Clint Ware: Pretty Good Soil
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Today I want us to look together at the first parable Jesus told as recorded in the book of Matthew. This is the first of seven Parables Jesus told about the Secrets of the Kingdom of heaven
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL FIND SOME OF THESE SECRETS ARE MEANT- TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND I IN OUR CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants . 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
In this case Jesus uses three main physical things:
The Sower
The Seed
The Soil (four types)
1. WHO IS THE SOWER
- We get a major clue in verse 19
- The Sower is sowing the message of the Kingdom
- This is precisely what Jesus was doing at that time
Matt 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom , and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Up to this point in the Gospel, Jesus is quoted using the word Kingdom 17 times. He is no doubt speaking of himself. But when we look at
Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
This shows that Jesus was not the only sower, his disciples were also.
2. WHAT IS THE SEED?
-In vs. 19- The message about the Kingdom
In Luke's Gospel - The word of God.
Earlier in Matthew we see Jesus preaching the good news of the kingdom, so the seed is the Word
- In every seed, there is LIFE
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword , it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
3. WHAT ARE THE SOILS?
Peoples' heart - The state of their heart at a given time- IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER -this can change
As we look at the four types - if you see yourself - remember, God is willing to amend your soil.
FOUR TYPES
First Type
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
19 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. This is the seed sown along the path.
Second Type
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
20 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.
Third Type
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants .
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
A weed is an unwanted plant weeds don't produce useful fruit
Notice how the thorns were already there. We can't just add Jesus into our life. Jesus wants to be our life. Two-timing Jesus doesn't work, we just may lose everything
There are things in our lives that we should consider weeds. The problem is that we want them there. To be a weed it has to unwanted
Fourth Type
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
GOOD SOIL
As I said in the beginning - what we have seen here should be an encouragement
Two ways:
1. Encourage us to consider how prepared we are to receive the word of God
2. Encourage us to take our responsibilities as sowers seriously
In the parable, the sower is only responsible for sowing the seed. As disciples of Christ we are responsible to sow the Good News of the Kingdom. Some won't be ready, some won't be really open, some will have to much else in their life to let Jesus in. But some will have deep rich soil, ready for the word to bear fruit.
The parable of the Treasure in the Field, found in Matthew 13:44, is one that has several applications for our lives. This week, Clint Ware interprets the treasure as the greatest gift that our heavenly Father gives us, our personal salvation. He encourages the listener to receive this priceless gift, which only requires that we trust in him alone. This is a treasure that we sometimes try to earn by our own actions, something we need to guard against. 
