Montrose, Colorado
Rev. Willis A. (Bert) Jones, a country preacher
May 15, 2012
The Seed, the Harvest
Seed Time and Harvest, Jesus had something to say about this. In fact he had a lot to say about the planting of seed if we are to expect a harvest. This is the way Matthew records the event of the parable of the sower in his Gospel.
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:1-9 NIV)"
When Jesus interpreted this parable (Matthew 13:18-23), he spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew also used Kingdom of God elsewhere. He seems to make the distinction of using Kingdom of God when only Christians were involved, but Kingdom of Heaven when speaking of were carnal Christians and unbelievers were also involved. Now we will look at the interpretation.
Many have heard the message of salvation, even making a statement of acceptance with no real commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Then they fell away never to follow Jesus as their Lord. These are the ones included in the seed falling along the path. The birds are evil spirits that devour the seed of the Gospel. Satan is the evil enemy of the Gospel. Next we come to the seed falling in rocky places. There have been meetings where many came to Christ Jesus and were filled with joy, yet their joy faded over time. Why? Persecution came. These fell away because they had no root. Seasoned Christians could help salvage many of these by coming along side and teaching them Biblical truths. They may need to move some of the rocks out of their way. The third section of the parable has to do with the worrier. It also has to do with the one who loves money. Life becomes all that is important to them. The worrier and the lover of money are unfruitful. They may enter the Kingdom with few rewards.
Let's turn to the better part of this parable. Jesus tells us of the victors, the good ground Christians. They hear the Word, they understand the Jesus' message and they bear fruit for the Lord. Some bear thirty, some sixty and some one-hundred times what was sown. NOTE! Three-fourths of the seed was really lost, yet Jesus called this victory. If you have witnessed to somebody about the Lord and they have rejected you, don't give up. Go on to the next needy person and witness to them, then on to the next …. The seed will return fruitful unto the Lord.