Sermon: Producing A Kingdom Harvest (The Blessedness of Hearing and Understanding the Word)
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23 “Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’[b] 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. 18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Introduction: By the sea shore, Jesus begins teaching about the kingdom of God in parable. When the disciples ask him why he used parable? Jesus explained it is not given to all to understand but believing hearts will understand. This story shows that growth of the kingdom is important and explains why some bring forth a harvest and some do not. In this parable a capable man went out to sow good grain seed. The man represents God, the perfect husbandman and the seed is His message, his Holy word. The only way a seed can produce a harvest is to be planted. Just as a planted seed takes root and starts to grow, the word of God must be received, take root and start growing within a person’s heart. The parable expresses the idea that every hearer of spiritual truth will respond exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and uninspired it is a mere story. They are the ones who see and perceive not and the hearers who don’t really hear. While the believers who see, hear, and understand will be instructed and spiritually enriched with the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven producing fruit, more fruit and much fruit. Jesus identifies four kinds of hearers or four kinds of soil receiving seed.
What does it mean to have eyes to see and ears to hear? Whenever Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” He is calling for people to pay careful attention. It’s another way of saying, “Listen up! Pay close attention!” Speaking in parables was one way in which Jesus sought to gain the attention of the crowds —people love stories, and the parables depicted events and characters with which they could readily relate. But unless they were willing to tune out other distractions and come to Jesus to understand the meaning of His preaching, His words would be only empty stories. They needed more than ears however keen they were; they needed ears to hear.
We need eyes to see more clearly the Savior working in our lives and ears to hear His voice more deeply in our hearts. This marvelous blessing comes when we open our hearts and receive, truly receive, the Lord Jesus Christ, His doctrine, and His Church into our lives. Let’s look again to the explanation of this kingdom parable.
Matt. 13:18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Jesus knew many people are fascinated by the crowd; other are mesmerize by great speakers; still other get caught up in the emotions of the moment. While nothing is wrong with crowds or fascination or emotionalism, they will not produce lasting fruit. Many spend time searching for the right church, the right pastor, the right music ministry as if that guarantees fruitful, kingdom living. In our lesson, God himself is the Sower and the seed, his living word is perfect, the soil determined the fruitfulness. Your personal response holds the key to your fruitfulness.
1. God Has Given the Capacity and Responsibility to Every Person. Most have Ears and Eyes. There are exceptions but most people are given faculties to hear and eyes to perceive. The crowd who came to see and hear Jesus had eyes and ears. These faculties are great assets that allow us to receive information that can be processed with our mind and meditated on in our hearts. This lesson revealed that there are some who have eyes and see not; ears and hear not. God has given each of us both the capacity and the responsibility to personally respond to him. Some choose to live their lives in neutral, never refusing and accepting God’s word. Their indecision is still a decision. Mt 12:30 “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Let this always be remembered, and let each one ask himself, "Am I with Christ?" If not, remember you are against him. Can you bear this? God has given all of us the capacity and the responsibility to respond.
2. Every Person Should Choose to Listen, Observe and Properly Respond to God. 14 “This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”
A proper response is to see with your eyes, hear with your ears, understand with your hearts, and turn to Jesus for healing! In order to benefit from the message of the Kingdom, people must open their hearts, open their ears and eyes and accept Jesus Christ, his message and embrace his ministry. Hard hearts closed eyes and dull ears would not allow the crowd of people to turn to Jesus and ask for his healing. Jesus said, it is given to his disciples to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. God was revealing hidden things, secret things, secret council to those who were open to receive them. This inward revelation of God would manifest itself in the fruitful life of His people. Knowing what’s at stake, every person should eagerly listen His Word, observe His action and properly respond to God’s call for salvation and healing. Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
3. The Condition of the Soil will Determine the Harvest. The Kingdom of God is all about the harvest. The soil was not opposed to the seed, yet the condition of soil greatly influenced the production. Four types of Soil. (1) Some seed fell on the walking path and the birds ate it. The birds represent Satan. The seed on the path represents people who hear the message, but it is immediately lost. There are people who don’t allow what they hear to influence their life. Because they are focused on other things, Satan steals the word away.
(2) Some seeds fell on rocky ground where there was little fertile soil. The seed soon sprouted, but when the sun came up it burnt the young plants. The seed on the rocky ground represents people who respond with initial enthusiasm, but the word of God does not sink in deep. When persecution or hard times (represented by the sun) come along they give up at once. People cannot commit to the Christian lifestyle. They are initially attracted but give up when the going gets tough.
(3) Some seed fell among thorn bushes which grew up and choked the plants. The thorn bushes choke the message of God. It is heard, but people’s concern for riches and their worries about life cause the plants to die for lack of nurture. Some people are too concerned with what others think and they worry too much. They may be jealous, angry or concerned with materialism. They neglect the seed and soon it is choked out.
(4) Some seed fell on good soil and the plants produced corn. Good soil represents people who hear the message and live it in their lives. They realize the garden of their heart must be cultivated and cared for. They watch out for birds, for Satan, for the weeds and the bugs. They know they must protect the harvest. Some people have strong faith, remain dedicated Christian, live a godly lifestyle and be a faithful witness, even when things are difficult. They realize it is all about the harvest. The blessedness of hearing, understanding, and applying the Word is the gateway to kingdom living.
Mt 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” When we allow God’s word to take root in our hearts, go down deep and grow, we will bring forth fruit. Some thirty, some sixty and some a hundredfold. Even in this productive soil, it is noteworthy that there were three different degrees of fruit-bearing, evidently denoting three different categories of productivity in the genuine Christian life. Jesus said: “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. . . . He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit” (John 15:2,5). Fruit; more fruit; much fruit! You and I will determine our harvest by cultivating the soil of our hearts, yielding more of ourselves, producing the fruit of the spirit and sharing the good news with others.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (We receive power for personal transformation to become sons of God.)
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (We receive power to offer the world a Christlike example of salt and light.)
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” There is no limit to the fruitfulness of a life lived for the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind! That kind of life is destined to bring forth fruit, more fruit and much fruit. Some thirty, some sixty and some a hundredfold return! Amen (We receive power of increased fruitfulness.) AMEN
