Parables of Jesus Contd. - Part 2 Author: Praveen Raj Kumar. Y Date: 04/11/2012 Place: Houthalen, Belgium Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Today we are going to discuss about a Parable Jesus spoke to his disciples describing about the word of God & lets see what is the lesson that we learn from them : . Farmer & 4 types of soil Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Farmer & 4 types of Soil: - Matthew 13: 3-23: This entire Parable can be discussed into two different aspects: Considering us as a Soil Considering us as a Farmer Lets discuss about the first aspect  We as a SOIL We can read this passage into 3 different parts separated: 1. Parable 2. Why Parable 3. Explanation of the Parable. Matthew 13:3-9  Read from the Bible. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Same Seed / Different Soils: - Few seeds fell on the path  and the birds came and ate it up. Few seeds fell on the rocks where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root Few seeds fell on the thorny places  which grew up and choked the plants. Some fell on a Good Soil where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Why Jesus spoke in Parables?: - Matthew 13:10  Disciples questioning Jesus, why are you speaking to the people in Parables? Even disciples did not understand why he was always speaking in Parables.. Matthew 13:11  He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Why Jesus spoke in Parables?: - Matthew 13:14  And not only that Jesus fulfills the prophesy said earlier by Isaiah. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Read Matthew 13:34, 35 Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Few seeds fell on the path  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. Few seeds fell on the rocks The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Few seeds fell on the thorny places  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life, riches and pleasures and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful & they do not mature in Christ. Some fell on a Good Soil  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it because he has a noble & good heart. They retain it and hence by determination he produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Seed that fell on the PATH: What kind of people today might be represented by the seed that fell on the path?  There are many people, who know about Christ & our father and even heard about the Gospel, but they do not understand what it relates to or where does it leads to.. It is quite simple, even an uneducated person can understand it, but their heart doesn’t want to understand it and hence they don’t. It is quite easy for the Satan to remove the word of God from them, in case if it remains for some time. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Seed that fell on the ROCK: Why couldn’t those who received the word with joy stay faithful? These are the people who understand the word, but not really as expected, as they don’t have root. They easily compromise themselves with the world pleasures. There is no reaction/work done by the word that is remaining in their heart. So they are so vulnerable to fall easily. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Seed that fell on the THORNS: What choked those who were represented by the seed that fell among the thorns? What other things (or people) might the thorns represent? This kind of people, hear the word, understand it well, but the worries of this life, riches and pleasures and the deceitfulness of wealth chokes them a lot, more than worry of how to retain the word in their heart. They are little bit strong, but that doesn’t make a tough job for the Satan to work. These difficulties are more important for them. Trying to resolve them more & more, they forget about the word. MOST OF TIMES WE COME UNDER THIS CATEGORY OF PEOPLE. We too worry a lot about our own problems. When we come to a certain situation, whether to choose this or that, most of the times we fail to choose the Word of God. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Explanation of the Parable: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Seed that fell on the GOOD SOIL: What happened to the seed fell on the good soil?  The seed produced a crop, in the multiples of Hundred, Sixty & Thirty of what was sown. Does this happen by accident? Does this require any effort from ourside? Or just we can pretend to have received the word that our heart is a Good soil? We need to think about it..and also to take into consideration of what the Bible teaches about it. Luke 8: 15  The seed produced a crop, due to Perseverance, through determination. Whatever what, happens in my life, I keep God in my first place. SOME TIMES WE COME UNDER THIS CATEGORY AS WELL. God wants us to be a GOOD SOIL, which readily accepted the word of God and produced crop in the multitudes. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Considering us a Farmer: - Matthew 13: 18-23 Do we sow the seed in other’s hearts?: Matthew 13:3  A farmer went out to sow his seed. 2 Timothy 2:4  “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” How can we expect our colleagues/friends/relatives to know about God? Possibilities: Matthew 5:16  “before men that the mat see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven”  By living a holy life, praising our father every now and then. Explaining to them the word of God – Sowing the seeds in their hearts. Do not worry about where you sow – PATH/ROCK/THORN/GOOD SOIL. Its upto our father to speak to them and work in their hearts. But we need to do our job as a FARMER, which is more important and vital for us. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 Conclusion: We have heard the word of God, since long time before. Sometimes we do not give the first preference to God. But God wants us to give him the FIRST preference among everything we have. To achieve this, we need to display determination & perseverance, fighting against the evil. Remember 1 Peter 5:8 ”Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2

Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2 !!!! AMEN !!!! Parables of Jesus Contd... - Part 2