The Life Of Christ Lesson 9 The First Parables of Jesus Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15 - Parable of the sower August 28, 2019

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 The same: Seed. 1 Peter 1:23; Luke 8:11 Gospel designed to change the heart. Acts 2:36-37; James 1:21-22; Romans 12:1-2. Sower. Sowing. Matthew 13:19; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 6:7-8 What varied? 1. The soil was the difference.

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 As sowers Be opportunistic and humble. (1 Corinthians 3:5-7; John 4:35-36) Be ready and patience. (2 Timothy 4:1-3) Be diligent. (2 Timothy 2:15) Be loving and compassionate. (Ephesians 4:15; Matthew 9:36-38; cf. 2 Chronicles 26:10) Be trusting. (Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) … Not “soil testers” but “seed sowers.” “…he loved the soil.” - 2 Chronicles 26:10

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 As recipients of the seed. Prepare your heart. (Psalms 78:8; Ezra 7:10) Carefully watch/guard (what goes in) your heart. (Proverbs 4:23; cf. Matthew 15:19) Direct your heart (Colossians 3:1-2) Purify your heart (James 4:8; 2 Corinthians 10:5) Maintain a “tender” heart. (2 Chronicles 34:27; Matthew 13:15; Isaiah 6:10; Ephesians 4:17ff) Break up our fallow ground. (Hosea 10:12) Be “obedient from the heart.” (Romans 6:17) How do we manage the soil of our own heart? (Proverbs 4:23; 2 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:21)

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 James 1:21, “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” “Implanted” - emphutos meaning: “implanted or rooted … a word whose property is to root itself like a seed in the heart” (Vine) The Hebrew writer refers to the word of God written “on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10)

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 To bear fruit, James writes: Put off sin - “putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness.” (Colossians 3:5-9; cf. Titus 2:11ff). “For the Word of God to bear its fruit in our lives, the ‘weeds of sin’ must first be uprooted!” (Copeland) Put on humility - “In humility receive the word.” (Isaiah 55:6-11, recognition that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, My ways.” (cf. Jeremiah 10:23) James 1:21;

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 “The Word Of God.” Luke 8:11-12 The wayside soil. “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.” (verse 18) Having “heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12) NOTE: This is an individual choice! cf. James 4:7; Acts 7:51; Hebrews 3:7ff; cf. Jeremiah 5:21-23 “The god of this world.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-4 “To reject with disdain.” (Strong)

Parable Of The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23 The wayside soil. Seed that “fell beside the road” (verse 4) and was “trampled under foot.” (Luke 8:5) What does it mean to “trample” something under our feet? (Matthew 5:13; 7:6; Hebrews 10:26-29) “To treat with the utmost contempt and indignity” (Zodhiates) Eaten by the birds … never germinated. “To reject with disdain.” (Strong)