Matthew 13:17 says, 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. Jesus said that many prophets and righteous men had desired to hear and see what the disciples and those around them had seen, but they had not seen nor heard what they had. Jesus was the One they had been looking for, and He is the One that we look back to. We have not physically seen Jesus, but we see Him spiritually by faith. Verse eighteen states, Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. Jesus told them to hear, or understand, the parable of the sower. Just hearing God's word is not enough, We must also understand what it means. Verse nineteen says, When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Jesus said anyone who heard His word and did not understand it was like the seed sown by the wayside. He also said the wicked one took them away, and Satan does take away those who do not understand the gospel. Verse twenty states, But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Verse twenty-one adds, Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Jesus said that those that made a quick profession of faith were like the seed planted in stony ground. They were faithful until trouble came, and then they were offended by the gospel. Verse twenty-two says, He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Jesus said that those who received the gospel until the riches and cares of the world deceived them, or led them away from a complete faith in Christ were like the seed that among the thorns. They were unfruitful. Verse twenty-three declares, But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Jesus then said that those who heard and understood the word and brought forth fruit were like the seed that landed in good soil. This would be any Christian who put complete faith in Jesus.. Notice that bringing forth fruit is part of the requirement, but the amount of fruit varies. Verse twenty-four says, Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Verse twenty-five adds, But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. In this parable, it wasn't the seed that were planted that was the issue, but the fact that an enemy came and sowed bad seed among the good. The world today sows bad seed, or false teachings, even among the people of God. We just have to be able to recognize it when it happens. Verse twenty-six states, But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. Jesus said that when the seed brought forth fruit, both the good and bad seed did so. I believe this would refer to those who professed to believe the word of God, but added to or took away from the gospel. Verse twenty-seven asks, So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? The Man's servants came to him and asked if He did not sow good seed, and if He did where did the tares come from. We can be certain that the gospel is always the good seed, but many would sow other seed amongst it. Verse twenty-eight declares, He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? The Man said that the enemy had done this and the servants asked if they should go and gather them up. Verse twenty-nine states, But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Then verse thirty adds, Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. The Man told the servants to let them grow, and at harvest time He would separate the tares and bind and burn them, and then He would gather the wheat into His barn. Jesus is the Man in this parable and the gospel is the seed and those who believe in the gospel are the wheat. Jesus said that we will grow along with the bad seed until harvest time, and then we will be separated from the bad seed or tares. Those who truly accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be gathered into heaven, and those who don't will be sent way to everlasting punishment.
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