Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. 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.” Jesus continued, “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it. Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples, “another parable” about “good seed” where we read:
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
The verse reads, “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, ...” Matthew began with the words, “another parable” which means “one other narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws and usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God's kingdom are figuratively portrayed and is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning” “put he forth” or “Jesus presented, commended and committed” “unto them” which means “to Jesus' disciples”, “saying” or “uttering, proclaiming and declaring”. Matthew shared how Jesus presented another “earthly story with a heavenly meaning” to His disciples.
The verse goes on to say, “... the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:” Matthew continued with the words, “the kingdom” which means “the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of heaven” or “belonging to the region above the sidereal heaven which is the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “is likened” which means “is made like, in likeness to and compared” “unto a man” or “to a male human being” “which sowed” which means “who scattered” “good seed” or “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable grain or kernels which contain within themselves the germ of the future plants” “in his field” which means “into the man's land, tillage, farm, country seat or neighboring hamlet”. Matthew shared how Jesus told how the “kingdom of heaven” is compared to a man who puts “good” germinating plant seed into his farm or tilled land.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus again refers to an agrarian story to convey a heavenly meaning. As we study this parable, let us use our imaginations to see this man “sowing good seed” into his farmland. The “seed”, as in the other parable, is the “word of God”, and God has presented the “seed of” His gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus to the world. Those who are wise receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and when they do, they shall appreciate the remainder of this parable which Jesus employed.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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