St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 31 - 32, The Kingdom of Heaven: Like a Mustard Seed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the mustard seed) Part 1. 

Christ continues to reveal information about the kingdom of heaven.  He has spoken about the kingdom of heaven as a field that is planted with the good seed.  Now he speaks in another parable about the kingdom of heaven being like a mustard seed.  A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds.  Yet the plant the comes forth from this seed becomes a giant tree.  Other produce fruit.  The mustard seed produces a giant tree that birds make their nest in. 

Christ tells the crowd and his disciples,  "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.   This indeed is the smallest of all the seeds; but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches." 

The kingdom of heaven is likened to a seed.  It is like the good seed that a man plants in his field.  It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his field.  The kingdom of heaven is a seed that is planted within us.  It grows just as a seed grows.  It produces fruit just as the seeds of a fruit tree  or the seed of grain grows to produce fruit.  The kingdom of heaven like an herb that is planted in a garden.  The herb seed grows to produce an herb.  Some are small.  Some are medium sized, but the mustard seed is the the largest herb in the garden.  For when it grows up, it produces a tree that is greater than any other herb in the garden.

Christ speaks to us in a language of planting.  He tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a seed.  It is planted within us.  And we are the soil that brings forth the life of the seed.  We can bring forth the life of the kingdom.  We can produce the fruit of the kingdom.  In some cases we can produce 30% of the time, or 60% of the time or 100% of the time if the seed is planted in good soil that will nurture the seed and bring forth growth. 

Christ tells us further that the kingdom of heaven is like the seed of a mustard plant.  When planted and grows up it brings forth a tree that is greater than any other herb in the garden.  So now we have two choices of what is in the kingdom of heaven.  We have fruit or grain and we have an herb that produces a giant tree.  Which type of seed are you today?  Are you the result of a fruit seed or are you the result of a mustard seed?  One grows tall and strong where the birds of the air come to rest.  The other produces fruit of the kingdom.  Both are in the kingdom of heaven.  Come, let us prepare our soil for the planting of the seeds from the kingdom of heaven!

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 28 - 29, The Kingdom of Heaven: An Enemy has done this.

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

How does the kingdom of heaven have weeds?  This is the question that was asked by the servants that worked the fields of the kingdom.  Christ is telling the people about the kingdom.  God's kingdom is vast.  He owns the universe and in this universe are untold riches and wealth.  Wealth in this kingdom is so vast that the mind of man cannot conceive of its magnitude.  And in this vast universe Christ has given life to mankind that we may enjoy the wealth of the universe for all eternity.  Yet within the kingdom there are weeds.  This is unnatural.  It is unheard of, since God did not sow weeds in his fields.  He sowed good seed and the servants want to know how this has happened.  Christ tell us through this parable,  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' 

An enemy of the kingdom has come and planted weeds in the field.  An enemy of the kingdom has come and corrupted the field with this planting.  So, the deed is done.  The weeds are planted.  And what needs to happen next.  Are the weeds to be rooted out?  Are the servants to go one by one and pull up the weeds?  Are they to rake the soil that they may comb out the weeds, pulling them out by the roots so that the seeds are protected.  The servants ask the question, 'Wilt thou have us go and  gather them up?'

The response to the question presents a problem.  If the weeds are pulled, will the seeds and the resulting plants be injured?  Will the rooting out of the weeds leave the plants damaged preventing them from bringing forth fruit?  If the weeds remain will they have a dramatic impact upon the plants, thereby damaging the fruit?  Weeds are destructive.  They often grow faster than the plants they surround.  They attach themselves to the plants and encircles them with their tendrils, using their tendrils as steps of a ladder to grow upon the plants they encircle.  Soon the plants are overwhelmed by the weeds and the fruit of the tree is destroyed.  What does one do?  Christ tells us that the Lord told his servants,  No,' he said, 'lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.

So we live among the weeds, as it is in the kingdom, it is today.  We grow and the weeds grow with us.  How do we protect ourselves against the growth of the weeds?  How do we stop the weeds from taking over the plant and damaging the fruit.  The precious fruit of the kingdom may be attacked if not watched.  The precious fruit of the kingdom may be damaged if the weeds are not kept away.  The precious fruit of the kingdom could be choked and prevented from coming forth if we do not beat back the weeds.  It is a daily battle.  It is an hourly challenge.  It requires constant vigilance.  But we are not alone for we have the servants who watch over us.  We have the servants who will protect us.  We have the servants who will fight back the weeds to allow the seeds to bring forth fruit.  And then we have the almighty weed killer, the Holy Spirit that is within us, keeping the weeds from taking hold of us.  Do you have your weed killer with you?  Does he reside in you?  Do you remind yourself daily that he is with you?  Come, Holy Spirit, bring your light into my life!

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: 22, The Seed among Thorns.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the sower explained) Part 3. 

And Christ continues to give them what is given.  He explains the parable of the sower so that they may understand.  He gives knowledge so that they may perceive.  He gives wisdom so that they may see with their eyes and hear with their ears and be converted that they may be saved.  But some came not to hear.  Some came not to understand.  Some came to be entertained.  Some came to be healed of their physical ailments but not of their spiritual ailments.  And some came to destroy the seed that was being planted.

Christ saw all.  Christ knew all and yet he gave.  He saw the seed by the wayside and the evil one taking it away.  He saw the seed on rocky ground and knew that it would not stand the test of temptation and  persecution.  Yet he gave.  For his heart was filled with the love of the Father and the love of man.  He continued to give until the end.  And he told the parable of the seed planted with the thorns.  He said,  And the one sown among the thorns, that is he who listens to the word; but the care of  this world and the deceitfulness of riches  choke the word, and it is made  fruitless.

He who has ears let him hear!  The word has been spoken.  The seed has been sown.  The seed is in the world and the world will grow among the seeds.  Throughout the world seeds are given.  They are dispersed everyday through the blessings of the Holy Spirit.  Many will hear.  Many will rejoice.  But few will nurture the seed.  Few will water the seed.  Few will cultivate the seed so that it will grow.  Instead the seed will be in the world and the world will choke the seed.  The seed will be in the world and the soil will yield no fruit.  For man is in the world and the seed is not of the world. 

Turn within and see your seed!  Turn within and nurture your seed!  For it is within that you grow.  It is within that you develop.  For it is within that your new being will come forth.  But, you must water from within.  You must cultivate from within.  You must nurture from within and not from outside.  For the outside is inclined to death and the inside is inclined towards life.  Christ came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly.  Is not the life more than the clothes, the paper money, the cars, the houses, the parties, the wealth of this world?  But life is not of this world and your rewards are not of this world.  So, why do you seek the riches of this world that are dirt compared to the riches of heaven? 

Seek your reward and you will know the joy and peace of heaven.  Ask for your heavenly riches and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.  Then, you will know your true self and your true heritage.  For you are a child of God and he has prepared great things for you in heaven.  Come, get a glimpse of your reward and you will know.  Seek the Holy Spirit and he will be your guide.  He sits at your door waiting.  Invite him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses:20 - 21, The Seed on Rcky Ground.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the sower explained) Part 2. 

The explanation continues.  The ears are opened and the eyes may see, and Christ gives what is given.  The disciples have asked for parables to be explained and Christ has agreed to give understanding.  He has agreed to provide more insight.  He has agreed to repeat the parables, with explanation, so that those who would listen may hear.  Many have come.  Some have come to be healed.  Some have come to see.  Some have come to be entertained.  And then there are those who have come to destroy.

Christ repeats the parable of the sower on rocky ground.  He says,  And the one sown on rocky ground, that is he who hears the word receives it immediately with joy;  yet he has no root in himself, but continues only for a time, and when trouble and persecution comes because of  the word, he at once falls away. 

And now they know.  Now they have heard.  Now they may understand that they may be the one on the rocky ground or they may be the one on the wayside.  But the seed has been sown.  The seed has been released.  Will they nurture the seed?  Will they water the seed?  Will the seed find roots and grow?  Or will the seed whither and die?  Those who have ears let them hear.  And those who do not hear let them know.  Christ wanted them to know.  Christ wanted them to understand.  Christ wanted them to receive the seed but the evil one has tricked them.  The evil one has stolen their seed.

Where are you today?  Are you a wayside seed or a rocky road seed?  Do you receive the word but cast it off when trouble comes?  Do you not know the truth of the word?  Come, let us understand the true meaning of the words of Christ, for it is through the spirit of Christ that meaning is received.  It is through the spirit of Christ that understanding comes.  It is through the spirit of Christ that true wisdom of the kingdom is revealed.  Do you know?  Do you understand?  Do you seek to understand?  For the spirit waits at your door ready to enter, only if you ask him in.  Will you ask?  Will you seek?  Will you desire to have his wisdom and knowledge?  He waits for you.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 18 - 19, The seed by the Wayside.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the sower explained) Part 1.  

And now for those who do not understand Christ explains the parable to his disciples and to those in the crowd that are listening.  Christ said OK, I will give you the message that you may understand.  He said OK, because they asked it of him.  He said OK, because they showed interest in what was being said.  He said OK, because they sought to know the meaning of the parable.

Christ said,   "Hear, therefore, the parable of the sower.   When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, but does not understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.   This is he who was sown by the wayside.     

And so they were told.  And so, it was given to them.  And so, their eyes were opened and their ears heard the meaning of the message.  The seed was sown.  Would it be taken away?  Would they understand even though it was given to them?  Would they hold to the message that was given to them?  The message was given to them to keep in their hearts and to defend against the attacks of the wicked one who would seek to take away what was given them.

Are you the one sown by the wayside?  Did you loose what was planted in your heart?  Christ has given you the message.  Will you receive it?  Will you nurture it?  Will you feed it that it may grow?  Or will it be taken from you?  Sown by the wayside.  Christ loves you even more.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 7 - 9, Seeds with the thorns and Seeds in the good ground.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the sower) Part 2. 

Christ sat on the shore and communed with the father.  And the people came to him in crowds.  Overwhelmed with their needs, he got into the boat.  He began to preach but this time he spoke in parables.  This time he did not teach directly to the people.  He changed how he taught.  He brought something different.  He spoke not to them but through them.  He spoke to those who had ears to hear.  For many had come to see.  Many had to come to hear.  Many had come to be entertained.  And so they were, for he spoke no more except in parables.  So that those who had would understand and those who had not, would not understand and that which they had would be taken away.

Christ continued to talk about the sower.  Many have heard to story.  It has been preached throughout the land by each and every preacher, pastor, deacon, lay person, priest, and commoner.   Many use the story as a platform for raising funds.  Sow your seed money and you will be rewarded with a great reward.  Is this the meaning of the passage.  Christ tells the story:
"And other seeds fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them.  And other seeds fell upon good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold."    

So the sower continues to sow his seeds.  He first sowed by the wayside and the birds came and ate the seed.  Then some fell on rocky ground and they had shallow roots.  So they  withered and died when the sun scorched them in the heat of the day.  Now some fall among the thorns and some on good ground.  And the fruit comes forth in bounty.  Some fruit comes a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty.  So what are we talking about.  Christ spoke in parables.  He entertained the people and filled the spirit of those who heard his message.  For there were many who came to be entertained.  There were many who did not believe.  There were many who did not understand.  And Christ said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  

The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are given but few receive it.  Few understand what they are given.  And few come to know the true value of the mysteries of the kingdom.  But for those who have ears to hear, great is their joy and overflowing is their peace.  Do you have ears to hear the message of Christ?  For he is sowing the seed.  Do not let your seed be scorched.  Do not let your seed be eaten by the birds of  darkness.  Do  not let your seed be chocked by the thorns of this world.  It is a precious gift, the seed.  Nurture it.  Treasure it.  Water it.  Keep the weeds out.  The mysteries of the kingdom await your discovery.  Can you hear them?  Can you understand?  Will you open your heart to the Holy Spirit to come in?  The treasures of heaven await your discovery.  Seek not the riches of this world.  For they are but dirt compared to the riches of heaven.  But first you must seek them.  You must desire them.  You must want to know them before they will come to you.  For those who seek will find.  Those who knock it will be opened to them.  And those who ask it will be given to them.