Jesus, King of our Hearts (Matthew 13:1-58)
9:30 PM
Throughout this week we’ve seen Jesus´ love and compassion for the
people, who’ve been following in great crowds to receive His words and His
blessings! Today we find Jesus leaving a
crowd, and preaching from a boat in the sea of Galilee (13:1-2). But this day
His teaching is completely different:
"He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully:…” as He told the Parable of the Sower (13:3-9)
"He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully:…” as He told the Parable of the Sower (13:3-9)
The disciples were puzzled and asked Him the reason for speaking in parables, and He answered:
“Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to
know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s
word], to him more will be given, and he will be
richly and abundantly supplied;” (13:11-12a)
God has granted His children the
“mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”… to those that are willing to surrender
their hearts and lives to Jesus, our King.
The word "kingdom" means "the
realm over which a king rules." The Kingdom of God" more specifically
refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts ((Lk. 17:20-21). Those of us
who have experienced the “new birth” (John 3:1-13), have access to God's truths! As
Paul wrote in in 1 Corinthians 2:14,“a natural man cannot receive the things of
the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned.”
Jesus
explains that those who are receptive to His Word, will receive even more
revelation and will walk in the abundant life that He provided (Jn. 10:10; 2
Pet. 1:3).
“ , but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables:
because while [having
the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things]. 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled,
which says, ‘You
will hear and keep on hearing,
but never understand; And you will look and keep on looking, but never comprehend; 15 For
this nation’s heart has grown hard, And with their ears they hardly hear, And
they have [tightly] closed their eyes, Otherwise
they would see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand
with their heart, and turn [to Me]And I would heal
them [spiritually].” (13:12b-15)
Those who do not receive God's Word will lose
whatever truth they do have and will go farther and farther into deception. God
reveals His truths to us according to His will (Isa. 28:9-10). Therefore, as we
walk in His ways, He will reveal more of His truths to us.
As Jesus
explains the parable of the Sower (13:18-23), we learn that: the seed represented the word of
God; and the soil the heart of men. This parable shows how men receive and
respond to the word of God:
” 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.”
” 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.”
I like what M. Henry wrote regarding these verses: “What distinguished the good ground was fruitfulness. By this true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites. Christ does not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but none that could hinder its fruitfulness. All are not alike; we should aim at the highest, to bring forth most fruit. The sense of hearing cannot be better employed than in hearing God’s word; and let us look to ourselves that we may know what sort of hearers we are.” M.Henry Yes,
we must let His truths soften our hearts by seeking God with all our heart. “13 Then [with
a deep longing] you will seek
Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find
Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13)
Those who reject God’s word reject Jesus, the
source of all wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). So let us open our hearts to HIM,
to His Word: let it become your “food”, your source of life (John3:16)!! Let Jesus
reign in your heart forever!!
Blessings!
Mari
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