Our willingness (or ability) to hear God's word is directly correlated to the condition of our heart. If our heart is the soil in this parable, we need to evaluate the condition of our soil, so-to-speak. If it's not fertile, if it's not receptive, if it's full of thorns, we will go through life missing the full truth. Jesus himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6) and we know that in the beginning was the Word (Jn 1:1). A major component of our walk with Christ is to be prepping the soil, so that his truth – the truth of who Jesus is, will be able to take root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.
Matthew 13:1-9 ESV
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
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1. We need the Word of God.
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Matthew 4:1-4 ESV
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
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Matthew 13:14-15 ESV
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
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John 8:31-32 ESV
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
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2. We need to hear the Word.
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Matthew 13:9 ESV
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
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Matthew 13:9 NLT
9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
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3. We need to understand the Word.
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4. We need Christ.
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John 1:1-5 ESV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
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Matthew 13:18-23 ESV
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
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Application:
Tending the Soil. There are things that we can do to ready ourselves – to prepare the seedbed of our heart, so that when, where and how Christ speaks we have ears to hear – and understand his Word.
1) Give your heart to God! Become a Christ-Follower! Ask questions, seek counsel, and decide to be a learner, a student… A Disciple!
2) Today might be the exact right day to begin daily devotions – time spent with God, reading your bible in hopes of receiving the truth of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
3) Today might be the day you decide to join a Bible study or small group here at Alex Covenant. Nurturing and tending the soil means allowing feedback, accountability, and to find healthy places to share your story, your struggles, and your own heart for the Lord on a regular basis.
4) If you've been involved in small groups and Bible studies, consider an intentional, Christ-centered, one-on-one mentorship with some you trust and want to learn from.