It's Time For Sowers To Go Forth To Sow Because The Harvest Fields Are White But Labourers Few - Part 2492

"Therefore, every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasures [things] new and old." (Matthew 13:52)

Jesus often went to the sea side, wherein great multitudes of people would gather so He could teach them. (Matthew 12:1-2; Mark 2:13) And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

But these parables puzzled the disciples so they asked Jesus, "Why speak Thou unto them in parables?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." (Matthew 13:10-14)

There are a couple of things that stand out. First, Jesus speaks specifically to His disciples -- those who believe in Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and also flow His love through to one another. -- when He reveals the underlying message within the parables. Second, Jesus speaking in parables at this time was the fulfillment of an earlier prophecy in Isaiah. Third, we are living in new testament times, when the Lord said He would do a new thing - so that we who believe would have a more in-depth understanding than even the prophets and righteous men of old. (Hebrews 11:39-40; I Peter 1:23; Revelation 6:11) Fourth, Jesus teaches numerous parables concerning the kingdom of heaven -- citing day-to-day examples that we are familiar with -- so that we who believe can be strengthened and edified with His understanding. 

But sadly, not everyone is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we understand from Isaiah's prophecy.

"And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, "By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:14-15: Isaiah 6:9-19; Mark 4:12)

Lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with ears, and understand with their heart -- so that they would be converted, and the Lord could heal them. But Jesus' disciples do not fall into the category of those who can't see, or are dull of hearing because their eyes/ears are closed.

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, "That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Matthew 13:17; John 8:56; Hebrews 11:13) 

So what does Jesus say? He invites us to hear the parable of the sower so that when we enter into the harvest fields, we can understand how the enemy comes in and sows tares among the wheat while we are sleeping, and so that we who are called His disciples -- His beloved bride -- would not be caught unawares.

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hears the Word of the kingdom, and understands [it] not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the Word, and anon with joy receives it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dures [endures] for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the Word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the Word, and understands [it]; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23; Matthew 13:8; John 15:16; Philippians 1:11; I Timothy 6:9-10, 17; Matthew 11:6; Hosea 6:4; Isaiah 58:2; Ezekiel 33:31-32; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 13:38)

As we know form this chapter, Jesus teaches more parables concerning the kingdom of heaven -- including, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sows good seed in his field, and that the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, or that the kingdom of heave is like unto leaven. 

Indeed, all these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables and without a parable spake He not unto them. Why? That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:35; Psalm 78:2; Romans 16:25-26)

Jesus then sends the multitude away, entering the house and teaching His disciples about the parable of the tares in the field. (Matthew 13:36) 

Indeed, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man, the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom and the tares the children of the wicked one. Meditate upon these parables this day and remember, like those in His hometown who asked, "Whence hath this [man] this wisdom and these mighty works/" we also should be understanding with our hearts -- what Jesus taught us by His example.

Stand in the offering plate.