Transcript

Few Soils Remain Loyal

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Pastor Randy Smith

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It started off like any other day at the Sea of Galilee. The sun glistened off the clear water. Fishermen were off in the distance working their nets. Yet as the time passed, more and more people began to congregate by the shore. Some came out of curiosity to investigate for themselves what drew the large crowds. Others were notified of the specific occasion and arrived for a more purposeful reason.

Jesus Christ had become a household name. His teachings impressed the learned and the laity. His miracles amazed the religious and nonreligious. His compassion was unrivaled. And no other figure had sparked more attention and more controversy in quite some time.

So the people kept coming. The legendary figure was in their backyard. They wanted to see Him and possibly hear Him for themselves. As a matter of fact, the crowd grew so large that Jesus needed to place Himself in a boat and push out several yards from the shore. The people remained on the beach which had a gentle slope toward the water providing a natural amphitheater. Jesus opened His mouth and began from the boat to speak many things to them in parables.

As we enter chapter 13 we enter the chapter that contains at least seven parables, the highest concentration of parables found in the entire Bible. Simply put, a parable is a teaching device that contains an earthy story with a spiritual meaning. The goal of a parable is to take a common truth known to all and use it to illustrate a spiritual lesson. Parables have the ability to stress a single truth in a way that engages the mind of the learner to actively participate. Parables when used by a master teacher help to make the truth more interesting, clear and memorable.

We'll talk more about the function of parables next week, but today I would like to share with you one of our Lord's most popular parables. Technically it is called the "Parable of the Sower," also commonly referred to as the "Parable of the Four Soils." This parable is a classic. This parable contains a timeless truth still applicable for us today. And this parable comes with something most the other parables omit. This parable comes with an explanation.

But since the goal of the parable is to engage your minds and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to your hearts, I have divided this sermon in two parts, the same two parts that are clearly laid before us in the Bible. First we will examine the earthly story in its original context (verses 3-9). Then we will pause and discern the spiritual meaning that our Lord intends to convey (verses 18-23). The earthly story has no spiritual significance in itself, but rightly understanding the earthly story is imperative to making sense of the spiritual lesson that God wants us to learn.

1. THE SOIL OF THE GROUND

So the first part is understanding our Lord's physical illustration. We must start there if we wish to end with the right spiritual interpretation. This will be our first of two points.

Our Lord takes His hearers to a subject with which they would all be very familiar. They were an agricultural society, but even we, who know little more than putting a couple tomato plants in a pot, can grasp the simple meaning of this story.

Jesus starts off in verse 3 saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow."

The picture is self-explanatory. In order for there to be a crop, seeds would need to be spread. Before the invention of heavy machinery, farmers (in this case called "sowers") would sling a bag over their shoulder filled with seed resembling how we would imagine a newspaper boy today. While on a systematic walk through his field, he would reach into his bag, grab a handful of seed and broadcast it over the dirt. I understand that some farmers back then would first plow the soil and then spread the seed while others would spread the seed and plow afterward mixing the seed into the soil. Some did both - double the work but probably the guarantee of better results.

So we have a sower and we have seeds. Now we are introduced to the soils. The same sower sows the same seeds, but the seeds fall on four different types of soil. This will be the main point of the parable.

Verse 4, the first soil: "And as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up."

Before the advent of superhighways and automobiles you had paths and good old fashion walking used for transportation. Paths ran across the landscape oftentimes around a farmer's field, sometimes directly through it (cf. Mt. 12:1). These paths were well-traveled resulting in packed dirt as hard as a rock. Obviously some of the seed when it was thrown fell on these adjacent paths.

Naturally the seeds could not penetrate into the impervious surface. And naturally these rogue seeds made an easy meal for the local bird population. These birds probably followed the sower like seagulls follow a party fishing boat. Luke adds that the seeds that were not digested by the birds were "trampled under foot" (Lk. 8:5).

We read about the second soil in verses 5 and 6: "Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away."

Any farmer worth his salt would clear his field of loose stones, so what Jesus is speaking about here are areas where the bedrock (probably limestone) is close to the surface. The dirt looks wonderful to the eye but dig down an inch or two and you hit an impenetrable sheet of stone. If you have ever camped, I'm sure you have run into these areas where it is impossible to stake down your tent - no matter where you put the peg you hit a layer of rock just beneath the surface.

The verse says these seeds would spring up "immediately," promising to be the better crop. Unfortunately the celebration is short lived. Since their roots are unable to go deep into the earth for nourishment, they soon wither and die off when scorched by the heat of the summer sun (cf. Psm. 129:6).

Our Lord speaks of a third soil mentioned in verse 7: "Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out."

Again, no sensible farmer would leave thorns growing in his field. These undesirable plants would have been weeded out. However, these plants are indigenous, natural to the field. And as hard as you try, as all of you gardeners can testify, the weeds will grow even in a plot that begins weed-free. The sower is introducing a crop that is foreign to the soil. So when his seeds begin to sprout so do the weeds. And since the weeds find themselves at home, they will dominate amongst the intense competition for nutrients. And if left alone these weeds will as verse 7 indicates "choke…out" the desired plants.

We have covered three soils, all of them undesirable - the path whose hard soil prevented germination, the rocky soil that prevented deep roots and the thorny soil that prevented freedom for growth. Jesus will now introduce us to the fourth soil, the only one mentioned in this parable that is desirable.

Verse 8, "And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

The fourth soil is identified as "good" (kalos) soil, beautiful soil. And while this soil is technically the same as the others soils, this soil is considered good because it is not among the well-trodden paths and is without a subterranean layer of stone and is free from any overbearing thorny plants. Hopefully for the farmer, this is where the majority of his seed falls. And when it falls on this soil, the Bible says this soil brings forth a crop that ranges from thirtyfold to a hundredfold. The reason for such a successful harvest? Not the seed. Not the sower. Not the variety of dirt consistencies. The reason for the successful harvest is the preparation of the soil into which the seed fell.

So do we understand the earthly section of the parable? Verse 9 calls us to before we tackle the interpretation: "He who has ears, let him hear." So we pause and allow what we have covered to sink into our hearts. We reflect upon it. And we now seek to glean what really matters, its spiritual meaning.

2. THE SOIL OF OUR HEART

Of this parable Jesus unveils the meaning not to all but to His disciples (Mt. 13:10f). He says to them in verse 18, "Hear then the parable of the sower." Our Lord's focus is on the four different soils which He will begin describing in verse 19. But before we identify the soils, we need to understand that that the sower is Jesus Christ (Mt. 13:37) and the seeds are the Word of God, or we could say the good news about the King and His kingdom, or we could say the Gospel (Lk. 8:11). All of these will be made clear as were proceed. The soils represent the hearts and will distinguish the various ways people respond to the Gospel.

The first soil is explained, verse 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 the one on whom seed was sown beside the road."

Just as those birds would pick-off the seeds that never germinated on the hard path, Satan will pick-off the words from the Gospel that are not permitted to take root in a hard heart. Jesus says these people do not "understand." This does not necessarily mean that the hearer fails to intellectually comprehend the Gospel (an accurate presentation of the Gospel can be understood by a five-year old). This means the hearer fails to allow the words to gain his attention.

He hears the truth of God's Word and immediately for a variety of reasons dismisses its validity. There is no contemplation. No openness. No sensitivity. No humility. Only the seed of God's Word literally bouncing off a hard heart. Since there is no penetration, Satan immediately snatches away what remains before the seed has any chance of latching on and sprouting.

Many of us have come across these individuals at the Grace Tabernacle. Though I must admit they are quite rare because these folks usually do not give church the time of day. And if they happen to grace us with their presence, they sit in the pews calloused and close-minded. Often they snicker through the sermon or leave before I even get a chance to open the Word. After one visit, baring a change in their hearts, we never see them again.

The second soil is explained in verses 20 and 21. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away."

Like the plant that shoots up immediately, they seem to be making phenomenal progress in the faith. Unfortunately their growth is not a result of the Holy Spirit. To them, church becomes the latest fad. They experience something new. They meet nice people. They receive encouraging comments. Then after "oohing and aweing" people for a few months, they are gone. They were nothing more than a "flash in the pan."

What happened? According to the parable, they had no firm root. Due to the rocky soil underneath, their hearts never really tapped into the fullness of the Gospel. The flashy show was only a result of self-generated human ambition. They jump on the Jesus bandwagon without ever counting the cost. The adrenaline wears off and there is nothing to sustain them when the hard times hit. The parable calls those hard times the scorching sun. Jesus translates that in verse 21 as "affliction" and "persecution" (as a result of the Word) - two guaranteed elements of the Christian life. Shallow roots. Shallow faith. The heat is cranked up and they run. They have nothing to sustain them. They have no reason or ability to persevere.

We have also seen these folks at the Grace Tabernacle. As verse 20 says they hear the Word and immediately receive it with joy. "I've been to forty churches in the past three years, but nothing has been as good as this." "Pinch me, Pastor, am I in heaven, because it sure feels that way when I walk through those doors." "Even though I was saved last week I'm ready to join the mission field." "Is there any limit as to how many ministries someone can participate in?"

People are so impressed. The elders and deacons are so encouraged. And then usually in about 3-5 months it hits. "It's been a few weeks and I haven't seen Stephen at prayer meeting." "Pastor, Stephen withdrew from the fellowship committee." "Is it just me or has Stephen been absent on Sunday mornings?" And then the dreaded phone call or office visit. Stephen announces that he will be leaving the church.

In all these cases the backsliding is evident. The artificial fun has run its course. Never do they admit they are the ones to blame. Never do I hear, "Pastor, I'm not sure if I'm really saved" or "This church expects accountability and I want to live a carnal life" or "I've been playing a game and I can't keep up this façade any longer." It's always my fault or your fault and off they go. Five years later and they are still bouncing around from church to church or in most cases, not even attending church altogether.

Be aware Grace Tabernacle. We all love to see converts. We all love to see people excited about the Lord, but don't always think we have failed if some of these people come to a screeching halt. Let's remember, the Christian life is not a sprint, but a long-distance race. Christian growth is steady (not "roller-coaster"), grace-driven maturity in the faith. Only that will persevere through affliction and persecution and even benefit from affliction and persecution. This is how true Christians will act and only time will reveal the genuineness of their conversion.

The third soil is identified and explained in verse 22. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

Once again we encounter a negative result and tragic outcome of how someone hears the Gospel. This is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds. As the seed begins to sprout so do the weeds. Within no time the weeds begin to dominate and eventually choke out the desired plant.

Such a person is one who also receives the Word with joy. They too are excited about their new experience and they too begin to get involved in the church. In our second soil the temptation to leave came from persecution and affliction. In this soil the temptation to leave arises from worldliness (verse 22 - often money related - "the deceitfulness of riches"). These folks just begin to understand the demands Jesus places on His disciples. Luke 9:23, "And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'" They stand at the crossroads. Will they forsake their love of the world for their love for Jesus? The battle becomes fierce as they find themselves straddling two competing sides. Their conscience burns. But eventually the thorns of the world win out, their spiritual life is choked out and within no time they check out - all because they allowed those weeds of the world to stay in their hearts (cf. 2 Tim. 4:10).

We have seen these people at the Grace Tabernacle as well. They buy the lie that living their way will bring them more joy and more peace than living God's way. This attitude is nothing new as it traces all the way back to the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1f).

Fortunately we have one soil left. Fortunately there are people who will rightly respond to the Gospel. As verse 23 indicates, "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

They hear the Word. They understand the Word. They follow the Word. They can repel the voices from the evil one. They can resist the allure from the world. They can the reject temptations from the flesh. The Word takes root in their soft hearts. And as a result God produces an abundant harvest in their lives. They bring forth spiritual fruit - a harvest that ranges from thirty to hundredfold.

As Jesus said in John 15:8, "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." Spiritual fruit is the byproduct and greatest evidence of true conversion. Fortunately we have a church full of these individuals at the Grace Tabernacle. People indwelt with the Holy Spirit and by God's grace producing the attitude fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness [and] self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23). And people producing the action fruit of committed prayer and fervent evangelism and devoted Bible reading and faithful church attendance and sacrificial service - people producing this fruit with consistency and faithfully persevering in them to the end.

I'm sure there are more scenarios, but Jesus has chosen to give us four. Three of the people hear God's Word, responded in a variety of ways, but were never really converted evidenced by the absence of fruit. However one person hears the Word, experiences genuine conversion and brings forth spiritual fruit.

And I have some excellent personal application from this passage, but we are out of time. So we'll look forward to discussing that next week.