Bible Verse Synopsis 3-2-25
Matthew 13:
In the same day as the most recent teachings from chapter 12, Jesus went to the sea side and sat in a boat while surrounded by multitude standing. How different this is from now! At meeting and conferences the speaker stands while the guests sit. How man changes his customs. The first lesson is the sowing of seeds. Only seeds sowed in good and receptive ground will bear fruit. The other 75% will be meaningless. Taken over by weeds, wither in the sun, and lying on stone. In comparison, our efforts to spread the word may be as such! It may fall on deaf ears (the stone), it will be heard but not take root into meaningful changes (wither in the sun), or fall pray to the weakness of man (the weeds). Do not be discouraged for even Christ knows this issue. But for every 4 we tell, we should average a conversion to Christ, so get sharing! The good soil is willing and able to able to accept the Word. He seeks out answers to the questions about faith and love and grace. The seed sprouts and grows and it will grow its own fruit. This is the influence of the Holy Spirit and what He can do for us.
The disciples presented Jesus with a question, asking "Why do you speak in Parables?". Because there are 2 classes of people, the knowledge of the of the Kingdom of Heaven and those without. This is a large part of why I am doing this, to help all of us find meaning in the Word. Not just the parables but Christ's actual words. The deeper our understanding of the Lord's Word, the closer we get to Him. We are blessed to have ears that hear and eyes that see. Not everyone has been blessed in this way knowing we fall short and the glory and majesty of Heaven is open to us if we repent of our sins. In our quest for God, we must remember Verse 12 - "For whosever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has." We will never in this life be close enough to God to stop our journey for Him. He has to power to give us moar blessings and abundance and to take it all away. The Hymn "Open my Eyes, that I may see!" brings a good thought to this stanza. It's also one of my favorites.
To continue into the parables, the pure seed that is sown and grows up with tares is unavoidable. Satan places his tares into our lives around every corner. His favorite place to do so is in believers. Then that tare can infest others and grow and multiply inside the church (or the field). As the farmer (God) knows, come harvest the grain will be separated from the tares and the tares will burn (in Hell) and the grain will go into the barn (Heaven). Do you see the Devil's influence in our lives? Can you find the negative peoples and avoid them or influence them to no longer be a tare in your side?
Christ is like the invaluable pearl. No matter the cost to receive it, we must pay the cost. What is the cost of Christ to you? And more importantly, are you willing to pay the price to receive His grace? The cost in man's eyes is much, yet the cost in spiritually is a benefit for we receive it as Christ receives us!
The Word is the house we must keep safe. Give not the keys to the devil. For the house is open to all but only through Christ. He is the keeper of the keys and we are his missionaries. To do His work and grow the Kingdom!