My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Matthew 13:23 … Sowing the Good Soil<br />
(04/03/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“But as for what was sown on Good Soil, these are the ones who hear the<br />
Word and understand It; who indeed bear its Fruit” ~ Jesus (Matthew 13:23)<br />
First & foremost, it is important <strong>to</strong> realize that this, the Parable of the Sower<br />
(see Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20 & Luke 8:1-21), is essentially “the Parable of<br />
Parables” – the very first parable Jesus ever utters in the Gospels, and the parable<br />
upon which all others are founded ... And the hub of this particular parable<br />
revolves around the “seeds” that have landed in “the Good Soil” – the metaphoric<br />
representation of those people who actually comprehend what Jesus was teaching<br />
and what his ministry was truly all about.<br />
And how can we know who these people are? How can we know if we are<br />
one of those so “saved”? Well, Jesus makes it all quite clear; noting in this verse<br />
that those who qualify as his true Followers (i.e. those who are the “seeds” residing<br />
in the “Good Soil”) are those who have the humility (Matthew 18:3-4) <strong>to</strong> hear the<br />
Word of selfless Love (Matthew 24:12-14) and the courage <strong>to</strong> fully understand<br />
that Word by experiencing it – by setting it in<strong>to</strong> motion via acts of selfless<br />
service for others (see John 13:15-<strong>17</strong>, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 25:35-40 et al).<br />
Indeed, it is the fruit of our actions that tell us quite clearly whether or not we<br />
have indeed walked The Way (Matthew 7:15-20), with all the deeds feeling Peacefull<br />
(via bringing Peace <strong>to</strong> others) counting as Right Action blooming from “Good<br />
Soil,” and all the deeds feeling stressed or discordant (while serving ourselves &/or<br />
bringing pain or stress <strong>to</strong> others) counting as wrong actions withered in “rocky<br />
ground” or choked by “thorns” (see Matthew 13:20-22).<br />
59