Sue J Love
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- Mar 27, 2015
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Jesus Spoke in Parables
Jesus Christ, when he lived on the earth, frequently spoke to the people in parables. And a parable is a short story which illustrates biblical truth in a way that is relevant to things the people knew and experienced, such as farming and fishing and boat riding, etc. But those things and experiences were symbolic of spiritual truth that they needed to hear and to have applied to their lives so that they would stop doing what was against God and so they would now serve God with their lives in obedience to his commands.
And, although there were times when the people who were not following Jesus caught on to some of what he was teaching through some of the parables, for some of them got offended by the messages in them, the parables often went over the heads of those who did not have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth of who Jesus was and of what he was teaching them. But the parables were great teachers of Biblical truth for those who would listen, like God can speak to us in dreams for the same reasons.
“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’” (Matthew 13:13-15 NASB1995)
And that is the case with The Parable of the Sower who went out to sow his seeds. Some seeds fell beside the road, others fell on rocky places, while others fell among thorns. In all three cases the seeds did not yield a crop. On the first soil, the seed had no impact. The second soil had no depth, so the seed did not take root, but withered away. And the third seeding was choked about by the thorns among which the seed fell. Only the good soil (#4) produced a crop that lasted and produced even more of a crop.
And then we are given an explanation of the parable:
“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. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” (Matthew 13:19-23 NASB1995)
What are We to Learn?
So, what’s the lesson for us here? Many people hear but they don’t really listen. What they hear “goes in one ear and out the other,” metaphorically speaking. So even though they may have heard the gospel message taught, it makes no impact on their lives at all. Then there are those who hear the word and so they immediately receive it, perhaps because they didn’t hear the “whole gospel” and so they didn’t really know what they were signing up for. So when they are persecuted, they drop out and go back to normal.
And then there are those who hear the gospel message taught, and perhaps they may even make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but the things of this world choke it out and so it never does bear fruit in their lives. They may even call themselves Christians, but the evidence is not there to prove their case. But those who listen, and who surrender their lives to the Lord, and walk in obedience to his commands, who put their sins behind them, and who continue in that course, are those who bear fruit for eternal life.
So, we need to not ignore God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – and his teachings. And we need to not make superficial confessions of faith in Jesus Christ which do not bear spiritual fruit for the kingdom of God. And we need to not let fear of being persecuted or the trappings of this world defeat us so that we lose sight of who God is and what he has provided for us in deliverance from sin so we can now obey him and his commands. For if sin is what we obey, and not God, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
In Keeping Them
Based off Ps. 111:10; 19:7-11
An Original Work / June 3, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Stand in awe of your Lord.
Harken to His teachings.
Follow where He leads you.
Live for Him today.
Through Him you gain wisdom;
Knowledge; understanding.
To my Lord belongs all
Worship and my praise.
Perfect is the Word,
Refreshing souls in His love.
His commands are faithful,
Guiding us each day.
Joy comes to the heart of
Those who love His teachings;
Follow His instructions.
He will light their way.
Abide in the Lord, and
Obey His commandments.
His Word is more precious
Than all of our gold.
By His Word He warns us,
Comforts, and implores us.
When we follow His Word,
There is great reward.
Hearing But Not Receiving
An Original Work / May 1, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Jesus Christ, when he lived on the earth, frequently spoke to the people in parables. And a parable is a short story which illustrates biblical truth in a way that is relevant to things the people knew and experienced, such as farming and fishing and boat riding, etc. But those things and experiences were symbolic of spiritual truth that they needed to hear and to have applied to their lives so that they would stop doing what was against God and so they would now serve God with their lives in obedience to his commands.
And, although there were times when the people who were not following Jesus caught on to some of what he was teaching through some of the parables, for some of them got offended by the messages in them, the parables often went over the heads of those who did not have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth of who Jesus was and of what he was teaching them. But the parables were great teachers of Biblical truth for those who would listen, like God can speak to us in dreams for the same reasons.
“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.’” (Matthew 13:13-15 NASB1995)
And that is the case with The Parable of the Sower who went out to sow his seeds. Some seeds fell beside the road, others fell on rocky places, while others fell among thorns. In all three cases the seeds did not yield a crop. On the first soil, the seed had no impact. The second soil had no depth, so the seed did not take root, but withered away. And the third seeding was choked about by the thorns among which the seed fell. Only the good soil (#4) produced a crop that lasted and produced even more of a crop.
And then we are given an explanation of the parable:
“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. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” (Matthew 13:19-23 NASB1995)
What are We to Learn?
So, what’s the lesson for us here? Many people hear but they don’t really listen. What they hear “goes in one ear and out the other,” metaphorically speaking. So even though they may have heard the gospel message taught, it makes no impact on their lives at all. Then there are those who hear the word and so they immediately receive it, perhaps because they didn’t hear the “whole gospel” and so they didn’t really know what they were signing up for. So when they are persecuted, they drop out and go back to normal.
And then there are those who hear the gospel message taught, and perhaps they may even make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but the things of this world choke it out and so it never does bear fruit in their lives. They may even call themselves Christians, but the evidence is not there to prove their case. But those who listen, and who surrender their lives to the Lord, and walk in obedience to his commands, who put their sins behind them, and who continue in that course, are those who bear fruit for eternal life.
So, we need to not ignore God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – and his teachings. And we need to not make superficial confessions of faith in Jesus Christ which do not bear spiritual fruit for the kingdom of God. And we need to not let fear of being persecuted or the trappings of this world defeat us so that we lose sight of who God is and what he has provided for us in deliverance from sin so we can now obey him and his commands. For if sin is what we obey, and not God, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
In Keeping Them
Based off Ps. 111:10; 19:7-11
An Original Work / June 3, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Stand in awe of your Lord.
Harken to His teachings.
Follow where He leads you.
Live for Him today.
Through Him you gain wisdom;
Knowledge; understanding.
To my Lord belongs all
Worship and my praise.
Perfect is the Word,
Refreshing souls in His love.
His commands are faithful,
Guiding us each day.
Joy comes to the heart of
Those who love His teachings;
Follow His instructions.
He will light their way.
Abide in the Lord, and
Obey His commandments.
His Word is more precious
Than all of our gold.
By His Word He warns us,
Comforts, and implores us.
When we follow His Word,
There is great reward.
Hearing But Not Receiving
An Original Work / May 1, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
