The thirteenth chapter of Matthew's gospel focuses upon the parables of Jesus. As the Master got into a boat while teaching the people on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He told a story about a man whose job it was to sow seed into ground that had been tilled in order to grow crops. In the parable, the seed fell on varied types of ground which represents those who hear and either react to or ignore the Word of God. Some seed fell to the wayside (13:4, 19) and were devoured by the birds. This describes a person who hears the gospel yet does not understand it. There is no one to teach or help them in their ignorance of spiritual things. The devil sees this as an opportunity to "devour them" (Matthew 9:35-38; 1 Peter 5:8). They are unprepared and lack the spiritual knowledge needed to counteract his schemes. This is why we need to be ready to give a defense of our faith in Christ and be obedient to His call to tell the world about Him while there is still time (Mark 16:15; John 4:35-36; 2 Corinthians 6:2).
Jesus described the seed that fell upon rocky ground (13:5, 20-21), which represents the individual who hears the Word of God and receives it with joy. This person has made a' "decision for Christ" and possesses a spiritual euphoria. However, this same person begins to experience troubles and persecutions of varied kinds. He decides that his so-called "conversion" is not worth the effort or trouble and walks away from the faith he claimed to have (1John 2:19; Hebrews 6:4-6). This person is in reality a false convert who ends up as an angry apostate and was never saved in the first place. There were seeds that fell among thorns (13:7, 22). Here is another illustration of a person who hears and apparently receives the message of the LORD with gladness yet give more attention and time to the cares and concerns of the world. This is a case of someone who wants to be in both worlds. One of these will prosper while the other withers away. No true Christian should want to see this present fallen world as something on which to hold, as it will eventually be destroyed, forever purged of evil, and be recreated into a new heaven and earth (Isaiah 11:1-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21-22). The seed that fell on good soil (13:8, 23) is self-explanatory. When someone hears the gospel, receives it with joy, and then makes a serious commitment to persevere through troublesome times, that seed is spread in his life so as to bring about a harvest of souls. Spiritual fruit is the best evidence that our lives have been truly transformed by the Lord Jesus (Psalm 92:13-14; John 15;5; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; James 3:17). He concluded by telling the people to listen and understand what had just been taught (v.9).
Jesus gave the apostles the ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God, even though this had not registered in their minds yet (13:11). This would be made clear on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the upper room (Acts 2:1-42), empowering them to proclaim the gospel and eventually write the New Testament, preserving the Word of God for all generations (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). The work of the apostles insured that we have everything we need to know about the LORD. Nothing else needs to be added. Verse 12 deals with the importance and responsibility of teaching the Word of God. It is not something to be taken lightly (Acts 17:11). Those who have been given this responsibility from God yet do nothing about it have it taken away from them and given to someone else. Jesus said that an unbeliever's response to His parables was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah (vv.13-17), where God told him that the people of Israel would not respond to his message (Isaiah 6:9-10). The apostles were blessed by this new revelation which had not been revealed to the prophets and the righteous people of old but now revealed to them. Some readers and scholars have found difficulties in harmonizing the concept of truth being revealed in such a way that unbelievers cannot understand it. After some study and prayer concerning this issue, I believe that the best way to interpret it is that there was a long background of unbelief and disregard of previous revelation by the people of Israel. They sinned away their day of grace and opportunity. They had allowed their love of sin to blind them to the obvious.
You can read this message yet be totally unaffected by it due to the fact that you love your sins and do not want to part with them. You are the description of the degenerates Paul mentions in Romans 1:18-32 and 3:10-18. You are inching closer to the edge of the cliff, ignoring or ridiculing the cries and pleas from others to turn around and come to Jesus Christ for mercy, grace, peace, salvation and be forever freed from the curse of death and hell. You laugh and sneer at the holiness of God and the words of Jesus are just so much drivel to you. There will be a day, my friend, when all of the pleas, witnessing, sermons, copies of the Bible, prayers, and the calling of God will not matter anymore. You will be dead and in hell and have all eternity to regret yet unable to repent of your stupidity and refusal to humble yourself before God and call to Him to save you. I hope that this got your attention and that you do something about it NOW (Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10; James 4:13-14). Jesus told these stories for a reason. You are the reason that He came to this world (John 3:16). If you have ears to hear, then listen.
donaldwhitchard@outlook.com
https://ocosbe.org/donald-whitchard
