In the Parable of the Sower, The Messiah identifies several characteristics that will hinder belief. I focus on belief in this article because “without belief it is impossible to please Yah.”(Heb 11:6) All other manifestations of fruit stem from believing HIS Word. The hindrances to belief that are identified in this parable are usually glossed over. May that not be the case with you…
The text of the Parable;
Mat 13:4 “The Sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some indeed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them.”
The Messiah’s explanation;
Mat 13:18-19 “You, then, hear the parable of the sower: “When anyone hears the word of the reign, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that sown by the wayside.”
The Creator has given everyone autonomy in choice. I say this because earlier in the chapter, Yahshua states that some are not given ears to hear, eyes to see nor a heart to receive HIS Word, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah 6 focuses on the distinction between himself and those around him. Isaiah recognizes his uncleanness and admits it. Most of those around him were practicing lawlessness and rebellion. Isaiah hears the Word of Yah and sees his condition. The ninety percent do not. Why didn’t they? In the parable of the sower, The Messiah is applying Isaiah 6 to the current time. Because the majority were living in lawlessness (in opposition to HIS Commands), they too would not understand HIM and would not receive HIS Word into their hearts. The influence upon them is in direct proportion to their connection with the devil and his kingdom(this world). This prohibits them from understanding HIS Word. In fact, in John chapter 8, The Messiah likens the fruit of their lives as proof that they are sons of the devil. Consider;
John 8:43-44a“Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do.”
Before we get to feeling too good about ourselves in comparison, we need to consider these words;
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, (birds of the air) of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest.”
Notice that Paul is speaking to them regarding their past, because when they had heard HIS Word they repented and were now able to hear clearer, receive more and increase in belief regarding the Word of YAH. Those who continue to walk “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air”, professing believer or not, do so through unbelief on the wayside…
The parable;
Mat 13:5-6 “And others fell on rocky places, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered.”
The Messiah’s explanation;
Mat 13:20-21 “And that sown on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived, and when pressure or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
This person at first is joyous to receive HIS Word, but notice in verse 6, “But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered.”I can’t help but think that The Messiah used this wording to express something deeper. The influence of sun worship on world religions is remarkable! Is HE warning HIS own regarding this matter? I can say that when we saw the practices of sun worship permeating Christianity, our coming out of it was not without pressure! We have seen numerous people stumble under that “pressure” (lit; trouble, anguish) and the “persecution” (lit; pursue) described here! But for us who endure, the blessings have far outweighed the pressure!
Mat 5:10-12 “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Mat 10:22 “And you shall be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who shall have endured to the end shall be saved.
The parable;
Mat 13:7 “And others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them.
The Messiah’s explanation;
Mat 13:22 “And that sown among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes fruitless.”
The one who hears HIS Word, but because the cares of this age or literally; the distractions offered in this life’s pursuits, will find themselves deluded by pursuing riches just as the devil tried to trip up The Messiah in offering HIM the reigns of the world… Consider;
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the reigns of the world, and their esteem, and said to Him, “All these I shall give You if You fall down and worship me.” Then Yahshua said to him, “Go, Satan! For it has been written, ‘You shall worship Yahweh your Elohim, and Him alone you shall serve.’ (quoting Dt. 6:13)
1Ti 6:9-10 “But those wishing to be rich fall into trial and a snare, and into many foolish and injurious lusts which plunge men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some, by longing for it, have strayed from the belief, and pierced themselves through with many pains.”
The parable;
Mat 13:8-9 “And others fell on good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Messiah’s explanation;
Mat 13:23 “And that sown on the good soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields – some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The one who receives(hears) the Truth of HIS Word and comprehends(understands) it, who allows HIS Spirit to teach, comfort, guide, empower and gift him, will bear fruit in proportion to the amount of submission that he / she gives to HIS Word and HIS Spirit!
Rom 10:17 So then belief comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Elohim.
John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands. And I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever – the Spirit of the Truth, whom the world is unable to receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, for He stays with you and shall be in you.”
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit, whom the Father shall send in My Name, He shall teach you all, and remind you of all that I said to you.”
John 16:13 “But when He comes, the Spirit of the Truth, He shall guide you into all the truth. For He shall not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He shall speak, and He shall announce to you what is to come.
1Co 12:4 And there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…1Co 12:9 and to another belief by the same Spirit…
Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, (belief), gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah.
Verses depicting unbelief;
Mat 13:58 “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”
Why? Because they saw HIM, not as The Messiah, but according to the flesh; Joseph and Mary’s son. The fleshly perspective (in Adam) does not understand nor believe…
Mat 17:19-21 Then the taught ones came to Yahshua by Himself and said, “Why were we unable to cast him out?” And Yahshua said to them, “Because of your unbelief, for truly, I say to you, if you have belief as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move. And no matter shall be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except through prayer and fasting.”
Belief comes through relationship with Truth, (Word + Spirit) which results in selflessness.
Mar 9:24 And immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “I believe Master, help my unbelief!”
A truthful confession of our belief (and unbelief), results in answers.
1Tim 1:13 me, although I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an insulter. But compassion was shown me because being ignorant I did it in unbelief.
Ignorance of The Truth results in unbelief. Scriptural belief is based only on The Truth.
Heb 3:18-19 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they were unable to enter in because of unbelief.
Those who begin but do not continue to act on HIS Word will not continue in belief.
The choice is yours. Will The Messiah find you believing when HE returns? Luke 18:8 “But when the Son of Adam comes, shall He find the belief on the earth?”