Matthew 13:21-25
Mat 13:21 (KJB)
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Since the root of the plant only goes down as far as the top of the rock plate,
there is not sufficient strength to hold the plant. The Palm tree actually has
roots which spreads out about 100 feet (30 meters) from the tree itself. This is
why we see palm trees in hurricanes almost parallel to the ground and the tree
itself does not snap and when the wind stops, it goes right back up to a
perpendicular position. This type of person hears the Gospel and receives it
with joy almost immediately because he likes what is being preached. Then when
the acid test of true Christianity comes, that is, persecution, this brings an
offense to the person and since they have not truly become saved, they will
leave and not look back. The true Christian will endure the persecution because
they have the Holy Spirit indwelling them which gives them the root which is
based in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (Col 2:7 KJV) Rooted and built up in
him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving. The person who is unsaved will run from the persecution just
as Demas did to Paul. (2 Tim 4:10 KJV) For Demas hath forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Mat 13:22 (KJB)
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the
care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.
This person hears the word of God but just as the thorns and briers which were
present in the field that took nourishment away from the good plants, the cares
of this world does the same to those who hear the Gospel and allows them to
rule. This person may or may not be saved and is attempting to serve two
masters. One cannot do that, you cannot serve Christ and the world because if
you truly are saved, then the cares of this world will definitely choke out and
overtake whatever Gospel they have. When a person is choking it is because
something is caught in their throat, they are gasping for air to live. When a
Christian is being choked by the cares of this world, then their spiritual lives
are being choked and if the cares of the world and the riches continue to
impinge upon the Christian, then their spiritual lives will become unfruitful
for the Kingdom of God. There are many who become saved that still want to hang
on to the world because they have a love for the world and for the materials
they can gather to themselves. This creates a choking of the word, that is, they
are unable to live their Christian lives because everything they do is
overshadowed by their desire for more wealth and how to keep it. A double minded
Christian is of no or little value to the Kingdom of God, simply because they
run their Christian life so it does not interfere with their worldly life
instead of the other way around.
Mat 13:23 (KJB)
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Then Jesus finally comes to the sown seeds that fell on good ground. The good
ground are those who have been qualified to hear the Gospel and understand it.
It is these people who are sold out to the Lord and desire to send forth the
Gospel unto the ends of the earth and in the fulfillment of that task, they will
reap 30, 60, or 100 fold. The reason the Lord gives three numbers is because not
every Christian is going to have a ministry whereby many would become saved.
Some Christians may have a ministry of teaching a Sunday school class of only a
few but the impact he makes could be tremendous as he puts much into learning
and then teaching. Some may have a medium sized ministry like a radio show or
even some type of itinerant ministry where they yield a little more fruit. Then
you will have those who have large ministries that reach millions and will yield
much fruit. It must be realized that when a person is faithful in the ministry
God gives them, whether it be small or large, God is the one who opens the
hearts of those He plans to save. Those who have larger ministries are not on a
better relationship status with the Lord than those that have small ministries.
Can you imagine how long a house would stand if all the nails were taken out?
The nails are part of what keeps the house standing and they are very small in
comparison to the finished product, which is the house. (Zec 4:10 KJV) For
who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see
the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the
LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Mat 13:24 (KJB)
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened
unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
On the heels of His last parable about sowing seed, Jesus now introduces another
parable within the same subject of sowing seed. However, in this parable Jesus
brings in two new terms. He likens this man’s sowing to the Kingdom of Heaven
and what he is sowing is good seed. Jesus is speaking to His disciples and to
the multitudes that there is nothing bad mixed in with the seeds that he is
sowing. Right at the outset of this parable we know that it is a spiritual
lesson because the Kingdom of Heaven is in view along with the good seed that
emanates from it.
Mat 13:25 (KJB)
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went
his way.
Those who sowed the good seed were now asleep because of all the hard work they
did. However, there is a spiritual lesson here to be learned. Since the man who
owned the field had enemies and was cognizant of those enemies, he should have
had men watching to make sure nothing was done to the freshly sown field. Now
because no one was watching, the enemy was able to slip in unnoticed and plant
his tares among the wheat and then escape. In fact in Rome, it was illegal to
seek revenge upon someone in such a manner. The tares mentioned here was a plant
known as bearded darnel which in its earliest stages of growth cannot be
distinguished from the real wheat. So even for a short time after this attack,
the tares will look like the real thing until it is too late and will begin to
affect the wheat. This situation is what most churches suffer from. They will
think they are safe from the attacks of the enemy and pretty soon the
unbelievers with their false teachings will begin to affect the other believers.