May it please Almighty God to
bless us together this evening as we turn to his holy words
to meditate on. Let's turn to the Gospel of Matthew
chapter 13 and we'll read verse 23. The Gospel of Matthew chapter
13 and verse 23. He that received seed into the
good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it,
which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundredfold,
some sixty, and some thirty. These words are the concluding
words of what we refer to as the parable of the sower. It's a well-known parable and
it speaks to us first of all about the sower, a farmer, sowing
the seed and how that seed can fall into really four different
places and only one place be of benefit, and that's when it
falls into good ground, and it brings forth fruit, some 100-fold,
some 60-fold, and some 30-fold. And then, Father, as we go down
this chapter that we've read together, the Lord then explains
what this parable means. And it's wonderful for us really
to have parables because it helps us to understand the truth of
God's Word. Again, without explanation, we
may not have really understood what it means. And so from verse
18 to verse 23, we have an explanation of what this parable means. And it tells us about the four
types of ground into which the good seed fell. Nothing wrong
with the seed. The seed was good. But three
of those places, it did not really benefit. It did not really succeed
in growing very much at all. And of course, in some places,
it didn't grow at all. And so, we have this as an illustration
for us to understand. And again, we should be very
thankful that God gives us these illustrations, so that we can
have an appreciation of what it means. Well, coming down,
first of all, just to the end, if you like, to verse 23, the
Lord says, He that receives seed into the good ground, then He
explains who He is. is he that heareth the word,
and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth
some an hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. So the seed,
of course, is the Word of God. And as we come and hear the Word
of God preached, and it enters into our ears, into our head,
the great blessing is if it enters into our heart and it has a real
and good effect. and of course the Holy Spirit
tells us here that those who receive it into good ground remember
there's four types of ground good ground then they hear the
word and they understand it well we've most of us have been brought
up to hear the gospel preached and how much are we really understood? Or how much have we perhaps had
preached and entered in and then had no effect? And the Lord Jesus
tells us about those three cases that it had no effect they all
heard the word and the reality is that such a description of
these four cases really describes the congregations today as much
as it did when Jesus spoke these words and the first case is he
tells us when one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth
it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which
was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed
by the wayside. Well, how true that is in so
many lives today. They hear the word preached,
they don't understand it, and not really worried about it.
The devil comes and catches away that which was sown in the heart. And what a sad result there is. The result is there's no real
benefit. There's no real spiritual good. They've just heard it. They've
heard the gospel preached. It's entered into their mind.
and that they forget all about it. It's had no effect. And it's not hard for us, is
it, to just analyse our own life and to think, well, you know,
perhaps we can go back to just this morning's time when we worshipped. And how much do we remember? How much did we understand? If we were asked to write a summary
of those things which were preached this morning, how many would
be able to write an adequate summary? Or would they scratch
around and recognize perhaps, may not even remember where the
text was? And so the Lord tells us, this
is he which received seed by the wayside. Very sad, and not
only sad, but very solemn, because what we see there is the devil
has the sway, the devil does what he wants to do, and to take
away the word. And then the second case is,
but he that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is
he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while, for when tribulation or persecution ariseth
because of the word, by and by he is offended. And that describes
today really quite a large proportion of congregations. They may sit
and they may hear the gospel preached, and they may acknowledge
that it was a word, a good word, and that's about all they say,
and they forget about it. They don't remember it at all.
And if you ask them in a week's time what was preached from,
the last Lord's Day, you'll have a blank face. They won't realise
what it was. And so it's a very sad situation. But such has no real effect. And then the third case. He also
that receiveth seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the
word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,
choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. And we can really
put the analogy of us sitting and listening to the Gospel preached,
and all we think about is that which we did yesterday. and that
which we're hoping to do perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps that which
we hope to do in a few weeks' time. And that really is far
more attractive to our mind than to taking on board that which
is being spoken. And so what a sad situation. And the effect is, it's described
here so that we can understand it we receive the word as it
were among thorns and what happens we're choked naturally if seed
falls among thorns the thorns grow and the seed doesn't have
an opportunity and therefore it's choked and it's the same
today in religious scene we are often choked the word does not
profit and again thinking and looking back Do we remember what
was written, what was spoken? No, we don't, because the cares
of this world have come in and flooded into our hearts. We shouldn't
forget that we have a great adversary, the devil, who wants you and
me not to concentrate on the things of God. And yet, you see,
it is a wonderful favour and a wonderful privilege for us
today to be able to come and hear the Gospel There are millions
in the world who never hear it. Millions in the world who have
no desire to hear it. And our favour is that we do
hear it. And do we despise it? And do we think, no, it's of
no value? You see, we can very easily misjudge
the situation. We draw our own conclusion, rather
than asking God whether Such a word is for me, whether I need
such a word as that. See when words are preached and
cut across our life, our natural view is to get rid of them and
not remember them. because they affect what we want
to do. So there we have three types. Three types where the Word of
God did not profit ultimately. It may have profited initially
for a short time, but it didn't bless them eternally. And then
the Lord comes down to the last type. But he that received seed
into the good ground, What a mercy if there is good ground. The
rest was not good ground, although there was some where it was stony
ground, where there was some earth, but it sprung up and then
shriveled away. What a mercy if you and I have
good ground. Now, we have good ground when
God prepares our heart. And when God prepares a heart,
we come to hear the Gospel preached. And we don't come to sit and
be critical and to try and find fault. We come and desire to
hear for the profit of our souls. The desire is that the Word preached
may come to us and guide us and help us and strengthen us and
be a support to us And if it is so, then you see, it will
be profitable and we shall truly think upon it. He that receives
seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and
understandeth it. That's the great word, isn't
it? Understandeth it. You know, as
I've said sometimes, you may remember in the days of Ezra
and Nehemiah, they had people around who could give the people
an understanding of the things which were preached. And how
necessary that is for us today, to have an understanding. And you know, if we are really
those like the seed into good ground, we will want to understand. And if we don't understand, we
won't be satisfied with that situation. We won't say, well,
I didn't understand it, so forget about it. will be concerned that
we do understand it it will cause us to ask questions as to what
it meant because we don't want to have sat and wasted an hour
of our time and not understood anything that was said the hungry
soul wants to understand because in understanding we receive spiritual
food for our souls and it's something to think upon something to meditate
upon so you won't be in that place and a week or so's time
forget everything that was said you may not remember very much
but it would be a great blessing if you remember a little and
realize that the word did cause you to consider, consider your
ways to consider your words consider your actions consider your desires
it's a good thing to be as we may use the phrase to be exercised
in the things of God to be concerned that we are healthy in the things
of God to be concerned that we profit That means we gain spiritual
benefit for our never-dying soul. What a great favour that is. And you see the Lord just explains
that a little when he says, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth
forth some an hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty. It will vary. The profit and
the benefit will vary. but there will be profit there
will be that which will encourage us there may be that which corrects
us it's a wonderful thing to know that God is dealing with
us dealing with our souls as sons and daughters of the Most
High God we're not being cast off we're not being forgotten
but God in love to our souls is instructing us and is giving
us a spiritual understanding what a favour that is and it's
good if you and I can again look into our hearts and realise that
God has come alongside us he's taken us by the hand as well
and is leading us on into all truth as it is in scripture. He's leading us to show us ourselves. He's leading us to show us himself. And it all comes out in the preaching
of the gospel. And it gives cause for meditation. It gives cause to consider And
what a blessing it is when you and I can read the Word of God,
perhaps, especially the Psalms, where we have so many testimonies
and experiences of God's people, David especially, who writes
very honestly and very fully of his spiritual life. And it's good when you and I,
therefore, have a hunger and we realize that something in
our life has been touched upon and it gives us a desire therefore
to search the scriptures as to whether these things are true
it's good isn't it to search the scriptures and to be encouraged
as we find there in the Psalms and other places where God's
people have walked the same path that we're walking God's people
have been corrected in the same way that we are being corrected.
God's people are being instructed in the same way that we're being
instructed. And what's the result? The result is this. We find that
we are growing spiritually. We're growing in grace, that
means we're growing in the knowledge God's dealing is with us, the
unmerited favor of God. And not only that, but we're
also growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. Because we're being taught, we're
having an understanding of what the Lord Jesus Christ did when
he came into this world. and how he came into this world
and why he came into the world and why it was that he should
come in the way he did through that virgin birth and live that
perfect life for those 33 years and then was crucified on Calvary's
cross to bear the punishment instead for us and to then rise
from the dead, a conqueror over sin, death, hell and the grave,
and then to ascend up into glory, and there in glory to intercede
for us today. It's a wonderful pattern. It's a glorious gospel. And what a mercy if God therefore
gives us an understanding as we hear the word preached and
these points are touched upon and the result is they go home
into our heart and we realise that's what I wanted to know
that's what I didn't understand and that's what God is graciously
revealing to me and we'll come to the the result, the conclusion,
the Gospel, I love it, and to realise that it's perfectly free. Unworthy as we are to receive
the blessed understanding of the great truths of the Gospel,
to realise that the seed, God's seed, which is sown in our hearts,
it hasn't perished it hasn't rotted it hasn't been choked
but there it is and it's growing and it's growing oh my friends
you see the wonder of such a parable as this it describes to us in
ways that you and I can understand and what a mercy it is therefore
that the Lord has recognised our utter ignorance, our utter
sinfulness, our life against God, against the way of God,
and yet brings us into that place of humble submission. What a mercy it is to come and
submit ourselves to God's will. I wonder if the Lord has brought
you and me to that position to submit ourselves to come and
say nevertheless not my will but thine be done you see that
is a good place and it's a God-given place it's a place that you and
I don't bring ourselves to God gives us grace to come there. And what a wonderful favour and
what a wonderful mercy that is. And so we're told, he that bringeth
fruit, there will be fruit, the evidence of the life of God in
the soul. There will be evidence that there
is a change, a change, that whereas at one time we were only interested
in the things of this poor world what a blessing when God brings
us to understand that most of the things in this world are
vanity of vanity and vexation of spirit and it's the work of
God's Spirit that brings us to be aware of these things and
to turn us away from them because we realise that such scenes such
thoughts such considerations do not bring honour and glory
to God and if they don't bring honour and glory to God then
they're not fruitful and it's a very valid and valuable test
to examine ourselves you know the Word of God encourages us
to examine ourselves whether we are in the faith or not. We
should not just make an assumption that we are. We should examine
ourselves under God's microscope to see whether we are in the
faith. And the evidence of that will
be if we are fruitful in the things of God. and if our desire
and concern is to do the will of Almighty God you know it's
very easy to just blithely say, oh yes of course that's my position
but we stand before God who examines our heart and it's not just the
words that you and I might say perhaps sometimes just to impress
people and to try and make them think we're a very wonderful
Christian, but it's as we stand before a holy God. That's the critical thing and
that's what will really test our religion. We want to give
diligence to the things of God. to the great things of God and
realise that the things of this vain world are so quickly passing
away so very very quickly passing away and what a mercy therefore
to realise that we have a God who is gracious and he tells
us through the Apostle Peter in the second epistle, his second
letter he says in the first chapter whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers
of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust that's a very great statement isn't it and
how good it is if we realise that the Lord has come to us
in that way, has given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises. I wonder whether you can look
into your heart and find a promise that God has lodged there, a
promise that God has made over to you, a promise that you can
claim as belonging unto yourself. according as his divine power
hath given unto us these things it's God's power whereby given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might
be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust and he goes on beside this
giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue
knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and
to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness charity or love. Well that's a very comprehensive
list. There's a number of comprehensive
lists with regards to the gifts of the Spirit but here's one
in Peter and he tells us, therefore, for if these things be in you,
if these things be in you, good to sit down isn't it and perhaps
just ponder these points one by one to be able to recognize
whether these words are true that we are bringing forth fruit
to the honor and glory of God and our lives demonstrate the
work of God in our souls these actions show that God has touched
our hearts with a desire to follow his way and to do his will. Well, it's comprehensive, but
it's good if we have a desire to be diligent, giving all diligence. You know, naturally speaking,
we're not very diligent, are we? You only have to think of
our prayer life. We're not very diligent, are
we, in our prayer life? And yet, if we are amongst those
who have truly benefited from the Gospel, the glory of it,
our concern should be to have this right understanding and
to be those who bear fruit and to follow the patterns which
are shown to us in the Word of God. and if these things be in
you and abound Peter doesn't come short does he? he tells
us this if these things be in you but not just on the odd occasion
not just when we think it's suitable when it fits in with our program
but and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren
nor unfruitful In what? In the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. What a blessing my friends, therefore
if we are amongst those who truly abound in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. And what that really means is
that when we hear the Gospel preached, when we read the Gospel,
we love to hear and to rejoice in the wonderful work of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and to think how, in eternity past, God the
Father agreed with his eternal Son and the Holy Spirit on this
great plan of salvation, and to think that it reached right
down to individuals like you and me. wonder of wonders, the
love of God, the mercy of God, and that make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Well I hope that's a real concern
for us, to grow in grace and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Because in that knowledge,
in that understanding, there is peace. There is joy. There is happiness. Because we
find we are established in the truth of God. We are established
in the blessed understanding that Almighty God has called
us out of the darkness of nature into the glorious light of the
everlasting gospel and we have to come and exclaim hallelujah wherefore he goes on to say and
he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar
off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins
wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling
and election sure. For if you do these things, you
shall never fall. See, if we are those who have
received the word, it's come into the good ground of our heart,
the heart which has been prepared by God himself, and we receive
that word, and we benefit from it, and we profit under it, and
with our desire that we may know more, of the Saviour may know
nor of our need and be thankful indeed that we have such a kind
and gracious and glorious God. What a wonderful mercy it is
then to walk before him in the light of his countenance. And
so he goes on to say, wherefore I will not be negligent to put
you always in remembrance of these things though you know
them and be established in the present truth. And it is important
for us in the day and age in which we live to be really established
in them and to have this real blessing of the evidence of God's
mercy toward us that we have received, we do receive, his
word into the good ground of our heart and we are thankful
for it and it has a gracious and wonderful effect upon us.
Paul was very keen on the effect of these things and he tells
us in the epistle to the Galatians and also in the Ephesians, he
tells us about these great and wonderful favours and he tells
us in the Galatians in the fifth chapter about what is the fruit
of the Spirit what is the benefit of having a spiritual understanding
and he tells us this the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against
such there is no law and they that are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts. That's a very short,
very comprehensive consideration for us to have that concern that
we are therefore fruitful because if we have truly benefited And
if we are amongst those who have received seed into the good ground,
and we're like those that heareth the word and understand it, then
you see there will be some gracious and wonderful effect. To show
us what we are by nature, how undone we are, how lost and ruined
in the fall, and with that conscious desire to be more Christ-like,
because these descriptions show to us what Christ himself was
like. What a wonderful example we have. We can never say, well, because
I'm not sure how I should live and what I should think and say.
We have it described for us very, very clearly in the Word of God,
to which we should be exceedingly thankful. As I said, we also
I have the glorious list in the Ephesians, in the 5th chapter,
in the 9th verse, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
and righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable unto
the Lord. He tells us, and have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them. Well it's a great mercy therefore
if God in his love to our souls gives us a real desire to be
fruitful because it's by our fruits we shall be known. That's the evidence of the life
of God in the soul. We can say and do many things
about what a blessing it is when we're fruitful in the things
of God. And that fruitfulness brings
honour and glory to God. Because it's not of ourselves.
See, we by nature are unholy. We go after by nature the poor
things of time. But by the blessed Spirit of
God it leads us into all truth. as it is in Jesus. And that's
what we rejoice in. And that's what does us good.
And that's what we're thankful for. And so as we have these
statements before us, but he that received seed, yes, you
and I have received seed, but what's been the effect? What's
been the effect? well it's a mercy if we recede
into good ground if God has made us willing to receive his word
so we don't come with preconceived ideas we don't come dictating
to God what he should do we come submissive to God and don't forget
We have that amazing truth that we read of with the Saviour himself.
When he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, having to face that
crucifixion, and was able to come and say, nevertheless, not
my will, but thine be done. That'll be a great blessing.
That'll show God's grace. That'll show God's mercy. Let us show God's love. Let us
show that you and I have received seed into good ground. Good ground
to be made willing in a day of his power. My friends, it is
his power when he turns our heart away from all carnal things,
the lust of the flesh, to seek after the knowledge of Christ. which is more precious than gold. My friends, that will land us
safe home in glory. All the things of time will land
us in hell. Well, my God, give us that grace
to read this parable because it's not only recorded in Matthew,
but it's recorded in other gospels where we can read it. But here
we have this important statement, but he that received seed Into
the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it,
which also beareth fruit, some forty, some an hundredfold, some
sixty, and some thirty. Well, may God bless his word.
Amen.