The Wayside Hearers (Matt 13:1-19) Introduction 'In this museum, it is not the art that is judged.' Jesus now begins to conceal the mysteries of the kingdom from those who would not enter in.
Exposition 1. The seed refers to the word of the kingdom. 2. The soil refers to the heart of anyone who hears that word. 3. The wayside refers to a hard heart which will not receive the word. 4. The birds refer to the wicked one who comes and snatches away what's sown.
Application: Take heed how you hear (Lk 8:18)
1. The danger of a hardened heart What's the cause for a lack of 'understanding' (v. 19)? Nothing wrong with the seed. The problem is entirely in the heart (v. 15ff). And so we must give attention to our hearts and prepare them by breaking up that fallow ground and seeking the Lord.
2. The danger of a hungry devil He is the great thief of sermons. And he'll be sure to rob us of the word, if we are not careful keep it. (a) The birds of wandering-thoughts? (b) The birds of dullness and disinterest? (c) The birds of foolish talk?
Conclusion There must be a general fighting against the precious word of God being snatched away from us before it ever takes root and bears fruit.
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