The
Parable of the Soils
Matthew
13:1-23
When you first became
a Christian, how did you feel? You were probably on fire, burning with
enthusiasm. You wanted to convert the world.
But then you ran into
the proverbial brick wall. Other people were not interested in studying the
Bible like you were. Why can’t everyone see the truth as you see it?
The parable of the
soils helps us understand the answer to that question: Matthew 13.
THE
PARABLE - 13:3-9:
The purpose of the
parable is seen in the repetition of the verb “to hear.” The whole point of
this passage is to hear!
The verb is found 15 times from verse 9 through verse 23 with verse 9 being
repeated in verse 43.
“Watch out how you hear is the
key-note of the parable” (Lightfoot, 21).
THE
HARD-HEARTED - 13:18-19:
Please observe that all four soils “heard”
the word. If man will not begin with the fundamental truth all of nature had to
have been created, then he will never proceed to the other truths about
salvation and baptism. Everyone has access to a certain degree of truth and
they need to act on that truth.
But the seed sown on
the road represent those who heard the word of the kingdom and did not
understand the word. Then, the “evil one” comes and snatches away what has been
“sown in his heart.” Why did they not understand? In the context, it is because
they have closed their eyes and their ears so that their heart has become dull
(verse 15; Isaiah’s prophecy).
THE
FAINT-HEARTED - 13:20-21:
This group of mankind
“immediately receives [the word] with joy.” There are certainly many people who
respond to the Gospel quite readily and with lots of enthusiasm. But their
faith is very shallow.
Especially when we are
young Christians and our spiritual roots are not very deep in Christ, Satan
will challenge us to see just how serious we are in the Christian life.
THE
HALF-HEARTED - 13:22-22:
This distraction is
the “worry of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth.” These worldly
concerns “choke the word.” These individuals are also too shallow in their
faith to trust God that He will provide for their material needs. Instead, they
get distracted by the immediate source of wealth and they become unfruitful.
THE
TRUEHEARTED - 13:23:
Please observe that
this man, in contrast to the first man in verse 19, “understands” the word sown
in his heart. One man did not understand and one man did. What is the
difference? The difference, as we saw back in verse 15, is opening our hearts
and eyes.
The difference between
understanding and not understanding is the will
to spend the time and
make the effort
to understand. In fact, again from Luke’s account, this man brought forth fruit
“with perseverance” (8:15)
Faith. Conviction.
Endurance. Perseverance. With the combination of these, a young Christian can
grow in the faith and produce fruit.
--Paul Holland
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