Advancing the Kingdom: Session 1 – The Power of the Seed

Notes:

The Power of the Seed    See Session Slides Here

Jesus spoke in parables. Matt. 13:10, 34. He did so for two reasons:

  • To reveal. ‘Parable’ from para – alongside; ballo – to cast. Thus, an earthly story is cast alongside a heavenly truth to illustrate it. Matt.13:11,12,16-17.
  • To conceal. Matt.13:13-15. Jesus came to reveal truth to everyone who was genuinely open to receive it. He taught in parables, so that genuine seekers would ask for the meaning. See Matt.13:36.

In Matthew 13 there are 8 parables all delivered on the same occasion. The first 4 of these were given to the multitudes (Matt. 13:34), the next 4 given to the disciples (Matt. 13:51). They are parables of the Kingdom. Jesus went through every city and village preaching the glad tidings of the Kingdom. Matt. 13:11. Earth – World – Kingdom.

The first parable is the key parable. “And He said to them, Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?’” (Mk.4:13). The kingdom of God breaks in upon the world, even as seed which when it is sown into the soil breaks through the earth into new life.

A) The Seed. The seed is the Word of the kingdom Matt.13:19. ( 1 Pet.1:22-23; Jas.1:17,18,21). The seed possesses a principle or germ of life which, given the right soil, will produce life “by itself” (Mk.4:28). No human power is needed; no influence of man can cause the seed to sprout. See John 3:8.

 B) The Sower. Life and death, heaven and hell depend on sowing. Weeds will grow without sowing, but not wheat & barley. Sin doesn’t need a sower. But salvation does. Every Christian is a sower. Don’t sow sparingly. Sow beside all waters. Don’t observe the wind nor regard the clouds. (Ecc.11:1-6;  1 Cor.3:5-9; Jn.4:35-38).

C) The Soil. The main focus in the parable is the soil. The seed was the same in each case. The gospel receives different responses. Why? The soil represents the heart. 4 examples of different heart conditions.

1) Wayside Soil. This was a pathway through the cornfields. It was so hard and compressed that the seed never entered into it. It lay upon the top and the birds devoured it. A hardened heart is incapable of receiving an impression, like cement. Note the contrast between the Devil’s purpose and God’s purpose. One is to sow seed the other is to snatch seed. One is to save, the other to destroy.

2) Stony Ground. A thin layer of soil on top of a rock or a slab of limestone. Thus the soil was shallow and the seed had no depth for root. When the sun played upon the seed, it was scorched. Represents those who want God on their terms. Fair-weather Christians. When trials come they are offended and turn back.

3) Thorny Ground. There is only a certain amount of nourishment in the ground. If the weeds get it, the wheat won’t. Distraction by two kinds of materialism: i) “Cares of this world”. Care = to be drawn in another direction; ii) “The deceitfulness of riches”. It is deceitful because it gives a false sense of security.

4) Good Ground. Luke describes this condition as “an honest and good heart”. 30 fold, 60 fold, 100 fold.

 “Take heed what you hear” (Mk.4:24). “Take heed how you hear” (Lk.8:18). Everything we do passes through the filter of the heart. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Prov.4:23.

 We are workers together with God. We sow the seed; God prepares the soil.

1) God gives us a new heart. We have received a new heart; it is now a sphere of divine influence.

2) He searches our hearts and causes us to know them. (Ps.139:23-24).

3) He changes our hearts (Heb.13:9; Lk.24:25&32).

We cannot force truth into an unreceptive heart. We sow the seed, but only God can prepare the soil.


# Answers to this quiz are found in the notes above. Click on quiz to commence. Only correct spelling is recognised. A minimum 70%  correct is required to advance to the next session.