Scripture:
Matthew 13:18-30 NKJV
[18] “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: [19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. [20] But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; [21] yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. [22] Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful [23] But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” [24] Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; [25] but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. [26] But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. [27] So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ [28] He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ [29] But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Observation:
Here we are in Matthew again, clearly my favorite book to write about. Matthew has an amazing way of presenting the teaching and life of Jesus Christ while HE was here on earth. But more importantly, Jesus had an amazing way of teaching. I know I have written about these parables before, but I feel like it’s important to go over them again. Just to keep it fresh in our minds. When Jesus had just told a parable about sowing seeds in a field, but HIS disciples didn’t really catch on to what HE was teaching so when they got HIM away from the crowd they asked HIM to explain it in a little better detail so they would not miss what is being said. So HE did. Explaining not only the condition of the field but what the seed is as well. But here is the catch, and honestly, something that can get easily missed if you divide these 2 teachings. I don’t believe they are meant to be separated. The chapters and verses were put in the Bible they were not part of the original manuscript. They were placed there to help us study it. The problem with that is that it allows us to ignore some very important parts of the bible and separate them as if they don’t pertain to what is being taught. The condition of the soil matters. It’s what a farmer spends a lot of HIS time doing. Tilling and plowing removing rocks, adding nutrients, and preparing for a harvest. But when it comes time to sow, HE picks the very best seed. Knowing that the ground is ready. There’s one little. The enemy watched the whole process and knew just as well the ground was ready. The FARMER sows the seed, casting it out everywhere. Some are eaten by birds, some land on the sidewalk, some on rocky ground, but most of it is cast on good fertile soil and produces a crop. But the quest remains: What is the seed? What kind of crop is the FARMER growing, and why is it that HIS enemy was watching the preparation process? Well, Jesus was very careful to explain what the seed is as well. The seeds that the FARMER chose to sow were the word of GOD, and for the sake of rejoining these two parables back together, the seeds are words. It’s either wheat or weeds. This teaching that was presented in Matthew is very important it reconfirms teaching in Proverbs and James and many other places in the Bible. The one that comes to mind is Proverbs chapter 18 verse 21. It’s what Jesus was teaching in these two parables. HE wants us to know that HE is not the only one sowing. Two crops are being sown. One by the FARMER (GOD) and one by HIS enemy. The father of lies and the condition of the soil is prepared to receive. Jesus tells us that both will grow together, and at the end of the age, they will be separated. By wheat and weeds. Some to be burned and some to go on to better things. The amazing thing about the way that Jesus teaches is that the very next thing HE does is see how the seed HE just sowed was received. By telling HIS disciples, let’s get in the boat and go to the other side. Where in the middle of the lake, they encounter a storm. Are they going to receive the seed HE planted… the other side? Or are they going to let the seeds of doubt and fear produce a harvest? I think we all know how that story ends.
Application:
Over my life, a lot of words have been spoken over me. Some were good, and some were bad. I remember being told as a kid you can be anything you want to be and believing it, but then I didn’t aspire to be much after I heard… you’re going to be just like your dad. He had been in and out of prison, and as a kid, my soil was rich and full of nutrients. Ready to receive. Taking what was sown into my life, I ran with it, and by the time I was 19 years old, I was on my way to prison. Just like my dad. But there were more seeds sown than just that. Along the way, being made to go to church as a kid. The word of GOD was sown as well, and later on in life, a desire to do things differently started to produce in my life. People would start saying things to me like. You have a calling, and are you sure you’re not a preacher? I say those things not to build myself up but to bring out my point. What we say matters and that can be missed. I miss it quite a bit, to be honest. Every time we open our mouths, we are sowing seeds. Whether we believe it or not, that’s what is happening. The words we speak are important, and just in case you don’t trust me on this read Matthew chapter verses 36 and 37. That scripture tells us how important it is to guard what we say. This is one of the reasons the enemy likes to create strife and contention. Because he knows that when we get in our emotions, we say things that we wish we could take back. I want to tell you from experience that it’s better to just not say them. It’s better to wait and process through the feeling and then speak. The seeds you sow could produce a harvest you don’t want. I’m not talking to you in speaking to myself. I think about the conversation I have with my wife about the things that go on around us with different people we try to help and the way things turn out. The things we say to each other in private. Those are idle words, and even though they are being said where only she and I can hear them, they are seeds that are being cast out. Not only do we have to be careful about what we say because we are sowing into the lives of others, but we have to be careful what we allow our soil to receive as well. We make that choice. Receive or discard. Today, when people speak things negatively about me, I do my best not to receive that unless it’s an area that needs correction. Then, I do my best to correct it. But I don’t want weeds in my garden. However, some will be planted, and GOD will sort that out in the end, but in the meantime, we just need to carefully consider what we say.
Prayer:
Father, we know that the plans you have are good, and we want to be right in the center of it. We also know that you have carefully planted your word in our hearts. We want that word to produce for you a harvest. Take away any strife that the enemy has tried to place so that we speak ill of those you have created. Salt water and fresh water can not flow from the same stream. So help us to guard our words. We want to speak life. Planting only wheat and not weeds. Help us to bind our tongues when what we say doesn’t reflect who you are or who you created us to be. We love you, and we want that to show in the way that we are with others and the way we speak to them. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.