The Gospel of Matthew began telling us that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David (the King of the kingdom), the son of Abraham (a great nation of God's own people, through whom the nations would be blessed and came to His own to save them). Jesus began His ministry by teaching, healing the sick and releasing those bound by the evil one. Rather than hearing and believing we have seen that the source of His power was mis-attributed and signs were requested, not to believe in Him, but to use against Him.
Chapter 13 of Matthew records a new phase in Jesus' ministry. Jesus speaks in parables to the crowds then separately teaches their hidden meanings to His sovereignly chosen twelve. He begins with the parable of the Sower, a Kingdom parable, teaching about the proclamation of the Word in the Kingdom. What He taught, why He spoke in parables, and what the parable means is laid out for us to read and hear. Please do!
The twelve, and we, need to hear and understand the central importance of preaching and declaring the Gospel without resorting to worldly methods, nor seeking to measure effectiveness, efficiency or reception. Our Lord Jesus Christ remains the sower and the seed. He is the doer and we are His means.
We need not be discouraged by the various ways those who hear receive Him. Neither should we be cold or heartless in the knowledge of God's Sovereignty over Gospel reception. By the Spirit we see that we have been redeemed through our Redeemer's action of love; He speaks through the gracious Word of the Cross. It is in that Loving Spirit of the Father and Son that we proclaim the Gospel and believe the promise that there will be a wonderful harvest.
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Geoff is a lay preacher with the Coromandel Baptist Church, South Australia, and has also preached in country SA. Geoff has worked as a professional staff member in a local university for over 25 years. He and his wife Miriam have 3 children.
