Matthew 13:18-23 MSG “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Observation
Just before Jesus explains this parable/story, His disciples ask Him why He tells stories. He replies: “That is why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it.” Every story Jesus told left His hearers with the challenge to respond to what they heard. “What kind of soil are you? What kind of soil do you want to be?” There were those that did ponder these questions and those who did not.
Jesus wanted His hearers to question the status quo – all that they had been taught was true religion and how to please God – and compare these to the voice, actions and commands of the One True God as revealed in the Scriptures. The exercise of religion as defined by the religious leaders of the time (Pharisees and Sadducees, primarily) was condemning, exclusionary, impossibly rigid and a very heavy burden. Jesus wanted His hearers to know His Father for Who He is rather than following empty man-made rules and rituals. His stories were told to till the soil of the soul and make it “good earth” in order “to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening” – that any and all who receive and embrace the seed He sows will thrive in God’s Kingdom.
Impact On Me
This story is a beautiful picture of our God and His desire to care for us. No self-respecting farmer purposely throws seed on the road. The farmer of this story does because He is generous and hopeful with His invitation to receive and grow in Christ. He casts the seed (His Word, His influence, His love – all of Himself) on hard and rocky places, taking the chance that the soil will awaken to the change offered, to create that readiness, to nudge toward seeing the Kingdom available, and receive the seed. I can see Jesus walking in the field and bending down to break up the soil, to pull out the weeds, to scrape away the gravel so the seed has a chance to take root and grow. This is why He walked the earth and died on the Cross.
I remember when I first heard Jesus asking me to challenge the status quo – what I had been taught to believe – and begin to read the Word of God, sit in His presence, and awaken to Who He really is – patiently and passionately redemptive, loving, merciful, just, faithful, for me and not against me, and so much more – converting obedience to joy. Over the years, He continues to till the soil of my soul, increasing the breadth of the good earth in me as I allow Him to remove the weeds and rocks that life has buried there. There is still much field to be cleared and planted. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will allow the Tiller to do all His Kingdom work.
Devotion
Lord God Almighty, King of all kings, Lord of all lords, Persistent Farmer of the fields of our souls, You are faithful, You are diligent, You are untiring and passionate in Your efforts to see us thrive in Christ and in Your Kingdom. Clear the field of my soul of all the rocks and weeds of life so that the field of my soul expands to be all good earth. Help me to let go of the weeds that are deep-rooted and the rocks which are large and heavy – not ashamed for them to be revealed but glad for them to be exposed to and carted away by You. I submit myself to You without reservation. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 