Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 1 – 2

• I like what Spurgeon said about this scene while preaching in the mid 1800s. He said, “Notice that the Teacher sat and the people stood. We should have less sleeping in congregations if this arrangement still prevailed.” HA! But I do love this scene. I LOVE the fact that He does something completely crazy and even condemnable just to serve and to reach the people…(notice I did not say sinful!)
• Teaching was for the temples, not for the beaches. No one, no other rabbit (I mean rabbi), no other rabbi took the people out of the temple and taught them and no doubt again the Pharisees scoffed, but there was a multitude and there was a boat and Jesus purposed in His heart to even do the uncomfortable in order to serve them…and water, they’d always remember…those that this meant something to…
• Every beach visit, every fishing trip, every voyage by boat in the future, they’d remember this scene! It’s awesome really. I still love ocean piers and diesel boats and the sun coming up over the open ocean water. It calms me, soothes me, secures me…why? One of my earliest and most wonderful memories of my father was going deep sea fishing with him a couple times a year…we’d sit on the back of the boat and just get bathed in diesel fumes as the boat left the dock…but today, the water, the pier, the sunrise, the diesel smell…they are oddly part of me now…
• Jesus is creating that for those that wanted it…not so much for those that came with deceitful hearts, faker hearts, just another morning and another thing to see and hear…watch as this scene plays out, that will make more sense in a minute…

Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 3 – 9

• Jesus Himself gives the meaning in just a few verses so I’ll hold on that but I want you to see, Jesus is seemingly describing a simple story. A simple scene. A farmer and four soils…but to the person looking for it, their portion, their take-away…is eternally more here. In fact this is the story of all men, including every man. You see, every man or woman that has ever lived falls into one of these four categories of soil…
• This is a parable. Many of you know what that is but for any of you who do not, a parable is a simple story or a simple illustration that is used to demonstrate a truth that is so deep, it is often not able to be adequately put into words. And so Jesus describes the condition of the heart of every man and the disciples become a bit concerned…

Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 10 – 11

• Seems unfair right? Given to some and yet not given to others…But here’s the funny thing about a gift. A gift has to be received. You see, a gift can be denied…Have you ever given something to someone, presented someone a gift, and they simply rejected it!? Flowers, possibly chocolates…heart’s not quite healed yet is it? HA! But that’s the truth! A gift is funny like that. It bears no obligation, it carries no forcing hypocrisy…a real gift that is…and a gift that is not received…well that simply remains an offer…
• And so here’s the thing. God has made Himself an offering for the sins of all man-kind…that whosoever would believe in Him would have everlasting life…that whosoever would come to Him, accept Him, would receive the very promise of God, the seal of the Holy Spirit , the guarantee of inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• And so why is this gift of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, this gift of understanding given to some and not to others? Wrong question. How is this gift of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven given to some and not to others? Simple…some receive it and some don’t. (Equation)
• Romans 2:11 and Acts 10:34 both are very clear that God shows no personal favoritism to any man or woman but gives to all His entire heart…The Bible is packed with God’s gift-ful promises and listen, every one of them are for every one of you…the question is…have you received them? Some folks need to receive some gifts! Just like my kid need some new pajama pants! Walks in my office Friday morning ready for the flood! (High Waters!) HA! Same thought, right here, in the parables and mysteries of God…the more you seek, the more you find…you grow, new spiritual pajama pants…you receive more and more…watch this…

Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 12 – 15

• See there it is…eyes are closed, ears are plugged, why? Because their hearts have grown dull! And that is a cuuurazy word in the Greek right there for dull. It literally means “waxed gross!” Look it up! To become thick, impenetrable and calloused. Another definition for this word is, “made stupid!” I promise you! Go look it up! I’m not making this up! Strong’s G3975! And it’s so true! If you or I or anyone would purpose to see, resolve to hear then the outcome is what…God will heal you! Yep, pretty unintelligent to refuse that gift…right? But His mercy endures forever…until you are out of life, the offer stands…

Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 16 – 17

• Now this is interesting because this doesn’t necessarily mean that the disciples understand in this very moment what Jesus was talking about. I mean think about this, Judas is standing there as well…a deceiver from the beginning…Jesus is speaking quite literally here…that they see Him, they are there with Him, and they hear Him…all things that the prophets of old did not have. How much more blessed are we in this time of the Dispensation of Grace when the Holy Spirit indwells us…?

Matthew Chapter 13 Verses 18 – 23

• Four scenarios. Four soils. All mankind represented. Even you, all of you, represented in this all-encompassing parable and lesson of Jesus. First soil, hard. Walked all over. Compacted…the Word of God, the gift of God has zero, no effect because it never makes it in…stopped at the hard of hearing ears and the blinded eyes and calloused heart and is quickly plundered by the enemy. One who receives the Word by the wayside…(even of life)…
• Second soil doesn’t speak of hard hearts but rather shallow hearts. The Word is received gladly…folks get pumped but then when emotions arouse…the day is hard…the person is difficult to deal with, that old tempt calls on you…, you deny the Lord. Get all tangled up and fall…Immediately they stumble.
• The third is probably the most prevalent in our culture…where one serves their flesh but also tries to serve the Lord…not too long and they will choke out…no fruit. No love. They’ve become prideful…unloving, unkind, inpatient, unserving…ungodly…Not a hard heart, not a shallow heart…a crowded heart…and therefore a clouded heart. The result, an anemic awareness of sin, powerless prayer and a suffocated spirit…fruitlessness is their name…
• Finally, the last example…good soil. Not hard, not shallow, not crowded…just simple…willing to yield…wanting to hear, resolving to see…And then within this last category of people, fruit smash levels! HA! This “some” could also be “whereof” and so it is this progression of fruitfulness. And that fruit is just one thing…love. These are the folks that receive and receive and receive. Why? Because they are God’s favorites? NO! Because they have made God their favorite! And love abounds…love never fails. Winning abounds. Strength, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control abounds! Against such, there is no law…Paul says in Galatians 5…

• But notice this as we close…the Word fell upon everyone. The gift is offered to everyone…and yet only a portion receive, and even a smaller portion of that portion bears a bunch of fruit…which are you, man? What have you allowed? Are you yet shallow, are you yet clouded…the gifts of God, all of them, await your receipt…especially the greatest gift every given…Jesus Himself.