On Friday I got to speak again at our Youth Group. This was about midway into our series looking at Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. I don't feel this talk was that great, but since I gave it in public, I think I should also post it publically. While giving the talk, the kids were quiet, but I wasn't necessarily feeling like they were getting it - which is one of the points the actual parable is about. This talk was perhaps aimed too high, and may read well on paper, but doesn't have any stories to connect with the points.
You can tell by the footnotes I leaned on Ray Galea a bit, and I have to say that I found his talk personally helpful to me, especially the point about closing the gap between worry and prayer. Perhaps I learned much from Ray in one hit, I also tried to pass too much in one hit. You can find this talk in the KCC app.
The story so far
We are continuing our series in the Gospel of Matthew. As a reminder, or for those who are just tuning in, we have so far seen that:* Jesus was announced by John the Baptist and affirmed by God as the coming one, the son of God who is always going on about this Kingdom of Heaven. (Mat 3:1-17)
* We saw some of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven, how it is this upside-down kingdom, where the meek and the humble and peacemakers will be blessed. (Mat 4:23-5:20)
* And last week we say how Jesus has great power over this world, demons, sickness and sin, and yet people had very different responses to Him when seeing His power. (Mat 8:18-9:13)
Parables
This week we are at the start of a new section in Matthew where learn about parables. In this same chanter, after this, there are about six more, not to mention there are a few later. Next week we will look at one of the last parables in this Gospel (Mat 20:1-19).So here in Matthews Gospel, we have some information on what parables are, with Jesus telling us why He used this teaching method. We also get an explanation of this first parable, which is a little special as not all parables are we told what they mean.
Parables are kind of stories that Jesus tells, mostly about this Kingdom of Heaven. They are like word pictures to make a point, sometimes just one point, about one aspect of the new Kingdom. You would think this was because as a teaching method this might help people understand the kingdom in some tangible sense. However, that isn’t the reason Jesus gives as to why He tells parables. He didn’t read in some preaching book that analogies and metaphors are really useful to drive home points. In fact, the reason Jesus gives as to why He speaks in parables is upside-down.
Check out verse 10, we get the exact question “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” and Jesus’ response in verse 11 “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them”. And then in verse 13, Jesus repeats His communication strategy “This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand” and then we get yet another Old Testament passage, telling us about how Jesus is fulling it. (This is a common feature of Matthew’s Gospel.)
Jesus says He speaks in parables to the people because they do not know or understand about the Kingdom of Heaven. That when speaking to hard-hearted people, parables only make their hearts harder. Those who close their ear and those who have closed their eyes will not hear or understand what Jesus means. Parables are not used to clarify but to sift[1] between those who are God’s and those who don’t care. Some parables will just bounce off people, others will want to know more.
The disciples, the followers of Jesus, are said to be blessed because they do see and hear. It is the disciples who have access to Jesus. I’m not sure if you noticed it, but there is a scene change between verse 9 and 10. At the start of this passage, we have Jesus on a boat telling this parable. Then there is a break where the disciple afterwards asks Jesus what He means. They seek to follow and to understand Jesus more, and so Jesus tells them afterwards when the crowds have moved on.
Explanation of the parable
Now, what is so meta about this parable is that the parable is about hearing Jesus. The disciples were confused about a parable they heard as they didn’t understand, so they come to Jesus. Jesus first says He speaks in parables so some will not get it if they close their ears, but that some will. Then Jesus explains the parable, which is all about hearing the word and not understanding it.Jesus’ explanation of this parable from verse 18-23 is kinda a take on the Isaiah quote just above it.
The point of the parable is saying when people hear about Jesus and the new kingdom, not everyone is going to believe the message.
It answers the question, how do you keep bearing fruit in your Christian life, 5, 10, 20 years from now. It explains why some people don’t make it. Why some people accept the message of Jesus and why some don’t. Why some people mature in Christ and why some don’t. This gives us help in how we can succeed in the Christian life, how we can continue to produce fruit in our life by hearing the warnings on how others fail[2].
Just quickly, we will run down the four soils, and as we do, use these as a self-check up, perhaps as a warning. You see, Jesus wants you to live for Him, and he lays out the dangers along the way.
The First Soil, the devil is against the word
The first soil in verse 19, is those who hear about the kingdom and do not understand it. This is not because they are stupid, but because the evil one takes the seed away. This is huge and scary. The devil’s mission is for people to not believe Jesus and His word. This means he is actively trying to get people to not hear Jesus words of eternal life. He probably has a better church or youth attendance than anyone here, as whenever the word is preached, he is there trying to get people not to understand the message. This should encourage us to pray. Know that when talking about Jesus to others, and they are just not getting it, there is a whole other realm with things going on that you cannot see.
The next two soils are ones that start off well, but they do not make it. One group received the word with joy but when trouble comes, they give up. The other group slowly gets choked because of worries and wealth. One received external pressure, the other has internal struggles.
The Second Soil, feelings are not enough
Some people seem to be going well, they are feeling good and have joy, but when things aren’t feeling good, when troubles come, they walk. Instead of still trusting in Jesus and God’s word, when they feel the pressure and feel the struggles and get hit for six, they give up.
Some of you haven’t been tested yet, so far life has been alright with some little ups and down. Others I know here are going through some serious things, some to do with external situations, others here have internal struggles. As we will see in the last soil, the issue comes down to how we receive God’s word. Do you believe it? If you tow the biblical line, our world will not like you. You will be called names, be cool shamed and even talked down to as a simpleton. Can you handle that? Is that too scary for ya[3]?
Other people react to suffering thinking that God owed them better. It is easy to be a Christian when things are going well, but what if you get into an accident, someone close to you dies, your parents get a divorce, that girl you liked breaks up with you, what do you hold on to? I have only really hit rock bottom maybe three times in my life. When everything is knocked out from under you, what do you do? Some walk from the faith, they think God owed them something. They saw the Christian life as giving up a bunch of things, like not swearing or watching R rated movies and in return, God owed them[4]. But that is not the gospel, that is not grace, that is a transaction or a deal. You cannot come to the bargaining table and get God to sign some deal you have for Him. We need a bigger picture of God and a better understanding of suffering before it happens, as in this parable it says, those who are not grounded in God’s word, their roots are shallow, and they will walk.
The Third Soil, worry and wealth
The third soil is about things that choke us up, more internal pulls or distractions. Worry and wealth. Our whole culture wants us to be unsatisfied with life and with who we are, so we can consume more. But we need to remember that the cure for worry is prayer (Phil 4:6-7) and the cure for greed is generosity (2 Cor 8).
We all have those things that consume our mental space, conversations we should have, conversations that we did have, worry about what others are thinking about us, how is this event going to work out, all of that. If you don’t take it to God, this will consume you and you may give up in the faith as you can’t do it on your own, you need Jesus and His word. We are to Pray. Close the gap between your worries and emotional energy and taking it to God. Talk to God about what the trigger for this worry was, name the worry, speak it out to God and then speak to God about God[5]. Trusting that our good Father knows what is best, and be willing to be shaped and changed to His will. Don’t delay, talk to your father about your feelings.
The other issue is wealth. Now some of you may not have money, but you are in a wealthy home, and perhaps attend a wealthy school. Be generous with what you have. Being greedy involved you trusting in your own wealth, or power or skills. But you can’t do it on your own, you need Jesus and His word. Don’t be a dragon and store up what you have so you can lie on it in your cave. Spend and give. I have always since I've had a part-time job at K-mart, given away at least 10% of what I earned. Sometimes more. I encourage my five-year-old to do the same. He gets 50c and gives away 5. You are never too young to start being generous.
Soil 2 and 3 show that some people may start off well and do not finish. You may have friends you can think of. If someone becomes a Christian, please celebrate and affirm that person, embrace them. But if over time, they do walk away, be sad, and pray and pray and pray for them, but not surprised[6]. Jesus has warned us.
The Last Soil, hear and understand God's word
Then there is the last soil, the one that is good and fertile and produces a large crop. This group, in verse 23 is about someone who hears the word and understands it, and this is the point. This parable wants you to be in the good soil. Jesus wants you to produce fruit in accordance with your repentance (Mat 3:8). He wants you to let your light shine so people can see your good deeds (Mat 5:16). He wants you to follow Him (Mat 9:9-13). (These points were from the previous weeks so far)So how do you get in the good soil? What things are you to do? We are not to work harder to improve our own soil. The fact is, that the disciples only know what this parable even means because they have Jesus. You can’t do this on your own, you need Jesus and His word.
Pay attention to verse 16 & 17. It talks up the position the disciples are in because they get to see and hear, even more than the prophets. They are only in this position because they are following Jesus. Jesus opens their eyes. Jesus opened their ears. This is only how they are able to hear the word and to understand it. Jesus is the key to understanding the word of God.
Your attitude to God’s word is critical throughout the course of your Christian life[7]. When troubles come, and they will, when worries come, when the pull of greed gets you, hold on to Jesus and His word. That is how we can produce fruit and make it through this life as a Christian.
[1] Ray Galea, Making Sense of Failure and Success, Katoomba Easter Convention 2019
[2] Most of this paragraph is from Ray Galea, Making Sense of Failure and Success, Katoomba Easter Convention 2019
[3] I’ve been listening to too much Machine Gun Kelly this week
[4] I’m pretty sure I got this line of thinking from Matt Chandler, maybe from a Designing God conference…?
[5] Ray Galea, Making Sense of Failure and Success, Katoomba Easter Convention 2019
[6] Ray Galea, Making Sense of Failure and Success, Katoomba Easter Convention 2019
[7] Ray Galea, Making Sense of Failure and Success, Katoomba Easter Convention 2019
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