Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:
—Matthew 13:34-35 NLT
Jesus' stories, or parables, were windows to God's truth. They both reveal and conceal. They conceal from those not seeking the truth, God, or the Kingdom. They reveal to those following Jesus — his disciples. But the revealing of these messages came through Jesus' time alone with his disciples as he explained God's mysteries to them. The message, however, was hooked into everyday life for them to easily remember and later awaken these truths when they saw them again in real life. From this point on, Jesus put the key focus of his energies and time on helping the disciples understand God's mysteries. But the parable of the soils reminded them that they chose whether or not they were soil fit for his seed and whether or not they would be fruitful. For us, the message is much the same: If we want to understand the mysteries of God's Kingdom, we must be willing to spend dedicated and concentrated time with Jesus. This is why Matthew wrote his Gospel in the first place. Don't let the year go by merely reading a few verses from Matthew's Gospel every day. Read it through at one sitting several times during the remainder of the year using different translations. Read the other Gospels as well. Get to know Jesus better and worship, serve, and reach out with the Good News to those who don't know Jesus. He longs to help us understand the deep things of God, but he can do it only if we spend dedicated time in his presence.
Father, God Almighty who sent his Son in love to reveal the truth, please help me know Jesus more completely. In addition, help me to know your will for me as I search the Scriptures. Reveal yourself to me in my everyday life as I seek to know you more fully and as I seek to follow your Son more completely. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 13:34-35 NLT
Key Thought
Jesus' stories, or parables, were windows to God's truth. They both reveal and conceal. They conceal from those not seeking the truth, God, or the Kingdom. They reveal to those following Jesus — his disciples. But the revealing of these messages came through Jesus' time alone with his disciples as he explained God's mysteries to them. The message, however, was hooked into everyday life for them to easily remember and later awaken these truths when they saw them again in real life. From this point on, Jesus put the key focus of his energies and time on helping the disciples understand God's mysteries. But the parable of the soils reminded them that they chose whether or not they were soil fit for his seed and whether or not they would be fruitful. For us, the message is much the same: If we want to understand the mysteries of God's Kingdom, we must be willing to spend dedicated and concentrated time with Jesus. This is why Matthew wrote his Gospel in the first place. Don't let the year go by merely reading a few verses from Matthew's Gospel every day. Read it through at one sitting several times during the remainder of the year using different translations. Read the other Gospels as well. Get to know Jesus better and worship, serve, and reach out with the Good News to those who don't know Jesus. He longs to help us understand the deep things of God, but he can do it only if we spend dedicated time in his presence.
Today's Prayer
Father, God Almighty who sent his Son in love to reveal the truth, please help me know Jesus more completely. In addition, help me to know your will for me as I search the Scriptures. Reveal yourself to me in my everyday life as I seek to know you more fully and as I seek to follow your Son more completely. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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