010123-“The Parable Of The Soils”...Matthew 13:1-23

Matthew 13:1-9...“On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. Then He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Anyone who has ears should listen!’”

Matthew 13:10-11...“Then the disciples came up and asked Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered them, ‘Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been
given to them.’”

Sermon In A Sentence: Jesus sows the seed of the Gospel which always produces a fruitful harvest when it’s received in genuine faith.

Matthew 13:34-35...“Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and He would not speak anything to them without a parable, so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will declare things kept secret from the foundation of the world.’”

Why Did Jesus Speak To The Crowd In Parables?
-V.11— For the disciples benefit
-V.11b-13—So the truth would be hidden from those guilty of unforgiveable sin
-V.14-17—To fulfill Old Testament prophecy

Matthew 13:11b-13...“…but it has not been given to them. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.”

Matthew 13:14-17...“Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: ‘You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back— and I would cure them.’ But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear! For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.”

Matthew 13:18-23...“You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground— this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now the one sown among the thorns— this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

Gospel Fruit Produced In The Lives Of True Believers:
-Fruit Of Our Lips That Confess His Name– Hebrews 13:15
-Fruit Of Our Spiritual Work Among People– 1 Cor. 16:15
-Fruit Of Righteousness- Phil 1:11
-Fruit Of The Spirit- Gal 5:22ff

Hebrews 13:15...“Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name”

Philippians 1:11...“Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God”

Galatians 5:22-23...“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law”