Synoptic Gospels 5: Herald of the Kingdom (2)
Pray Psalm 126.1, 2
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
Sing Psalm 126.1, 2.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.
Read Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23; Mark 4.1-9, 13-20; Luke 8.4-8, 11-15; meditate on Matthew 13.18-23.
Preparation
1. What do the different soils represent?
2. What does the seed represent?
Meditation
The focus of this parable is on the four soil types, each representing a different state of readiness of the human heart, from hard and unreceptive, through shallow and easily entangled, to good and productive. It’s probably true that, at one time or another, our hearts show each of these facets. The goal, for those who are in the Lord’s household—those who hear and do His Word (Matt. 12.48-50)—is to make our hearts into good soil, so that we receive the Word eagerly, sink it deep in our souls, and cultivate it daily through faithful reading and obedience, so that it brings forth the fruit God intends.
We must ready our hearts, through confession and repentance, to receive the good seed of the Word from Jesus day by day, meditating on it, seeking ways immediately to carry out what it requires, and rejoicing in the Lord at every indication of fruitfulness. We do not expect to all bear the same fruit, or in the same quantities; but that some fruit is expected in our lives, as Jesus had already explained (Matt. 12.33). We must be diligent to cultivate as much and as varied fruit as we can.
Seek the sowing of the good seed in your soul. Work it in deeply, meditating on the Word, comparing it with other passages of Scripture, even memorizing a verse, to set it in your mind. Seek the Lord for guidance and power to bring forth the fruit of the Word, and thus prove that you are a true member of His household and Kingdom.
Seek also to sow the good seed of the Kingdom, and to encourage and help those among whom you sow it to open their hearts to the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom. Jesus tells us that great things come from small beginnings, and His ministry and Kingdom are the proof of that. Do all the small things well, and trust the Lord to bring great fruit from your labors.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We live in a small townhouse with an HOA, so we don’t have to cut our lawn or shovel snow.
But we do have a small garden spot in the front where flowers can be planted. Since we have only lived here a year, we didn’t have time to plant anything last season. But this year—oh, boy—have I enjoyed digging in and planting. The soil was beautifully prepared by the previous owners. It is moist, full of wiggly worms and nutrients. We are the beneficiaries of someone else’s labors.
So it goes in the Kingdom garden. As Paul wrote: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God Who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Cor. 3.6-9). Each one labors for the growth of the Kingdom.
Whether it is a physical garden or a spiritual one, seeds are a necessity.
For the spiritual garden, the Word of God is the seed.
Without it, nothing grows.
The rain can fall, and the sun can shine all it wants, but without seed, you only get mud pies and dust storms.
Solomon paints a picture of just such a sorry Wordless garden:
“I went by the field of the lazy man,
and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
and there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
its surface was covered with nettles;
its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;
so shall your poverty come like a prowler,
and your need like an armed man” (Prov. 24.30-34).
The Word fallen badly—by the wayside and eaten up; in stony places, scorched and withered; struggling in the thorns, choked and lifeless—can be avoided by loving the LORD our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind (Matt. 22.37).
What about the Word that daily falls well onto previously tilled and cared for soil?
These “having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Lk. 8.15).
Kingdom work involves all the facets of planting a good garden.
Some prepare the soil, some plant the seed, some water, some shine the sun, some fertilize, some do the work of worms, aerating the soil, and some prune. There is a place for everyone. All are needed for growth.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God Who works all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…” (1 Cor. 12.4-7).
The only similarity?
All need daily reseeding of the Word, and the strength found in prayer, to maintain good, workable soil
that flourishes into a bounteous, community garden having the potential to bless others abundantly.
Reflection
1. Does the parable of the four soils speak to you? In what way?
2. What are some “Kingdom seeds” that you are planning to sow today?
3. What can you do to nurture the seeds that have taken root in your fellow believers?
What distinguished the good ground was fruitfulness. By this true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites. Christ does not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but none that could hinder its fruitfulness. All are not alike; we should aim at the highest, to bring forth most fruit. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 13.1-23
Pray Psalm 126.3-6.
Pray that God will revive His churches and renew their commitment to sowing good Kingdom seed throughout their communities. Pray the same for yourself, and seek the filling of the Spirit for the power you will need to bear witness to Jesus today.
Sing Psalm 126.2-6.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Then the astonished nations said, “The LORD has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!
Restore our fortunes, LORD our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.
They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Today’s Scriptorium is a good lead-in to our book, Small Stuff, which leads us through all the small stuff of our lives to see how through them we can glorify the Lord. Order the book here or download a free PDF here.
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. Our twice weekly column, Crosfigell, is well into a series on the life of Brendan the Navigator, one of the great saints of the 6th century. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, features the first three installments this week. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
