Thoughts on the Parable of the Sower 4

Jesus concludes His explanation of the Parable of the Sower in this way. “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

As the eternally perfect seed of God’s Word is spread it comes in contact with many hearts, three of which we have previously discussed. The along-the-path heart is so beholden to the evil one that he has no problem snatching it away before it can take any sort of root. The rocky-ground heart is overjoyed upon first hearing the message and accepts it immediately. Unfortunately, very little actual thought accompanies this emotional response. Such “faith” is quickly overwhelmed when persecution arises because of the Word. Perhaps this person will continue to “go to church” but a convicted faith will not be the reason. The among-the-thorns heart simply has too many worldly pursuits in its life, all of which take priority over God. As with the rocky-ground heart, the among-the-thorns heart may continue to “go to church” but it will be because he knows that’s what he’s “supposed” to do, not because he feels any great loyalty to Christ.

Finally, and happily, we come to the heart in which our God delights. The good heart is not so proud as to boast in some supposed self-sufficiency. It is not so shallow as to immediately accept the Word with much emotion but no serious thought. It carefully considers the Word, weighing its claims and noting its evidences. Finding God’s Word to be true, it willingly shifts priorities, even when such changes are painful, and seats God upon the throne of its life. Truly, this is the heart God seeks!

But how is such a heart recognized? Does it prove itself through mere claims to righteousness? Hear Jesus in John 15:8: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Truly the debate concerning whether a disciple must live a life of doing ends when one simply listens to Jesus Christ. If we would glorify God we must bear fruit (John 15:8). If we would prove our love to Jesus Christ we must perform works of obedience (John 14:15). If we would be friends of Christ we must do what He tells us to do (John 15:14). If we would enter the kingdom of Heaven we must do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). If we would be wise and not fools than we must hear the words of Christ and do them (Matthew 7:24). Thus ends the debate!

The entire life of the good heart is given to glorifying the Father, loving Jesus Christ, being a friend to Jesus Christ, doing the will of the Father, and living wisely. The good heart proves its claim to righteousness by bearing fruit for the Lord every day. Not all have the same abilities and thus the fruit of some will be more immediately apparent, and widespread, than the fruit of others. This need not cause alarm for the one who produces thirty-fold is just as acceptable to Christ as the one who produces a hundred. Our Lord has never required more than we can give, but that we always be willing to give what we can. The good heart is one of doing, giving, serving, and sacrificing.

Perhaps no passage of Scripture better describes this sort of heart than the first three verses of the Psalter. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

The good heart prays for the wicked and attempts to reach them with the truth, but he has neither the time nor the inclination to join them in their wickedness. His counsel comes from the law of the Lord which serves as his constant companion both day and night. Whatever comes his way; be it trial, temptation, persecution, or sorrow he stands firmly planted receiving constant nourishment from the source that never runs dry. In good times and bad his fruits are apparent and his strength does not wither. Such is the good heart.

May our souls always remain attuned to Christ’s will and our thoughts be ever God ward. May the good heart be our heart!   

The Double Lot Of "Isaacs"

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a masterpiece of careful reasoning and understanding of the gospel. In it Paul shows early Christians the folly of seeking to mingle certain aspects of the Old Covenant with the New. Indeed, he shows that efforts to create some sort of hybrid gospel results in absolute failure and ruins the purity of the true gospel. To change the gospel message at all is to stand accursed (1:6-9).

False teachers had infiltrated the churches of Galatia and were creating all sorts of havoc. They had succeeded in bringing those churches to the very brink of apostasy, to the complete forfeiture of grace and severance from Christ (5:4). Paul dispenses with his usual pleasantries to leap directly into the fray and the result is perhaps his most consistently hard-hitting letter.

In the latter half of chapter 4 Paul uses the example of Hagar and Sarah. Abraham had been promised a son through Sarah. Abraham and Sarah sought to move things along by Abraham having a son through Hagar, Sarah’s slave. Ishmael was the result of their union. However, Ishmael was not to be the son of promise for that child, Isaac, was to be born through Sarah (4:21-23). Paul interprets these events allegorically to show that the women represent the two covenants (24-26). From there he reminds the Galatian brethren that they, like Isaac, are children of promise (28). Modern Christians are the same.

Following this Paul makes a very interesting statement. “But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.” (29) Verses 30 and 31 show that Paul specifically had the end of Judaism in mind, something the Judiazers (the troublers of the Galatian brethren) fought tooth and nail. These false Christians would follow Paul from town to town seeking to force Old Covenant rules and regulations upon Gentile Christians to whom the Old Covenant was never given. They would persecute Paul and those who refused to compromise the gospel. Indeed, they were a constant thorn in Paul’s side.

At first glance there may appear to be very little here for we modern Christians to consider in our daily walk. However, we ought to realize that we, just as Isaac, are subject to a double lot in life. It is our lot to experience the pain of occasional persecution and the blessing of eternal inheritance.

It was not without reason that Paul said “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) There are portions of this world in which Christians will be murdered immediately upon discovery. There are portions of this world where Christians will be ostracized to such an extent that conducting business and making a living are next to impossible. In America Christians are the only people it is considered politically correct to mock and verbally attack. In an effort to remain true to Christ and His teaching through the inspired writers of Scripture Christians will be called upon to make very unpopular stands on such topics as homosexuality, abortion, and righteous living. It should never come as a surprise when such stands result in persecution.

Consider the amazing contrasts of 2 Corinthians 8b-10. “We are treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” One may wonder how a man facing such severe persecution could claim to always be rejoicing and possessing everything. The answer is that Paul was focusing upon the blessings of his eternal inheritance rather than the pain of his persecution (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

When will the Lord return to grant relief to His afflicted saints? I have no idea. But I do know that whether it be a day or a 1000 years saints have but to wait a little while longer for our Lord has promised that He is coming soon, bringing His recompense with Him to repay everyone for what they have done while in the body (Revelation 22:12). On that day the pain of persecution will become a distant memory for the faithful as they finally inherent in reality what had been theirs in prospect. 

Q and A

Question: What does Jesus mean when He says that a person must become like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 18:3?

Answer: Matthew 18:1-4 says, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put them in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus specifically mentioned the need to humble oneself as a child in verse 4 so clearly that is primarily what he had in mind. I cannot help but think about my own children as I consider this passage. They do not always like to do what their mother and I tell them to do, nor do they always do it is promptly as we would like. However, at the end of the day they always do it with a very humble and submissive, “I’ll do it, Daddy.”

I believe this is what Jesus is driving toward in the first few verses of Matthew 18. Young children ultimately desire to please their parents. They want to see their parents smile at them, feel their embrace, and hear them say “Well done.” I see this on a daily basis with my own young children. They are kids so they need regular correction, and they have learned through experience that “for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant (Hebrews 12:11), but it is abundantly clear that they want to please Jackie and I. They have never thought themselves too self-important to obey us. They have never claimed to have too much going on in their lives to follow our commands. They obey, not just because they know they’ll be punished if they don’t, but because they love and trust us. Their parent’s protection and care means the world to them and they delight in making us happy.

If we would see the kingdom of heaven we must be exactly like this. It would do us all a world of good to recall that we are but men (Psalm 9:20) and as such do not begin to compare to God’s power, wisdom, or ability. Even so, He delights in us and would be our Father. Our response must be that of the little child to his parent. I am never too self-important to heed God. Next to Him, I have no social standing nor do I desire one. I will gladly be the lowly doorkeeper and the unworthy servant (Psalm 84:10; Luke 17:10) if it means being near my God.

Let us cast out pride, arrogance, and any thought of self-sufficiency. We need our heavenly Father even more than the young child needs his parents.    

Thoughts On The Parable Of The Sower--3

     As our Lord explained the meaning of this great parable, He moved His attention to the seed sown among the thorns. His explanation is as follows: “As for what was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22).

     Whereas the along-the-path heart simply does not believe, and the rocky ground heart almost immediately succumbs to persecution, the among-the-thorns heart just has too many things on its plate all of which take preference over God.

     It is folly to conclude that the person described here never takes the outward actions of becoming a Christian or never darkens the doorway of a meetinghouse. This person may very well be sitting right next to us in the worship assembly week in and week out. This person may word some beautiful prayers and deliver some well-organized talks. Perhaps he even teaches some Bible classes. However, one does not necessarily need any zeal or enthusiasm for the Lord to perform these outward actions. Herein lies the problem with the Christian whose heart dwells among the thorns. Worldliness has zapped him of spiritual joy and zeal.

     Even as he sings hymns his thoughts turn to worldly matters. Even as he bows his head to pray the cares of the world dominate his heart. Though his body is present to worship the God of Heaven, his heart is busy bowing to the gods of wealth and worldliness. He goes through the outward motions, yet his devotion to the things of this world proves him unfruitful.

     James gives us some important thoughts to consider in James 1:9-11. “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” James calls upon both lowly and wealthy saints to view their lot in light of eternity. Though the lowly Christian appears to have very little going for him in this life He can comfort himself in the knowledge that his faithfulness and trust in the Lord prepares for him an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). The rich saint must understand that even though his wealth affords him the finer things in this life, he must still rely upon the Lord’s grace and mercy for his salvation. His wealth offers no spiritual security whatever. Indeed, it makes maintaining an eternal perspective that much more difficult.

     Please notice that James turns his attention from the wealthy brother to the wealthy in general in verse 11. There he makes the point that the rich man fades away in the midst of his pursuits. As he focuses so much time and attention upon acquiring more stuff his spirit remains unattended and forgotten. As his physical life prospers and thrives, his spiritual life shrivels and dies. His devotion to worldly pursuits is death to his soul (Luke 12:16-21). The deceitfulness of riches, indeed!

     Neither Jesus nor His disciples ever spoke against a person simply because they were wealthy. They always spoke against those whose entire lives consisted of acquiring more stuff. It was not without reason that Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for a rich person to inherit the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23-26). Divided loyalty is no loyalty at all for our Lord Jesus also said, “he who is not with me (completely, totally, unfailingly, wholly) is against me.” (Matthew 12:30a). The among-the-thorns heart must come to understand that all the wealth in the world does not suffice to pay the value of a single soul (Matthew 16:26).

     I mentioned earlier that this brother might be sitting right next to us as we worship the Lord. Let us beware that he is not sitting in our very seat!                  

Seeds For Study

     I keep a small notepad with me at all times. Whenever a thought for a sermon, article, or just an observation comes to me I write it down to consider it more carefully at a later time. The following are “sermon seeds” that I have written in my notepad over time. They may also be thought of as “study seeds” as each is the bare bones of a study just waiting to be fleshed out. I encourage you to write these outlines down and develop the thoughts through personal Bible study. Develop them as if you were going to preach or teach them yourself. I think you’ll find the practice quite beneficial.

The determination of true devotion

(Judges 24:15)

1. Devotion to self—“As for me”

2. Devotion to family—“and for my house”

3. Devotion to God—“we will serve the Lord”

“For the grace of God has appeared”

(Titus 2:11-14)

1. Learning (training, v. 12)

2. Leaving (renounce, v. 12)

3. Living (to live, v. 12)

4. Looking (waiting, v. 13)

Restoring the transgressor

(Galatians 6:1)

1. What to do?

2. Who is to do it?

3. How is it to be done?

A Miracle Of Judgment

     In Matthew 21:18-19 we read, “In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.”

     At first glance this particular miracle seems to be completely out of character for our Lord. Some might be inclined to say that this resembles a childish outburst more than anything else. Jesus was hungry, the fig tree disappointed Him, and so He struck it down in a burst of mindless anger. I would agree that such an act would have been petty and childish if that’s what Jesus had done. Let’s consider this a bit more closely to see if there is more to this miracle than meets the eye and the lessons we may draw from it.

     This is the only recorded miracle of Jesus that was not performed on the basis of mercy and compassion. The one on the business end of this miracle was not helped in any way. This miracle was entirely one of judgment where an offending party was destroyed for its transgression. This thought alone should give us pause and motivate us to consider the event very carefully.

     Jesus thought there should have been figs on that tree because its leaves were already in bloom. Those familiar with fig trees tell us that when the leaves bloom figs grow. The leaves of this tree were showy enough to suggest that fruit should be among them. Indeed, there was no good reason for why figs should not have been among the leaves. Seeing that it failed to produce the fruit its leaves promised, Jesus judged it unfit for service and destroyed it. Wow!

     Jesus never did anything without a cause and the severity of His reaction to the unfruitful fig tree demands we ask a few questions of ourselves. Am I a Christian who looks the part but fails to produce the fruit that should go hand in hand with my claim? Do I attend the worship assembly decked out in my coat and tie for everyone to see and yet fail to produce fruits of faith, service, and love throughout the week? If so I am all show and no substance. Jesus was loud and clear about His feelings on that!

     Never forget this same Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits…Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16a, 19-20). Dear Christian, not bearing bad fruit or no fruit at all is simply not going to cut it as far as Christ is concerned. He said bear good fruit or be cut down and cast into the fire. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that Christians are created in Christ Jesus for good works and that God prepared those works specifically for Christians to walk in them. Failure to do and walk in them is open rebellion against God.

     Jesus is crystal clear: all show and no fruit equals judgment. I can claim to love Christ until I’m blue in the face, but you’ll truly come to know me by the fruits that I bear. Far from a petty outburst, this miracle is a mighty warning. Heed it!

Thoughts On The Parable Of The Sower (2)

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on the rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:3-8)

In our previous post we discussed the seed planted along the path. In this post we shall consider the rocky ground of our Lord’s parable. He explains His meaning in verses 20-21. “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who receives the word with joy, yet has not root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately falls away.”

Sometimes a person hears the word of God and is so overwhelmed that they respond immediately with great joy and enthusiasm. They start off like a ball of fire, adrenaline and excitement spurring them on. However, pure adrenaline and excitement does not last forever. Faith based upon such temporary conditions must necessarily be temporary itself. When persecution arises because of the word, their excitement dissolves into confusion and disillusionment.

Sadly, many new Christians have the mistaken idea that putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27) marks the end of hardship in this life. It is a rude awakening when they continue to face the “normal” difficulties of life plus new one’s because of the Word itself! It is not a pleasant thing to be mocked, laughed at, or excluded because of one’s faith in God’s Word; yet it is the Christian’s lot in this life (2 Timothy 3:12). The only way to truly prepare for such times is to continually arm one’s self with God’s Word.  

Saving faith is a settled, convicted thing. It is something that has never happened by accident. The Hebrew writer warned of the need to pay much closer attention to God’s Word or one will drift away from it (Hebrews 2:1). When persecution arises because of the word, the answer is to cling even more closely to it. It is God’s word that warns of the persecutions to come (2 Timothy 3:12), explains how they can be overcome (2 Timothy 3:16-17), explains why they should be overcome (James 1:2-4), and explains the ultimate reward for overcoming them (James 1:12).   

Always remember that the cross comes before the crown. What a tragedy for a Christian to denounce the crown just to avoid the cross! Such is the foolish and fatal choice of the rocky ground heart.