Red Letter Bible Study--Matthew 13:1-23 (The parable of the four soils)

Week 4 Day 1  Matthew 13:1-23 (Mark 4:1-25; Luke 8:4-18)

Jesus, on the same day that He had a visit from His mother and brothers, went out and sat beside the sea. Great crowds gathered around Him. (On the beach 🌞)  So He continued teaching, using parables.  The definition of a parable is "a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson".  The first one is the story of the sower.  The disciples questioned why He is speaking to the crowds in parables, rather than just explaining outright what He means.  Jesus explains, referencing Isaiah 6.  Isaiah, along with all the other prophets, spoke of and longed for what the disciples are seeing unfold before them.  So Jesus explains the lesson in the parable to the disciples.  Mark and Luke have a section not included in this passage of Matthew, although there is a similar "red letter" moment in Matthew 5:15-17.  

This parable is likely familiar to most if not all of us.  Jesus lays out 4 reactions that people have when hearing the Gospel, the Good News.  Some don't listen at all, or they hear but make no effort to understand.   Some hear and are superficially moved by what they hear, but nothing ever comes of it. They fear what other people think, and since they have not put down any roots, they are easily swept away.   Some hear but when they realize there's no worldly gain promised, second thoughts come and choke out any growth before fruit can ripen.  But some hear and grow, not only grow but THRIVE!!  

This section of scripture is fairly easy to understand, thanks to the disciples pushing Jesus for an explanation and then sharing it with us!  😇 My mind and heart were changed by Mark 4:21-25 and Luke 8:16-18.  This is an expounding of "He who has ears, let him hear."  As Jesus explains His example, hearing is the means the four take in what's sown to them.  So Jesus is telling His disciples, both then and NOW, that we have to be careful, be intentional, about what kind of hearer we are.  We can easily fall into any of these categories on any given day.  We can hear God's Word, but not really listen. Sometimes we hear and listen, and even move towards action, but we have no real commitment and following God gets put on the back burner by any small distraction.  Some days we even have fruit ripening on the vine--we are walking successfully with God-- only to be derailed by pursuit of other things, and the fruit falls off of the vine,  forgotten and rotting.  Jesus commands us to hold fast to His Word with an honest heart, growing all the way to maturity.  We must deliberately commit to learning scripture, and as we learn, we will hunger to learn more.  That's a promise from God through Jesus--"He who has more, more will be given."  I pray for a desire to hear His Word, learn His Word, and hold fast to His Word. That progression will light a fire in my heart that will have no place in a jar or hidden under my bed, but I will put it on a stand, so that everyone around me can see it.  Please, Lord, let it be so.  💓