Mat 13:1-9 — All of the Above
If multiple choice tests are bad, circle the letter A. If they are annoying, circle B. If they are confusing, circle C, or choose D if all of the above are true. Can you tell that I don't like multiple choice tests? I especially never liked it when there was an "All of the above choice," because then you had to look at the whole question a lot more carefully.
Today, Jesus wants us to consider our choices very carefully. He wants us to evaluate our hearts and He gives us four descriptions to look at, but the answer is not one of the four; it's all of the above. And that's what makes us evaluate what Jesus is talking about much more carefully.
In Jesus' day, fields were sown by hand. They didn't have the big machines that we use today. The field was usually plowed with the help of oxen, and then the farmer would just scatter the seed, much as people plant grass seed today. And just like nowadays, some of the seed would end up on the sidewalk, the hard path. Some of the seed would be eaten by birds right away, while some would sprout but wither quickly because roots could not penetrate.
When Jesus explained this parable, He said that the seed is His Word, the gospel. That's the message about Jesus, about who He is, what He did for us and where we are headed. That's the part of God's Word that say, "You, yes, you, your sins are forgiven, because Jesus took the punishment for them on the cross and died for you and for me." Believe it. Oh, how sweet that message is! But that message is foolishness to those who are perishing.
The seed that falls on the hard path is a metaphor for the Word that falls on hard hearts and hard heads. There it never takes root, never grows and bears fruit, for there, there is no place for it. Are there parts of hearts that are hard today? Are there times when we are hard-headed? The answer is "yes."
St. Paul says that there is a part of us that is perishing, that will never listen to God, that is the enemy of God, filled up with the sin not grace, dying in sins and trespasses, not living rightly or eternally. Paul calls that part of us the Old Adam. And he's as hard headed and hard hearted as they come. God's Word produces no fruit on the soil of the sinful nature, it only attracts the birds - the devil and his evil lot.
The temptation for us is to ignore the hard ground of the Old Adam in us, sort of like the way we can learn to ignore an ugly, vacant lot. But the farmer who leaves part of the field unplowed and hard will quickly discover his mistake. But thank God we're not the farmer in the parable are we? We're on the receiving end of the sowing. God is the Farmer. God sows His Word and we are His field.
God would have us consider this, carefully. He wants us to know that He has work yet to do in our hearts. He will plow that ground. He will break it with the sharp words of the Law. All that ground will be overturned. Do not look there for the things that God values.
You're a believer by God's grace. So there's much more to the story than just the hard ground. God is working on you and in you. You want to know, "Lord, how would you have me be?" He doesn't want us hard hearted, easy pickings for the devil. So even though there is hardpan in our hearts, stony ground, we know that other things must be true too, because we know that God is hard at work in us.
What about the second kind of soil? It's something like the first. It's the shallow soil of misplaced priorities. Jesus says that the seed that fell on this soil, started to grow, but then died out because there was no root and the environment overwhelmed the plant.
There is shallow soil in our hearts, too. How many times have we discovered that any kind of trouble or persecution sends us looking for cover? How many times has the threat of people thinking ill of us prevented us from living as God would have us live? How many times are we filled with life leaving church only to find ourselves withering away on Monday? We know what we want to do, but then we don't do it.
God knows our weaknesses. Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, so He sympathizes with us. He knows where the shallow soil in the field of our heart is. And in His amazing, loving, slow and careful way, He's building us up. That's why He comes again and again to forgive us our sins and encourage us and take away our sins.
As believers, we know what is right. We know what our priorities ought to be, but the harsh environment in this world pounds down on us. The roots better be pretty deep. There are plenty of spots where soil is too shallow though. Maybe we are shallow with love of material things or shallow when it comes to coming to church and hearing God's Word at home.
But you're a believer by God's grace. So there's much more to the garden story than the shallow ground of misplaced priorities. God is working on you and in you. You want to know, "Lord, how would you have me be?" He doesn't want us to be shallow and unstable and wither in the heat of troubles and persecution. So answer B is true, too, but we know that other things must be true, too, because God is hard at work in us.
The third kind of soil is already covered with the thorns and thistles of despair and doubt, choking weeds that stifle the seed. Oh, this soil is fertile, but instead of a crop it's producing a mess. These spiritual weeds are not from the seed of God's Word.
Jesus names two of these thorns: the worries of life (actually the worries of the age) and the deceitfulness of wealth or abundance. The first one means becoming so preoccupied with the things of this world that we miss the eternal things. You see this in the rush of Christian groups to figure out how to be the "answer" to every spiritual problem of society, to make everything "Christian", to fill every felt need with a product or a program. These churches look so active, stuff sprouting everywhere, but there are no man-made solutions to our eternal problems, so be careful lest you be poked by thistles.
The deceitfulness of abundance is growing unchecked in our country, but again this is not a new experience for God's people. Israel had this weed when it entered the land flowing with milk and honey. We are apt to put our attention on all the blessings and forget the one blessing. Don't be deceived or you'll be overtaken by the thorns and thistles, chasing after stuff that does not last.
But God has not missed a thing. God is pulling the thorns and thistles, though it pierce Him. He's making room for you in the good soil. Maybe you've lost something that you considered valuable, only to discover later that it was for the best. God knows what He is doing.
There's more to the story that this answer C, the thorny ground. God is working on you and in you. You want to know, "Lord, how would you have me be?" He doesn't want us to be choked out by the worries of this age or the deceitfulness of abundance, so even though C is true - there is a part of us that is this way, we know that other things must be true, too, because God is hard at work in our hearts.
Now we come to the good soil. This is where the real action is. Here the intended crop is growing and producing bountiful fruit. Here the fruit of the Spirit grows in God's field. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, all flourishing. This is the good soil that God is making in your hearts and minds by grace through faith. This is what we desire in our inmost being, and He is working to make it happen, and how can He fail. One day the corruptible will put on the incorruptible and the mortal will be immortal.
And, wonder of wonders, He has raised up this mixed clay of ours to help in Him in the field. So repent and break up the hard soil. Fill in the shallow spots. Pull out the thorns and thistles. Share the joy with Jesus over the good soil that is producing fruit. Spread His Word, so that generations to come might know the riches and wonders of God's grace in Christ. Enjoy this garden restored and share this good news.
It's true that the real answer to our question today is "all of the above." May we keep that mind as we conduct our lives in reverence for the One who is saving us. Amen.