Matthew 13:3-9,20-21 - Strong & Deep
- Alan Salwei
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
God causes the roots of faith to grow, but you're tasked with feeding them.
Matthew 13:3-9,20-21 (NIV)
This week we'll be working our way through various verses in this passage.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Canons of Dordt
Point 4 - Irresistible Grace
Article 9: Human Responsibility for Rejecting the Gospel
The fact that many who are called through the ministry of the gospel
do not come and are not brought to conversion
must not be blamed on
the gospel,
nor on Christ, who is offered through the gospel,
nor on God,
who calls them through the gospel
and even bestows various gifts on them,
but on the people themselves who are called.
Some in self-assurance
do not even entertain the Word of life;
others do entertain it but do not take it to heart, and for that reason,
after the fleeting joy of a temporary faith,
they relapse;
others choke the seed of the Word
with the thorns of life’s cares
and with the pleasures of the world and bring forth no fruits.
This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13).
Summary
This week are studying the parable of sower. In this parable, Jesus uses four types of soil to describe four different responses to the preaching of the Word of God. Today we turn to the second type of soil in this parable, the rocky ground.
This rocky soil is exactly that, a rocky area with a thin layer of soil between the rocks. This is not an ideal growing condition. Even though the seed will be able to get water, the lack of depth will prevent its roots from taking hold. While initially showing promise of growth, this lack of deep roots leaves the plant vulnerable and unable to survive the heat.
In his explanation to the disciples, Jesus describes this soil as representing the one who hears the gospel and initially responds positively, yet the Word does not take root. This person may show signs of growth, but without the deep roots of faith, they will not persevere. Once trial or tribulation comes into the equation, they will leave the faith.
Dig Deeper
With the rocky soil Jesus tells of those with an initial reaction to the Word of God, but who lack the roots of faith and will at some point fall away. This warning should loom large considering a harmful trend in modern Christianity: the chasing of experiences.
To survive during hot and dry times, plants need deep roots. Those which have shallow roots will quickly wither away. Likewise, when your faith is centered around a feeling or experience, this leads to the same problem as a plant having shallow roots.
It is good and right to want to experience God’s presence, but just don’t make that the basis of your faith. We praise a loving God who has saved us from our sins and has invited us into relationship with him.
Much like any relationship, there are times you will feel closer or more distant from God. The danger is that if your faith if grounded in feelings instead of a wholehearted commitment to God, what will you do when those feelings aren’t there?
Take time to nurture the growth of these roots. Remain faithful in prayer and study of scripture. Regularly meet with other believers for worship. God is responsible for these roots; however, you are tasked with helping to feed them.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who causes His Word to be sown in our hearts;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the roots of your faith grow strong and deep;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Corinthians 5
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