PENTECOST 9, A – July 13, 2008

SCRIPTURES – Isaiah 55:10-13; Romans 8:12-17; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

“A sower went out to sow.” Why did Jesus tell this parable? Well, by comparing God’s Word to seeds, He tells us something very important about God’s Word: it has the power within itself to bring forth life. You have great power, life-giving and life-changing power, in your hands when you pick up your Bible, and in your ears when you hear it read and preached! Just as within a tiny little seed there is life ready to burst forth and grow into a mighty tree that will rise up to the heavens, so within the Bible there is the power of the Holy Spirit to join us to Christ, raise us up with Him to God the Father in heaven, and raise us to do great things for Him while here on earth.

But, Jesus did not tell this parable to teach us about the power of God’s Word. The focus of the parable isn’t on the seeds; it’s on what happens to the seeds that are sown. It is on the results of the proclaiming of the message of Jesus Christ.

The results don’t seem too good, do they? Three fourths of the seeds that are sown don’t end up producing a crop! I wonder if Jesus was warning His disciples of what was coming. Here He is, with such a great crowd of people surrounding Him and pressing upon Him that He has to get into a boat and move away from shore a bit to have room to speak to them all. But, how many of these people would remain with Him? By the end of His three year ministry the crowds will have dwindled greatly, and only a few will be there to comfort Him as He is crucified because of what He preached. I thought about this last week, as Lorayne, Catie, Tina and I and looked through family photo albums. We were looking for pictures of Lorayne’s dad, which she copied and put into an album for her mom. As we looked, I saw pictures of many of the folks from our congregation in NH. There were Mike and Gloria and their kids! There were Dave and Tina! Both couples have since divorced, and I don’t know if any of them are now going to church and hearing God’s Word. Where will you be 10 or 20 years from now?

We wonder and ask about people, but Jesus didn’t tell this parable so that we could point our fingers at others and wonder about them. “He who has ears, let him hear.” Jesus spoke this parable to confront His hearers; He speaks this parable today to confront you. What about you? Will His Word bear fruit, abundant fruit, in your life? Or, will it ultimately be snatched away or choked, and your faith whither and die?

Know that there are many, many obstacles to hearing and believing God’s Word. Jesus warns us of the devil and his hosts, who, like birds eating seeds, snatch away Christ’s Word from us. How can they do this? Jesus says, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” Lack of understanding of God’s Word can be just the opportunity the devil and his hosts need to come and snatch that Word away. Now, the Bible is not a simple book. It is the words and wisdom of God, who is holy and eternal and vastly greater than us. It’s not a first grade reader! Expect to hear things that are difficult to understand, and things that challenge our expectations and the way we think in this world. But, also expect to understand. For, God didn’t give us His Word to confuse us, but so that we would know Him, and above all know His love for us in Christ and His will for our lives. Listen closely, then, and when you don’t understand, ask questions. Never be content with just being in church and hearing sermons. Sitting in a pew doesn’t impress God or save anyone! It also doesn’t frighten the devil. He can snatch God’s words away just as easily here as outside these walls. Listen! Consider! Do you understand what God is saying to you in His Scriptures? If you don’t, ask me! Come to Bible studies and learn! God’s Word will then bear rich fruit in your life. It will give you a lasting faith and trust in Christ.

Jesus also warns that there will be tribulation and persecution because of His Word. Now, this sounds bad, and so we try to avoid such persecution by remaining quiet and not speaking God’s Word. But, notice that Jesus in the parable refers to persecution as the sun rising. The problem is not the sun; it’s not the persecution that comes because of God’s Word. The problem is that the soil is shallow. If we rely on our own wisdom or strength of faith, we will be scorched; our faith will fail. We must trust in what God says and follow it, for then His Word will bear much fruit in our lives. There are many opportunities to do this, for there are lots of things God says that just don’t go along with what our world thinks, such as that babies are born sinful and need to have their sins forgiven in holy Baptism lest they face God’s judgment. How can a cute, innocent baby be a poor, miserable sinner? “Oh, you judgmental Christians!” says our world. And, it’s right; we are judgmental. But, our judgment is God’s judgment, which is for the salvation of our children. God judges and points out our sins so that we might look to Him for the forgiveness that brings us eternal life. And, how He above all desires to give us that forgiveness! See how God bends down low and comes to babies in Holy Baptism. He puts His name on these little sinners and takes them as His own children, promising to love and care for and forgive and serve them until He brings them to heaven! How good and loving God is and will be to them – if we will only believe and bring babies to Him.

Finally, note also that Jesus warns us of the cares of this world and the deceitful-ness of wealth, which threaten to fill our lives and choke out opportunities to hear and meditate upon God’s Word. He’s not just speaking of the difficult things in this life but also all the good things that this world offers. This is a warning that we need to take to heart today. Don’t so fill your life with work, or with fun, that you have no time to listen to what God says! You might be having a great life, but you don’t know when your life will end and God will call you to account for your life. What will God see when He examines your life? Will He see for love Jesus and His Gospel?

So, what do we do as we live in the midst of so many things that threaten to tear God’s Word away from us. Do we live in worry and fear? Not at all! Jesus didn’t tell this parable to worry us, but to encourage us. It is true that there are many things which stand in the way of God’s Word and would keep it from bearing rich fruit in our lives.

q   Just as there are many dangers facing baby Charles (baptized today) in his life. But, will he be worrying about them and living in fear as he grows? Of course not! He will simply be enjoying his life. His mom and dad, along with the other members of the family, will take care of watching over him and providing what he needs. For many years he will simply take in: eat and drink and learn. God will take care of the rest. He will grow!

By His Word God will take care of you, also. Our God is strong, and His good Word will not fail to bear abundant fruit. Receive it! Take the life-giving words of Christ deep into your heart and mind! Hold on to them, learn them, rely on them, and do not let them go! Despite your own weaknesses and failings God will not fail you. He keep you in Christ and do great things through you, to the glory and honor of His name.