The Seeds by the Wayside - Matthew 13:4

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus, “went … out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;, and in chapter thirteen and verse four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told the multitude, “some seeds fell by the way side” where we read:

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

The verse reads, “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he sowed” or “the person scattering seed”, “some seeds fell” which means “truly, certainly, surely and indeed a few of the seeds were cast down” “by the way side” or “near and beside the traveled road”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the multitude a few of the seeds which were scattered were strewn alongside of the traveled pathway.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the fowls came and devoured them up:” Matthew continued with the words, “and the fowls” which means “and the winged animals and flying birds” “came and devoured them up” or “arrived, appeared and consumed the seeds”. Matthew shared how the birds of the air came and ate the seeds that were scattered by the way side.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we notice these seeds did not fall into “ready soil”. Rather than descending into a place where they might grow, they were exposed and became food for the birds of the air. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person, and His purpose for sending Jesus was to be the “Savior and Lord” of all mankind. Those who receive this “seed” shall receive an eternal relationship with God, but those who refuse Him will find that “birds” have stolen and eaten their opportunity to know God.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus said some seed, “fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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