Parable of the Sower, Pt 2.
Today's Bible Reading: Matthew 13:3-4; 18-19
Supporting Passage: Matthew 13:10-17
The parable of the Sower has an interesting structure. In Matthew 13:3–9, Jesus tells the parable. In verses 18–23, he gives his explanation of the parable. And in between, in verses 10–17, he has a conversation with his disciples about parables.
The disciples want to know why Jesus always talks in riddles instead of coming out and saying what he wants to say. Jesus explains that whoever listens to his words will be given understanding. But whoever refuses to listen will have understanding taken away from them.
This might sound like Jesus is sharing his message with some people and keeping it from others. But Jesus is simply pointing out an everyday principle: there is a link between listening and understanding.
As I said last week, Jesus is offering a heart checkup to everyone. He wants us all to understand and participate in God's kingdom. And so it's time to step into the exam room with Jesus. Over the next four weeks, we'll look at each type of soil in the parable.
As we explore the soils, we will discuss how to respond to people who exhibit these traits. But it's important to remember it's not our job to label others. We humans can be quick to make snap judgments. It's easy to write someone off as "bad soil." But we don't know how God is working in their lives. The Good Gardener may be tending to their hearts below the surface, and a harvest is around the corner.
First and foremost, this parable is an invitation to examine ourselves.
Let's begin by looking at the first type of soil. Here is what Jesus has to say about the seed that fell on the path:
Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. ... Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 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. (Matthew 13:3–4; 18–19, NLT)
I am calling this type of soil the Confused Heart. And I believe the Confused Heart has a misguided view of God's kingdom. They don't see the message of God's kingdom as good news. They don't see Jesus' vision of life as beautiful or freeing. They see it as oppressive and dangerous.
How did they come to this view?
Maybe no one took the time to give them a complete vision of what God's kingdom is about. They only have vague ideas of what Christians believe, and it is a caricature of the real thing. There's some God in the sky who seems to act the same way Santa Claus does. You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why. If that's what it means to believe in God, they'll pass.
For others, the story is more tragic. Maybe they grew up in a Christian home and went to church every Sunday. But they saw hypocrisy. They saw power used in ways that hurt the most vulnerable. And anytime they dared to express their doubts, they were told not to question authority. Over time, they were given a counterfeit view of God's kingdom.
My own heart breaks for the Confused Heart. No, it doesn't mean I believe every Confused Heart was purposely misguided by others. Some people choose to close their eyes and ears altogether (v. 15). They never give the message a chance to sink in. And if given enough time, the Confused Heart will eventually become the Hard Heart.
Still, it saddens me when people genuinely have a misguided view of why Jesus came to earth. Pastor Andy Stanley sometimes poses this question to unbelievers: "You may not believe the story of Jesus is true. But do you at least want it to be true?" If the answer is no, it might be a sign that you don't fully understand the message of the kingdom.
I publish a lot of devotional content on social media. Occasionally, I'll receive a mean-spirited or sarcastic reply from someone. If I'm being honest, these comments can hurt. My initial reaction is to want to hit back with a counterargument.
But lately, I've asked God to give me more compassion. These troll-like comments may come from Confused Hearts. They have a story about why they are so hostile to the message of the kingdom. A story that may make me weep if I heard it.
A seed can't take root in a slab of solid concrete. It doesn't matter how hard I try to pound it into the pavement—it's not getting through. In the same way, I can argue with the Confused Heart until I'm blue in the face and not get anywhere.
Only God can soften the soil of someone's heart. And the good news is, he does it every day! If I dare question whether someone is too far gone (and believe me, I have), then I might be the one in need of a heart change. God desires that everyone would understand and participate in his kingdom.
I pray to have that same desire and to meet every Confused Heart with compassion and gentleness.
Questions to Ponder:
Can you relate to the Confused Heart in any way?
How do you usually react when you meet others who seem hostile or indifferent to the gospel? How can you allow compassion to lead the way in these interactions?
Do you sometimes find it hard to believe the message of the kingdom is good news? If so, take a few minutes to read Jesus' "kingdom address" in Matthew 5–7 and see how it affects your heart.
—
If you enjoyed this devotional and would like to support my writing, you can buy me a sweet tea to keep me caffeinated. It would be much appreciated!