(Text and Audio)
Title: The Sower (Part Three)
Anyone here ever make the mistake of underestimating God? How about His Scripture? How about the Holy Spirit’s ability to stop you in your tracks?
I owe this congregation yet another apology: I’ve lied to you…again. I told you we’d conclude the three lesson arc today by looking at Jesus explanation of the sower and the seeds. Well…
(Story of preparing this sermon and not being able to get past the first explanation Jesus gives.)
So this morning we begin to wrap up the first of what will be eight parables that Jesus will use in teaching concepts about the Kingdom of Heaven from chapter 13 of Matthew. If you recall, we spent the sermon two weeks ago defining what a parable was, discussing the fact that Jesus mainly used illustrations involving nature and farming because that’s what his audience could relate to. Then, last week, we looked at Jesus’ reasoning to his apostles as to why he chose to teach in parables to the masses. We considered two points there: First that Jesus explains that not everyone has been given the ears to hear and comprehend His message, and secondly, that it was a fulfillment of O.T. prophecy that many Jews would hear and see the Messiah, but not recognize him as being their king.
Today we will begin to conclude this arc by looking at Jesus’ explanation of the parable. Now, I think it’s important to note going forward that Matthew records Jesus explaining only one other parable in this chapter (the Parable of the Tares), because his apostles ask him to.
I’d like for us to pause for a moment and consider some reasons why this may be.
Why does Jesus only explain 2 of the 8 parables in Chapter 13?
- He didn’t need to explain the others because the apostles understood them, for they had been given ears to hear.
- Jesus did explain them, but Matthew doesn’t record the explanation.
- Others?
While the second option is a possibility, it seems more likely to me that what happens here is that Jesus explains this first parable in detail to the apostles, and, after that, they know what they are dealing with, and are able, by the Holy Spirit, to discern the great truths that Jesus was illustrating without His explanation…but perhaps there was debate or confusion about the parable of the tares (which we will look at next week), and that caused them to ask Jesus for the proper interpretation.
So with all that being said, let’s turn to the explanation of the parable. I’m going to ask some probing questions that will probably cause you to think a bit more thoroughly about this parable than you have in past, I think you’l enjoy the exercise.
(Read/Pray)
The Explanation of the Parable:
Scenario One: Seed by the wayside (v. 18-19)
In this first scenario a seed is planted in someone’s heart. The problem is not the messenger, the problem is also not the location of the seed, the problem is a lack of understanding by the recipient.
If there is no understanding, the evil one will snatch up the seed.
Q: Why does the Evil One bother to snatch up the seed if their is no comprehension?
A: Because the seed itself is dangerous. It still has power.
Has anyone heard of a non-believer leader someone to Christ?
Have you ever met a non-believer that was qualified to accurately share the gospel with someone else?
(My own life as an example of this: grew up knowing the basics and struggling mightily with sin. Satan knew something dangerous was in me, and he wanted it back.)
POINT: The power of the Gospel resides in the MESSAGE, not the messenger.
Application: Even if that seed is not immediately comprehended, Satan will do anything and everything to get that seed out of that person’s heart. Satan knows the inherent power of that seed, and, if left alone, there is a chance that one day there will be comprehension and it will grow.
Q: Are their any steps that we can take to improve the understanding in someone else?
(This is a trick question. Most of you have probably already anticipated that I would say, “NO! Comprehension, otherwise known as illumination, is the work of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is the work of a divine and sovereign God, we can do nothing to affect it’s outcome!” But I think there is more to this answer.)
A: Yes and No.
Can we ultimately explain the Gospel perfectly enough that someone will just be compelled to believe? Absolutely not.
But, I do believe their are things we, as sowers of this seed, are responsible for. We are the planters, we are the farmers. After planting, we must pray to God for rain, and the miracle of growth.
Let me be clear here: I am in no way suggesting that we can improve the odds of someone having ears to hear. That is God’s work. But I think it is my pastoral duty to remind all of us that we have no right to just “mail it in” when we share the gospel. We have no right to just give a brief, simplistic, non-comprehensive explanation of what we believe and then just say, “Well, God is sovereign.”
We do have a responsibility to be ready at all times to share (accurately, and thoroughly” why we have a faith at all.
Consider 1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence
So, I’d like to conclude on that point this morning.
What is our responsibility in sowing a seed for maximum comprehension:
- We need to know it.
- We need to know how to explain it.
- We need to be able to explain our own testimony.
- We need to share it often!
- We DO NOT need every answer. (If anyone has every answer, please see me immediately.)
- Others?
Close/Pray