MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN-THE SEVEN PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM. Matt. 13:1-57

May 9, 2019

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23.

The parable is also found in Mk. 4:3-9, Lk. 8:5-8. This and the wicked husbandmen (Matt. 21:23-45) are the only parables recorded in all three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. “To labor in God’s vineyard (Israel Is. 5:1-7) is one thing, to go forth sowing the seed of the word in field which is the world, quite another (Matt. 10:5). One-fourth of the seed takes permanent root, but the result is “wheat” v. 25, 1Pet. 1:23, or “children of the kingdom” v. 38” C. I. Scofield.

  1. The seed sown. ‘The word of the kingdom’ that is our Lord’s teachings, in Lk. 8:11 it is ‘word of God’, and in Mk 4:14 it is simply the ‘word’. Peter calls it ‘incorruptible seed’ 1Pet. 1:23, and Paul call it ‘the word of the truth of the gospel’…’which bring forth fruit’ Col. 1:5-6. Simply put, it is the word of the gospel 1Cor. 15:2-5, 2:1-4, as written by the prophets of old, 1Pet. 1:9-12. It is the gospel of the grace of God.
  2. The sower. It is the Lord Jesus himself Matt. 13:37, or his ministers, who are laborers together with him 1Cor. 3:9.
  3. The ground. Men’s heart is like the soil Matt. 13:19 ‘sown in his heart’, this is the seat of intelligence and will, as well as of feeling. Our Lord makes the seed that fell in the different places to represent the different classes of hearers. The reception depends upon the receiver, as it is with the ground.
  4. The four types of ground.
  5. The highway ground. Matt. 13:4-10. These are hearers who does not understand it or take no hold of the word. They only come as people come, and sit as people sit, only to be seen without putting their mind in the word. Ez. 33:31-32. Pascal: “In other things, a man must know in order to love; in religion he must love in order to know”.
  6. It gives the ‘wicked’ ‘evil’ ‘Satan’ one the open door to act. He is compared in the Bible to a fowler Ps. 91:3; fowls Matt. 13:4, 19, a wolf Jn. 10:12, a serpent Rev. 12:9, a dragon Rev. 12:3-12, a roaring lion 1Pet. 5:8-9.  See some of his characters.
  7. The tempter. Mat. 4:1-11
  8. The father of lies, the thief  and murderer Jn. 8:44, Jn. 10:10
  9. He is cunning 2Cor. 2:11; 11:14, Eph. 6:11-12. He appears as angels of light
  10. He is malignant Lk. 8:12, 2Cor. 4:4.
  11. He is without principle and he is taking advantage of man in their weak moments. Matt. 4:1-11, Lk. 22:40, 2cor. 2:11; 11:1-3. He suggest right things in wrong ways and at wrong times.
  12. He is presumptuous Job. 1:6-12; 2:1-7
  13. He is cruel, fierce and aggressive Lk. 8:29; 9:9, Eph. 4:27; 6:10-18, 1Pet. 5:8-9.

It continues