ST Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 23, The Seed on Good Ground.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the sower explained) Part 4.  

And now Christ concludes the parable of the sower with the last verse.  The purpose of the sower is to plant seed that will yield a crop.  He goes out and clears the ground.  He does back breaking work to remove all the trees, the underbrush, and the weeds, so that what is left is clear ground, dirt.  The soil is where the seeds will be planted.  Next the ground has to be turned so that it is broken and ready for the seed.  The soil has to be turned so that moisture will get into the ground 
without evaporating.  The soil has to be nurtured so that the seed, when planted, will take root and grow.  After all this preparation then the seed is planted in the ground.

Any farmer is familiar with the growing process.  But the most important thing in that process is to make sure you have good seed.  Christ has seed given from the Father.  He has the words given 
by the Father to plant in the hearts and minds of the people.  He has seed that will bring forth a bountiful crop.  And the seed is ready to grow.  Such a precious seed.  Such a glorious seed.  Such a seed that will produce a great crop.  But then there are the outside forces that must be dealt with.  There are the birds that will come and eat the seed left on the ground.  There are weeds that will grow among the seeds, for their seed remains in the earth to grow among the glorious seeds from God.  And there is also the evil one that will come and snatch the seed from the ground that is planted.

And the purpose of the planting is to produce fruit.  Christ tells his disciples and the people the last part of the parable.  He says,  "And the one sown upon good ground, that is he who hears the word and understands it; he bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixtyfold, and in another thirtyfold."

So, the parable is finished, and the seeds are sown.  Will fruit come forth?  Will the good ground bring forth a plant that will produce fruit 100% of the time, or 60% of the time or will it produce fruit 30% of the time?  God is the giver of the seed and the keeper of the soil and the nurturer.  But the soil has to be receptive to the nurturing.  The soil has to receive the living water.  The soil has to receive the cultivation so that the seed may grow and prosper. 

Christ says that the one on good ground hears the word.  Do you hear?  Christ says that the one on good ground understands the word.  Do you understand?  For from your hearing and from your understanding will come forth fruit that will feed and nourish.  From your hearing and from your understanding will come forth fruit that will provide life to those who have no life.  And from your hearing and from your understanding will come forth seed that will feed the ground of other good soil.  And it will produce more good fruit.  And the earth will be populated with fruitful people that love the Lord.  Come, hear the words and understand.  For the sower is ready to sow!

ST Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 17, The Desire of Prophets and Just men.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples ask why He speaks in parables) Part 5. 

Opportunities knock at our door each day.  The opportunity to speak a kind word, the opportunity to lend a helping hand, the opportunity to give to the needy, the opportunity to share with others less fortunate, seek us daily only to be turned away.  Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, is our daily opportunity.   Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, is our opportunity to give to others, our opportunity to share our blessings with those less fortunate.  Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted, is our opportunity to lend a helping hand to those who weep in sorrow and pain.  Opportunity to have the Spirit of God knocking at our door, is the choice of what we have and yet we do not receive him.  

Our Christian beliefs brings us to salvation.  It cleanses us of our old dead spiritual self and gives us new life in Christ.  We are born again.  But new life in Christ requires renewal.  It requires preservation.  It requires feeding, nurturing, and exercising lest it dies from starvation and 
malnutrition.  Opportunity comes and sits at your door to renew your new life and it waits.  Opportunity comes and waits at your door for you to open it and welcome him in and you go out the back door, thinking it is the front.  Christ came to give new life to man.  But he left the feeding and the nutrition of the spiritual body for us find in the Bible.  He left the nurturing of the new life to be received in the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

We Christians are millions today and still growing.  Christians from all walks of life, all nationalities, all races, creeds, and colors call Christ their savior.  Millions and still growing.  Yet how many have seen or truly know the Holy Spirit.  How many of the millions can say that they have received him?  How many know within themselves that they have the Holy Spirit within them?  Yet Christ said that he would send Him.  Christ said that the Holy Spirit would teach all things.  Christ said that he would be our advocate.  Yet few know him.  Few have him.  Few receive him.  There should be a holy cry among the people that that they have the Holy Spirit.  There should be millions walking in the light of the Holy Spirit by his guidance.  Yet to speak of the Holy Spirit is to speak of ignorance, for few speak with certainty of knowing him.

Christ told his disciples that they were blessed for their eyes have seen and their ears have heard the words of the teaching of the Living God through Christ.  He said,  For amen I say to you, many prophets and just men have longed to see what you see, and they have not seen it; and to hear what you hear, and they have not heard it.    And yet the opportunity is there for all to see and to hear each day.  All we have to do is to pick up the book, turn on the radio, change the channel to tune into God.  Yet our ears are blocked and our eyes are blind and we do not see.  We are programed to like what the world has given us.  We are compelled to watch drama.  We are driven to see action.  We are drawn to see lust and passion.  And the spirit calls to us daily.  Some have the opportunity to respond.  Some do not.  For their lives are cut short before they have the opportunity to change.  And judgment at death is final. 

Those who knew, longed for the day when it would happen.  Those who listened, waited for the opportunity to hear the words.  They knew that the opportunity would come.  There was no doubt within them.  They watched daily and listened by the hour.  Those who were faithful were so until the ends of their lives.  Many longed to see but did not see.  Many longed to hear but did not hear.  Yet the opportunity is still hear today.  Do you long to hear the words of Christ?  Do you long to see the coming of Christ?  Are you watchful and patiently waiting.  Seek the Holy Spirit and know.  Ask for his coming and there will be no doubt.  Know within yourself that you can know and you can see, and you can hear the words of Christ as he dwells within you.  He sits at the door.  Open it, invite him in, and you will know.