Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Verse 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. Verse 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. Verse 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Verse 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. Verse 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Verse 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Verse 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Verse 9Let anyone with ears listen!" Verse 18"Hear then the parable of the sower. Verse 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. Verse 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Verse 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. Verse 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. Verse 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Devotion
Jesus uses this parable to help the disciples understand different responses to the proclamation that God’s kin(g)dom has come near in Jesus. For many the “evil one” is at work, trouble and persecution interrupt, cares and the lure of wealth get in the way, and for others the words of God’s kin(g)dom are heard at just the right time and amazing life changes result.
My time at Alta Lake working in the rocky soil has reminded me, God’s seeds of life and love are persistent, like the wildflowers. My task (and yours) is to cast the word of God’s kin(g)dom broadly and repeatedly for we do not know when and where God will be at work. We recall this promise: God’s word shall accomplish God’s purpose, and succeed in the thing for which God sent it, even (and perhaps especially) in unlikely places.
Prayer
Help me be a sower of the seeds of God’s kin(g)dom. May God’s word take root in the unlikely places of this world and its people bring forth an abundant yield of the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (Galatians 5:22ff). Amen.