Should This Matter?

My son and I came to Matthew 13:1-23 in our Bible reading together this morning. I would say that this passage contains one of the best known parables in the Bible. It is generally taught in Sunday school. I certainly remember learning this parable at a very young age. It is the parable of the sower.

Reading this parable with my son was a great experience. I enjoy reading through the Bible with him because I have to stop and explain the meaning often which forces me to consider common passages in a fresh light. I have read through Matthew many times and considered the parable of the sower many times, but when you have to teach it to someone else, especially a young person, you have to really think about the passage. The simple truths that I so often take for granted are refreshed in my mind and I find myself at awe over them. Simple truths, but amazing!

So, here is the parable:

Matthew 13:3-9 (KJV)

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

As I explained to my son, each subject in this story represents a reality. The sower represents God. The seed represents the Word of God. The ground represents us. So, God sows the Word of God among men but people respond differently to God’s Word.

Christ actually removes the guesswork and interprets this parable for us in verses 18-23:

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Basically, there are four types of soil/people:

1. Wayside = these are the people who hear the Word of God, but do not accept it in any way. They don’t understand it. The seed doesn’t even penetrate the ground.

2. Stony ground = these people hear the Word of God. They even accept it! But, they do not grow strong in the Word so at the first sign of difficulty, they are drawn away. The seed doesn’t ever grow deep roots, and it cannot outlast the strong sun.

3. Thorny ground = these people hear the Word of God. They accept it and begin to grow in God’s Word. It seems like they are on the right path, but then they are distracted by the things of this world such as riches. The seed penetrates the ground, has a great root system allowing the plant to grow, but the plant is later choked by the surrounding weeds as it grows.

4. Good soil = these people hear and grow in the Word of God. Their soil is well tended so that there are no weeds and their roots penetrate deep into the ground allowing this seed to become a fruitful plant.

Of course, I explained to my son that he wants to be the good soil: a real Christian. So I asked him how he knew if he was “good soil” or not. I realized that verse 23 provided exactly what to look for to see if someone is “good soil” or a true Christian.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Christ provides 3 marks of a good Christian:

Hears the Word – you have to be willing to even listen to the Word of God, the seed must penetrate the ground

Understands the Word – you have to grow in God’s Word (study it), the seed must grow roots deep enough to withstand the difficulties above ground

Bears fruit – your life should reflect the Word of God, the seed must be prosperous to be useful

All of the other soil types were missing 1 or more of these three things. So, we can focus on not being one of the other types of soil. That is not a bad thing. But I advocate that instead of only focusing on not being one of the 3 bad soils, we focus on how to be the good soil. Do we have these 3 signs of good soil? Are we hearing, growing, and prospering in the Word of God? If not, then we need to evaluate whether or not we are the Christian we claim to be! If your life isn’t bearing fruit, then there is a problem. If you are not growing in the knowledge of God’s Word, then there is a problem. If you don’t like to hear God’s Word (even when it is tough to bear), then there is a problem.

The fact is that you cannot claim to be a real Christian if you are not bearing fruit. True hearing and growing in God’s Word must result in bearing fruit. If your life doesn’t reflect God’s Word and you are living in sin, you need to be honest with yourself and consider if you are a true Christian.

James provides an excellent discourse on this very subject. His point is that good works (doing the right things) cannot save you, only faith in Jesus Christ can do that. However, good works validates our faith. You cannot have true faith without it affecting your life through obedience to God. Faith is an experience so by itself no one can see it. However, through faith, we can obey God and accomplish His will. Abraham had faith but it was when he obeyed God that his faith was made manifest.

James 2:14-26 (KJV)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Jesus makes it clear that without producing fruit in our lives, we cannot know Him. In fact, He makes it deciding factor in determining whether or not someone if a false prophet.

Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV)

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

So are we hearing, growing in, and prospering in the Word of God? Let’s examine our lives. Does our life bear evidence of our faith?