Matthew 13 - 3.28.25

Scripture: Matthew 13:16-17

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Observation

Jesus was sitting in a boat speaking to all the crowds of people on the shore. He told them the Parable of the Sower. The idea behind the word parable is “to throw alongside of.” It is a story thrown alongside the truth intended to teach. Parables have been called “earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.” (Enduring Word) Thereby the things of God were made plainer and easier to those willing to be taught, and at the same time more difficult and obscure to those who were willingly ignorant. (Christianity.com)

Matthew 13:15 - For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.

The Parable of the Sower talks about four different heart conditions.

1.    The Hardpacked Soil – People who don’t understand the teaching of the Kingdom of God and the evil one steals it away.

2.    The Rocky Soil – People who receive the word gladly, but fall away under pressure because there isn’t any root.

3.    The Thorny Soil – People who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out the word.

4.    The Good Soil – People who hear the Word and understand it and bear much fruit.

Application

What condition is your heart in? Is your heart made of good soil? Jesus tells us that we are blessed because our eyes can see how God is working and our ears are tuned in to hear the Father’s voice and to understand the Word. So many people allow their heart to become calloused, through trials, hurts and disappointments and they end up blaming God and others. If we run to Jesus when life gets hard and allow Him to mold us into His prize possessions, not letting any bitterness in our heart, we can used for His Kingdom.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Help us to humbly come to you with a broken and contrite heart so you can mold us and make us into Your hands and feet in this earth. Help us to be people who run after you and your Word. Holy Spirit help us keep our hearts soft and pliable, full of love, so we are sensitive to hear your voice.

 Matthew 13:8 & 9 – Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

We pray in Jesus’ name! 

- Michelle Craig