00:31:15.839 and changes hearts. 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:17.139 We are able 00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:17.699 to be faithful 00:31:17.699 --> 00:31:18.319 in proclaiming 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:18.859 to as many 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.740 as would hear it. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.740 Jesus does not tell us 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.219 that the sower 00:31:22.219 --> 00:31:22.759 was selective 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.359 with the seed. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.000 Instead, 00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:24.539 he distributed 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.019 in such a way 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.459 that the seed 00:31:25.459 --> 00:31:25.779 would fall 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.439 on a variety 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:27.240 of different types 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.660 of soil. 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.539 What you might 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:31.059 perceive as difficult 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.220 soil or hard soil 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.420 might not be so. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.880 Only God truly 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.039 knows a person's heart. 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.519 1 Samuel 16 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.019 reminds us, 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.819 For the Lord sees 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:40.000 not as man sees, 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.099 for man looks 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.839 on the outward appearance, 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.500 but the Lord 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.680 looks on the heart. 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.119 We are simply 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.819 to go as far 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.759 and wide as possible, 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.619 spreading the good seed 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.059 of the kingdom 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:48.879 to all soil. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:50.799 For us, 00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.420 we are to pray 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.200 that God would give us 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.019 the heart to do that 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.160 and for the different 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.799 types of soil 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.379 we encounter. 00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.819 The Lord is able 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.759 to take that hard soil 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.279 and till it. 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.639 He can remove the stone 00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.539 that is under the surface 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.400 and he can also 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.500 weed out the garden. 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.460 Our job as a sower 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.240 is to be faithful 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:05.879 in the proclamation 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.599 of the word, 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:08.179 knowing that it is the Lord 00:32:08.179 --> 00:32:09.119 that gives the growth. 00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:11.399 1 Corinthians 3.6 says, 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:11.759 I, 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.939 this is Paul talking, 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.399 planted, 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.879 Apollos watered, 00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:16.379 but God gave the growth. 00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:19.159 I want to end 00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:21.519 with a quote 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.159 from Spurgeon. 00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.079 He's talking about 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:23.859 the parable of the sower 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.259 in this. 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.199 And he says, 00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:26.939 The preacher of the gospel 00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:28.059 is like the sower. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.899 He does not make his seed. 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.019 It is given him 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.240 by his divine master. 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.919 No man could create 00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:34.779 the smallest grain 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.419 that ever grew 00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:36.099 upon the earth, 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.039 much less 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.199 the celestial seed 00:32:38.199 --> 00:32:39.119 of eternal life. 00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.879 The minister goes 00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.899 to his master in secret 00:32:41.899 --> 00:32:42.899 and asks him 00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:43.759 to teach him the gospel. 00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.419 And thus he fills his basket 00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:46.179 with the good seed 00:32:46.179 --> 00:32:46.659 of the kingdom. 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.319 He then goes forth 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.079 in his master's name 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.819 and scatters 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.799 precious truth. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.259 If he knew where 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.839 the best soil 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.619 was to be found, 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.639 perhaps he might 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.219 limit himself 00:32:55.219 --> 00:32:56.059 to that which had been 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.379 prepared by the plow 00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:58.000 of conviction. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.319 But not knowing 00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.879 men's hearts, 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.699 it is his business 00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:01.459 to preach the gospel 00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:02.319 to every creature, 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.740 to throw a handful 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.019 on the hardened heart 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.819 and another 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.599 on the mind 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.359 which has overgrown 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.420 the cares and pleasures 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:09.039 of the world. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.480 He has to leave the seed 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.559 in the care of the Lord 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:14.920 who gave it to him, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.200 for he is not responsible 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.819 for the harvest. 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.220 He is only accountable 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.900 for the care 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:19.579 and industry 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.759 with which he does 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.240 his work. 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.440 Let's pray. 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:52.420 Let's pray.