PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 13:18-23
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom…” (Matthew 13:19)
I’ve always heard that the seed in this parable was the Word of God, the bible.
“Someone who hears the word and understands it.” (Matthew 13:23)
Jesus himself calls the seed “the word”, but he does not call it the bible.
What is the word from God, declared by Jesus: God’s kingdom is at hand!
Jesus is the kingdom of God appearing: a God-like human living and loving like God.
Jesus is Adam (humanity) returned, living with, like and for God as image-bearer.
The kingdom of God is this world under the care of authority of a God-like human.
Jesus embodies love, compassion, justice and freedom, and invites others to share in it.
The first Adam (humanity) lost it, but Jesus comes to restore it.
What this seed means is that the serpent is defeated and the curse lifted.
With the Spirit of Jesus’s help, we are now able to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.
We can increasingly fill this world with a harvest of love, joy, peace, etc.
If we desire it, we can help with growing love, compassion, justice and freedom.
The good news of the kingdom… have I embraced this seed, and is it growing in me?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to understand the kingdom that the bible is pointing to. Help me to embrace this seed with joy and to grow in the love, compassion, justice and freedom it brings.
I got to take it in – understand it in order to live it! “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.” Am I allowing the cares of this world captivate me too much – that is paralyze me and prevents me from living a full life that is productive in God’s kingdom? I need to be the good soil – the willing learner – am I listening to Jesus – the Word – so that I might understand and grow firm – living a life as God intended for me! Holy spirit work within me as I receive the seed! Encourage it to change me and allow it to produce fruit!
The seed is the Word. And as John tells us, that Word is Christ, which dwells among us. In Him we have life and light to show us the Way. And to all who receive that Light become kids of the Kingdom. As such we reflect that Light in us so others may see we are His by our actions and our words. We are His instruments of peace producing good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit which continues to lead us, and give us the power to go forward in His name.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there’s hatred, let me sow love
And where there is injury, pardon
And where there is doubt, then faith
And where there’s despair, then hope
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Lord, make me an instrument
Make me an instrument
Lord, I am a stranger traveling
In a brutal yet wondrous land
Far from the promise of home
On a journey led by Your hand
To where the lion lies down with the lamb
Father, grant that I’d never seek
To be comforted as to console
Let the blood of Your Son cover me
Touching my spirit
Seizing my soul
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord make me your instrument
Let Your divine mystery guide my heart
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Christ within me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ above me
Christ beneath me
To my left and my right
Christ where I lie and where I arise
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me
Christ on the lips of all who speak of me
Christ in the eyes of all who see me
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument