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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 203

A Variety of Heart-Types

Text: Matthew 13 : 1 - 23

Jesus swiftly identified another type of heart. With masterly skill, He described another type of heart and compared it with the “stony places”. Some fields tend to have a few more stones than usual. These stones are carefully removed by the industrious farmer. If the stones were not removed through diligent hard work, they constitute a problem in the process of time.

STONY PLACES

The stony place has a thin layer of earth covering it. To the less observant, the seed sown seems to have taken root. It looks as if the seed would produce a good yield.

The hearer who listens well appears to have enjoyed the word preached. The heart is gladdened as it comprehends the word of the kingdom.

WHAT SHOULD ONE LOOK FOR?

This parable raises an important question. What should we look for when the word of God is sown?

1. Is understanding enough?

2. Is “any kind of response” enough?

3. Is “joy” an adequate response?

The answer according to this parable is obvious! It is not enough to have just any kind of response! The hearer may yet stumble and “give up” his faith in due course. How real was his faith in the first place?

GENUINE FAITH

Jesus had brought up this subject more than once! Ultimately, all will be tested! Is one’s faith genuine? Then that faith will be able to stand up against persecution and suffering!

Quite obviously, the hearer who merely “enjoys” the hearing of the word may not have genuine faith after all! The hearer is responsible for making sure that there is genuine faith! He must seek to have the kind of faith that will be able to endure persecution! The word of the kingdom is able to create that kind of faith! The hearer is responsible for the kind of faith he ultimately possesses.

A THIRD PERSPECTIVE

Jesus was not done yet! His parables had great depth of thought!

“Now he who received seed among the thorns
is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,
and he becomes unfruitful.”
MATTHEW 13:22

The human heart is far more complex than usually realized. It can also be deceitful to its own great hurt.

1. Wishing to have the best of both worlds

The unregenerate heart is quite deceitful. This parable reveals a number of things about the human heart.

a) The heart will hide things from view

The secret longings of the heart for riches were probably never dealt with. It will attempt to hide away sins like covetousness.

b) The heart does not wish to deal with its innermost problems

The hearer may well recognize the importance of the Word of God. However, it refuses to give up the cares of this world and the love for the riches of this world.

2. What is God looking for?

a) God offers the word of His kingdom.

b) He offers life eternal in His kingdom.

c) He provides the means to enter into that kingdom.

d) If a person has become a citizen of God’s kingdom- there will be ‘FRUIT’!

3. The issue of “fruitfulness”

Two issues are involved when we discuss the subject of “fruitfulness”.

a) Essential fruitfulness

This is a natural outcome of a person who had genuine faith in the Lord. Every true believer will manifest some kind of fruit.

b) Abundant fruitfulness

This is something else. Great and abundant fruitfulness will come about through the cultivation of one’s faith. This comes as “a second step”.

c) Unfruitfulness

This was of great concern to Jesus! There is no reason whatsoever for a true believer not to display fruits in his life. If there is absolutely no fruit in life, the individual would be well advised to check if he has genuine faith!