Bible Study - Share (6) - Trust GOD to Work - Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23 - May 30, 2021

 

Bible Study – Share (6) – Trust GOD to Work – May 30, 2021

This is our final lesson in this series entitled, “How to Share CHRIST.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23.

Share CHRIST in all situations but leave the results to GOD.

The title of this lesson is vital. Christians can lead others to CHRIST but only GOD/The Holy Spirit can bring about conviction of sin and forgiveness of sin. When a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for their sins and believe that JESUS gave HIS sinless life for their sin, this results in the miracle of salvation and Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family.

When Christians are led to speak to others regarding Spiritual matters, the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of those hearing the words you speak or actions you take. Often, Satan will try to discourage you after you speak to a person or group to make you feel inadequate. Then shout because you have been obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We must trust GOD with the results. Then there are moments when we get to reap the harvest of leading a person or persons to a saving knowledge of JESUS.

Tell the person or persons receiving JESUS as their Savior that he, she or they need to grow Spiritually by reading and studying GOD’S Word. Get into a Bible Study/church that teaches and applies GOD’S Word. If those who have accepted JESUS as their Savior do not have a Bible, then make sure they get a version that is easy to read.

Salvation is just the beginning of Spiritual growth. Salvation grafts a person into the true vine, JESUS (John 15). Spiritual nutrients flow through the living vine, JESUS. The purpose of being grafted into the vine, JESUS, is to bear Spiritual fruit. And the beauty of fruit is that it has seeds that produce additional fruit. Christians are to share the Good News of JESUS with others.

It is fitting that our last study is on the parable of the sower. Let’s explore!

JESUS was teaching to the crowds and HIS disciples.

First, let’s consider the organization of Matthew into five sections or discourses as outlined in the Advanced Bible Study, Spring 2021, on page 165, published by Lifeway, Nashville, TN:

Chapters 5-7: Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 10: Teaching about missions

Chapter 13: Teaching in Parables

Chapter 18: Teaching on relationships among disciples

Chapters 24-25: Teaching about the future

The law (the first and preeminent of the Old Testament) is similarly organized into five books (Gen., Ex., Lev., Num., Deut.). Matthew used Mosaic imagery to portray JESUS as the new and greater Moses.

A prominent theme in Matthew’s gospel is Old Testament prophecy that is fulfilled in JESUS. In addition to the fulfillment theme ----- Matthew includes nine proof texts unique to his Gospel:

Matthew 1:22-23 - ²² Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

²³ See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,^[h]

which is translated “God is with us.”

Matthew 2:15 – ¹⁵ He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.^[e]

Matthew 2:17-18 – ¹⁷ Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping,^[f] and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they are no more.^[g]

Matthew 2:23 - ²³ Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 4:14-16- ¹⁴ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
¹⁶ The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.^[g][h]

Matthew 8:17 – ¹⁷ so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

He himself took our weaknesses
and carried our diseases.^[f]

Matthew 12:17-21 - ¹⁷ so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁸ Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
¹⁹ He will not argue or shout,
and no one will hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰ He will not break a bruised reed,
and he will not put out a smoldering wick,
until he has led justice to victory.^[d]
21 The nations will put their hope in his name.^[e]

 

Matthew 13:35 - ³⁵ so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.^[f][g]

 

Matthew 27:9-10 - ⁹ Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took^[b] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites, ¹⁰ and they gave^[c] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.^[d]

Matthew established the authority of JESUS as the promised Messiah Who takes away the sins of all who believe in HIM as their redeemer and Savior.

Let’s explore the teaching message of JESUS as expressed in the parable of the seed and the sower. What is a parable? Simply it is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.

In this parable “the seed” is the word of GOD, either spoken or read from GOD’S Word. The sower in this case is JESUS or the Holy Spirit as we read, hear and/or study GOD’S Word/the Bible today. The soil represents the human heart. How receptive are we as individuals to the teaching of the Holy Spirit? As you study this, my hope is that you are receptive to the seeds that are planted into your heart? Let’s keep exploring!

JESUS speaks the parable and gives its meaning. So, get comfortable and listen as the Holy Spirit speaks to you ----

Let’s read Matthew 13:3-8:

³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. ⁴ As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. ⁶ But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.

Who is the sower? It is JESUS then and the Holy Spirit today. What is the seed? It is the teaching of JESUS then and the Holy Spirit today. What is the soil? It is how receptive a person or people are to the teachings of JESUS or what the Bible has to say about JESUS and Salvation through faith in JESUS.

As you read this, what soil represents your life?

Keep in mind that GOD/JESUS has an adversary, Satan. Satan fights for the souls of all mankind/people. He does not want you to become a Spirit-born Christian.

During the time JESUS walked upon earth, the agrarian life provided physical food to sustain life upon earth, as it does today. JESUS used an example most, if not all people, would relate in that day.

A sower would broadcast the seed by hand. Several factors would determine where the seed landed e.g., the wind, the direction of the wind, the hands, arms, attitude, strength, quantity of seed and area to be covered by the person broadcasting the seed.

JESUS gave examples of where the seeds landed. Keep in mind that a parable is an earthly example with a Heavenly meaning.

The sower goes out to sow good seed for the purpose of producing a crop to meet an intended purpose. The seed is good but where it lands is the determining factor of the success of the intended purpose of the seed.

Some seeds landed on the path, and the birds came and devoured them. The path was hard and the seed could not take root. This represents what kind of heart?

⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. ⁶ But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 

⁸ Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.

What did JESUS have to say about these seeds and where they landed?

Let’s read Matthew 13:18-22:

The Parable of the Sower Explained

This is JESUS’ explanation:

¹⁸ “So listen to the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. ²⁰ And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. ²¹ But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness^[c] of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

This is where GOD can use those who know the truth to step in, as led by the Holy Spirit, and do some digging, watering, adding nutrients, removing weeds and cultivating. It takes time. The key is to never, ever give up on those who are building the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. GOD never gives up on them.

JESUS’ explanation represents the normal path redemption follows unless GOD leads those who know and put into practice the truth of redemption through faith in JESUS. Often, the redemptive process may seem to be a lifelong process. We, who have given our hearts to GOD through faith in JESUS, have to jettison our old earthly clothes and put on our new Spiritual clothes GOD provides in the redemptive process. WE must keep pressing forward to finish line because the rewards are Heavenly.

Now, let’s read about when things go according to GOD’S plan ---

Let’s read Matthew 13:23:

²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

Yes, there are those who see the truth immediately and give their hearts and lives to JESUS and begin telling others about their new eternal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

They may hit some headwinds in life but GOD sees them through the storms. The storms of life build trust in their relationship with JESUS.

How do I know? Been there and experienced my JESUS and FATHER rescuing me from the storms and angry waves life brings.

The truth is as written in Deuteronomy 31:6 - ⁶ Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”

Blessings!!!