Ears that Hear - Pt 3

“Hear then the parable of the sower: 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. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 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. 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. 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.” (Matthew 13:18-23 ESV). This last look at Matthew 13 gives us eight parables that make up the heart of Jesus’ teaching. The most familiar is the parable of the Good Soil. The disciples’ question gave birth to an insight into the gift-nature of salvation, and the clearest interpretation of any parable. Tim Brown says, “According to Jesus sometimes the evil one throws dust in our eyes so that we never see the Word’s value. Other times the threat of persecution scares the Word out of us, while still other times our anxieties slip a noose around the necks of our souls and choke our Word-life to death. But sometimes we hear the Word and live it as we ought. This is the good soil.” While there are many interpretation concerning the “soils” I am more convinced that it is a commonly made mistake to assume that each soil is a different person. The soils are not individuals but rather inclinations within us all. We are all like each type of soil. When the world, the flesh, or the devil deludes us into thinking that the truth of the Scripture is not applicable in some way to our culture or our circumstance, the result is devastating. The truth is devalued and we are further kept in a state of captivity. When the fear of past failure or future uncertainty crowds out the truth of our present position in Christ, we simply cannot experience the abundance of life Jesus intended for us with his death, burial, and resurrection. It is only when we read the Scripture with a desire to allow it to renew our mind and transform our lives. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV). Real freedom comes from Christ. You can learn the fullness of that freedom through the Scripture. Go with a desire to be set free!