LESSONS FROM BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE SOWER…..
In Matthew 13 we may read the familiar parable of the sower in verses 1-9 ending with ‘He who has ears, let him hear.” And we get the explanation of the parable in verses 18-23. But as many times as we have heard it taught or shared about, we rarely hear much explanation of the verses in between the parable and the explanation of the parable where the disciples query Jesus regarding teaching in parables.
[Matthew 13:10-17 NASB95] – 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him [more] shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “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. 14 “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; 15 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.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see [it,] and to hear what you hear, and did not hear [it.]
I admit, at this writing, I have not made an in depth study of this passage so I am simply sharing some surface thoughts here. But recently in our daily (sometimes sporadic) scripture reading Mary and I ran across Matthew 13 and I found this passage sandwiched between the parable and its explanation interesting and curious. 1) It appears the answer to the question was not given for public consumption. The parable was public. The answer given to the disciples (those called to follow) was not. 2) It raises a paradox of questions about whether He shared parables for general enlightenment and revealing of truths, or if He shared parables to keep truth somewhat hidden or disguised. I discovered long ago that Bible commentaries are not helpful here, because depending on the commentators bent, toward Calvinism or not, you will find both interpretations readily embraced. As for me I don’t think He was deliberately trying to disguise truth or hide the gospel, but He was also of a particular purpose, perhaps, waiting for the right times in the Fathers eternal purpose, not being as direct as possible. And, perhaps, to protect the listeners from greater accountability and responsibility out of time.
In His answering of the question on teaching in parables He makes it clear to the disciples that seeing and hearing are more than just natural sensory responses. Understanding must be mixed .
He says to them To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom…..but to them it has not been granted, indicating they had been gifted, perhaps by their close relationship to Him and willingness to drop all and follow Him, to KNOW/UNDERSTAND MYSTERIES regarding His Lordship, rule, and reign that others were not privy to. At least not yet. He also makes it clear there is an accountability and responsibility that comes with that KNOWLEDGE. He says “For whoever has, to him [more] shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” Perhaps indicating He is not wanting the masses held accountable or entrusted with that responsibility of that Kingdom knowledge, at least until they know Him more intimately as the disciples did, rather than just as those seeking Him because He can meet needs….heal and feed, or perhaps maybe overthrow Rome.
Then, He exposes the importance of hearing and seeing, and… understanding. I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. When he later explains the parable of the sower this hearing the word, and understanding becomes paramount to ones’ destiny once hearing the word. He quotes Isaiah ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,... Let us note the indictment of the Prophet to Israel here. You will keep hearing… but not understand, Keep seeing.. but not perceive. Why? YOUR HEART HAS BECOME DULL…WITH EARS THAT SCARCELY HEAR (because you’re not listening perhaps covering your ears?) and THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES! There is a personal accountability and responsibility here! God has not stopped speaking, He has not stopped revealing. But, you have stopped listening and looking, so accountability is attached. Perhaps this is what is behind Jesus speaking in parables at that time. Waiting for the fulfillment of the time and purpose of His coming and the pouring forth of the Spirit on all flesh? He then speaks of the promise of SEEING, HEARING, AND UNDERSTANDING/COMPREHENDING: OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’ Praise our Redemptive LORD and God.
And He winds up this answer regarding parables with telling the disciples how blessed they are in seeing, hearing, knowing Him as they do: 6 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see [it,] and to hear what you hear, and did not hear [it.]
WE, the ekklesia are as they were, disciples…. we too are blessed hearing, seeing, knowing Him as our Head, hearing His voice and direction, seeing His Kingdom, and His Kingdom purpose, eternal purpose. We are in Him as the fullness of He that fills all in all.(Ephesians 1:22-23) But there is an accountability and responsibility to bring forth fruit. Even as He died a grain to bring forth much fruit, so are we called to follow after. [John 12:23-25 NASB95] – 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
In the explanation of the parable of the sower in verses 18-23, as I said before, He makes hearing and understanding paramount. Do note in verse 9 at the end of the parable He says ‘He who has ears, let him hear.” and at the beginning of His explanation in verse 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower”:
[Matthew 13:18-23 NASB95] – 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 “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. 20 “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; 21 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. 22 “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. 23 “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.”
All heard the word. But some allowed for the word to be snatched away, or allowed persecution to lead to its failure to produce in them, or the world’s deceptions to choke the word. Our world today is full of all these kinds of “believers” that mostly pick and choose what they will receive or believe, and reject the whole counsel of the Word. “But some heard and understood the accountability and responsibility and all that came with it to the bearing of fruit. Producing life requires a struggle, difficulty, and death to self. Only understanding, knowing, Him makes the difference.