Memory Verse: "4In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts be silent" -Psalm 4:4
Notes: (v.3-8) A farmer went out to sow seeds:
-SEED TYPE 1: (v.4, 19): The seeds fell along the path, but the birds came and ate it up
The birds: Satan; The seeds: the message of the kingdom
To those who do not understand the message given to them--the devil comes and snatches what is sown
-SEED TYPE 2: (v. 5-6, 20-21) The seeds fell on rocky places with little soil. It sprang up quickly, but since the soil was shallow it could not take root. The sun came and the plants scorched and withered
The seed: The man who receives the news with joy, but does not take root in the gospel--thereby falling away in times of trial
-SEED TYPE 3: (v.7, 22): The seeds fell among thorns that choked the plants
The seed: the man who hears the word, but becomes suffocated by worldly issues and the deceitfulness of wealth. He is not fruitful
-SEED TYPE 4: (v. 8, 23) The seeds fell on good soil and produced abundant and good fruit
The seed: The man who hears and understands the word. He IS fruitful
-(v.24-3o): The kingdom of heaven is like a filed of good seed sown with weed from the enemy. Both kinds will grow together until harvest, where the weed will be burned and the wheat will be brought into the barn
-(v.31-33): The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, and yeast
Though both begin as the smallest of their kind, their continuous GROWTH makes the mustard seed the largest of plants and the yeast becomes mixed throughout the dough
-(v.44-45): The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field or a precious pearl; when one has found it, it is more valuable than anything in this life
-(v.47-49): like fishermen separating the good fish from the bad, so will the angels separate the wicked from the righteous at the end of age
-(v.57) Jesus was unwelcome in his hometown, so He did few miracles there because of their lack of faith
After I read v. 57 today, I started wondering if that's a reason we don't see many miracles in our own lives. We rely so much on our own abilities, our jobs, our studies to help us that we have little need to look to Jesus for miracles. Our faith is so small. We figure we can handle things on our own and having Jesus is just a bonus for our lives. It was a good reminder for me that I really DO need Jesus. I'm praying for God to increase my faith.
ReplyDelete