Mat 13:18-23: Roots in Sacred Soil: Understanding through Careful Thinking.
length: 73:06 - taught on Mar, 9 2025
Class Outline:
Sunday March 9, 2025
Main Idea: Understanding the mystery of Christ comes by hearing the truth with careful thought and consideration.
It is to the disciples in the boat that the parable is interpreted.
"To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,”
He explained all the parables to them.
and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Concluding His parables in this chapter, Jesus asks them [back in the house]:
"Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes."
Interpreting the parable of the sower:
“Hear then the parable of the sower.”
Four types of soil:
Four types of responses to God’s Word who will populate the age.
These are not guilds or sects or groups that are only found in that time, but types of people that are found over all time.
All four receive the seed.
All are hearing the Word of the kingdom - truths concerning the kingdom of heaven and her King.
This parable we should not rush:
“Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?”
More to come on the first three soils.
Good soil: Understanding.
"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
Receives the least description - one word: understanding.
The neat way that Christ highlights the good soil: “who indeed bears fruit”
What does the King want His subjects to be like?
How do we gain understanding?
It is more than quoting Scripture. It is obviously more than hearing it.
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
It was “by revelation” because it is not found in the OT.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand (noeo = to grasp or comprehend something on the basis of careful thought) my insight (sunesis = understanding, comprehension) into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
You need Scripture and you need to carefully think about it.
I think it’s so simple that it’s easily missed. Carefully consider the word of God. Don’t devour a Bible lesson or a reading. Carefully think. You are a priest. You have the Holy Spirit within you. Hear, consider, seek, find, carefully think. Ask the Lord for His instruction and help (JAM 1:5).
Same verb (noeo) and noun (sunesis) combination:
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give [promise] you understanding in everything.
You have to consider = grasp or comprehend God’s word on the basis of careful thought; in everything.
Not someone else’s careful thought, though they are helpful in correcting any erroneous conclusions, but you as a believer have to think for yourself.
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Careful how you think is followed by Paul with careful how you live.
Application:
Take the time to consider the word you have learned. Take the time to pray to the Lord about the things you have learned. Go over the Scripture for yourself. Read and listen consistently that you may be reminded and inculcated with His living and powerful word.
Take the time to consider if all of the small moments in your life are guided by the word.
Make it your number one priority to know the Word of God and set time aside every day to read it, or hear it, and when you do, do not devour it, but carefully consider it.
And don’t become knowledgeable about only some parts and neglect others. (Parable of the blind men and the elephant.)
The devil:
In the first soil the devil snatches away the seed. The NT reveals the devil as a constant deceiver and schemer who is always looking for a victim. He will use any number of tactics to destroy the quality of your soil - the quality of you.
Disappointments from the past - he will say that they define you and then he will have you react with pride. That pride may make you think too lowly of yourself or too highly - take your pick, the devil doesn’t care.
Successes from the past - he will say that they define you and then he will have you react with pride. He will have you thinking that you’re better than most others and that God is very privileged to have you on His side.
He will send (allowed by God) tribulation in your life and then he will ask you, should a child of God struggle this badly? He will send people to persecute you and then he will ask you, should a child of God be so misunderstood?
He will prime your self-doubt and tell you that the really good plans God gave to other Christians. Then he’ll parade some Christians in front of you that you are likely to envy.
He will send entertainment in your life and distract you enough so that you’ll forget what God gave you time for.
He will send subtle sins telling you that a little won’t hurt, which are his seeds of addiction.
He will cause you to lose sleep so that your agitation the next day will prime you for a fight with your spouse.
He will take money from you and then send extra bill collectors.
I’ll let you think up some more.
One thing to point out about them; they’re made up of small moments. They are not huge disasters. Christ called them “a very little thing.” Life is made of them. Big things are small in number; but there are millions of these. They add up over the years.
And consider this: God allowed the devil to do all of this for a purpose; God’s purpose.
Considering and careful thinking work best when you need to. Left with easy lives, we would never do it well.
We need to understand enough so that we can say to all of these attacks (all are made of small moments, are they not?)
The sun that scorches the plants in the shallow, rocky soil, actually reveals the depth of root in the good soil.
Thus says the Lord,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 "For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
8 "For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
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