Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Hear you therefore the parable of the sower”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nineteen of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples, “when any one hears the word of the kingdom” where we read:
When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The verse reads, “When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, ...” Matthew began with the word, “when” which means “at the time and moment” “any one hears” or “a person is given the faculty for hearing, perceives, understands and comprehends” “the word” which means “the speech, sayings, decrees, mandates and moral precepts given by God” “of the kingdom” or “pertaining to the royal rule, kingship and dominion”, “and understands it not” which means “and does not understand, perceive or comprehend the speech, sayings, decrees, mandates and moral precepts given by God” . Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the person who “hears” God's “kingdom word” but does not “comprehend” what it means.
The verse continues, “... then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart.” Matthew added the word, “then” which means “at that time and moment” “comes” or “arrives, arises and appears” “the wicked one” which refers to “the annoying, harassing, evil, lewd and bad person”, “and catches away” or “and seizes, carries off by force and snatches out” “that which was sown” which means “the seed that was scattered and planted” “in his heart” or “within that person's soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples the person about the person who has the “seed” of the principles of the kingdom of heaven “seized” from their “heart” by the “evil one”.
Finally the verse says, “This is he which received seed by the way side.” Matthew ended this verse with the words, “this is he” which refers to “this is the person” “which received seed” or “who had heard the principles of the kingdom of heaven”“by the way side” or “from or beside the traveled road”. Jesus said the person who “hears” the principles of the kingdom of heaven and has the message “stolen or seized” from them are like the “seed” that is scattered alongside the traveled road.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we discover the “seed” is the “word of the kingdom of heaven” or the “gospel” of God. When a person hears the “good news” of Jesus Christ coming into the world as the “Messiah and Savior” and refuses or rejects Him, they have had the “word” or “seed” “seized” by the “evil one” or Satan himself. God desires for people to hear and receive His “gospel” concerning His Son Jesus, however, Satan does not, and if he is able to “steal” that message right away from a person's “heart”, he does so. Those who are wise will not only “hear and see” the message of the kingdom of God, but they shall receive it and yield their lives to Jesus Christ straightway.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples about, “he that received seed into stony places”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
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