The Secrets of the Kingdom

Matthew 13:1-23

Immanuel – 7/21/24

Week after week I have reviewed the different responses to Jesus: the Pharisees reject Him, the crowds are amazed but unrepentant, John the Baptist has doubts, and the disciples fully accept Him. The parable we read today gets into the weeds of those responses.

The Parable of the Sower begins the third great discourse in the Gospel of Matthew: the Parable Discourse. In chapter 13, Jesus will tell a series of seven parables, all of them having to do with the nature of the kingdom of heaven: how it will be received, how it will grow, and what it will look like.

Parables are a unique method of teaching. In the New Testament, Jesus is the only one to use parables. Parables are so powerful because they draw upon commonly understood elements of life – such as agriculture – to teach hidden spiritual realities. Parables are also paradoxical, because they simultaneously veil their meaning to some, and to others they enlighten and simplify spiritual truths.

Since a parable does not carry its meaning on the surface, it beckons the listener to engage with the teaching, to wrestle with it, to think deeply about it. This should tell you something about who Jesus is looking for as followers: He does not want people who are resistant or shallow. He wants people ready to engage, ready to think, and ready to be about the difficult work of following Him.

Also remember, that He calls to Himself the weary and heavy laden; but He gives to those who are weary a yoke that is easy, and to the heavy laden He gives a light burden. There is work in His rest, and that work begins with hearing.

Purpose

A fruitful life lived for Christ begins with seeking to truly understand His word.

Read vs 1-2

That same day: the same day as Jesus has performed miracles, prophesied, and proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom. He healed a demon-oppressed man, spoke about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and the binding of Satan, condemned that generation for their unrepentance, and said that those who do the will of the Father are His truest family.

All these things appear to have happened in the Capernaum house He was staying in. In verse 1, Jesus leaves that house. It seems that He leaves because, as the events of chapter 12 have unfolded, more and more people were gathering around the house. Crowds had formed. He leaves the house to seek a more suitable location from which to address the crowds. As He walks to the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, even more people gather.

Jesus and the disciples – likely just the 12 – get onto a boat and push off just a short way. And since sound travels remarkably well across water, this is the perfect location for Jesus to teach the multitudes.

Jesus’ parable describes a Sower casting seed; that seed is then received by four different types of soil.

Read vs 3-9

The soil of the path. We may tend to think of paths that run along the border of a field, but that is not how paths worked in Galilee and that is not how paths work in many parts of the world today – I’ve walked paths like these in Zambia and Iraq. People have a habit of taking the shortest route from point a to point b, thus paths would cut through the middle of a field.

Paths have compacted soil. The soil is so hard that it cannot receive the seed, and the seed just sits on the surface. Hungry birds swoop in and devour the seeds.

The shallow soil. In many places in Galilee there would only be a shallow covering of soil over the bedrock. The sun hits that soil and rapidly heats it. Such shallow soil does receive seeds, and warm soil promotes rapid growth from seedlings. But hot, shallow soil is unable to retain moisture and the seedlings are unable to establish mature roots. When the hot sun rises, the seedlings quickly scorch and die.

The thorny soil. The thorny soil receives the seed and it sprouts, perhaps healthy at first. But it sprouts in the midst of overpowering competition. The weeds are already established, soaking up all the water and nutrients, choking out the new seedling. The seedling does grow, but its growth is pathetic. It is lean and feeble and unable to produce any fruit.

The good soil. Then there is seed that is received by good soil, deep and rich, free from competition. The seedling grows at a healthy pace, receiving all the nutrients it needs, and it produces fruit to varying degrees: 30, 60, 100-fold. 30-fold represents a strong return. 100-fold represents an abundant return.

After talking about a Sower, seeds, and soil, Jesus says to the crowds, “He who has ears, let him hear.” And that concludes the parable. The crowd gets no explanation. The disciples saw that Jesus had concluded, and they can’t help but recognize that the whole scene is rather bewildering.

As a speaker and expositor of God’s word, it is my endeavor to make things as understandable and accessible as possible. Jesus on the other hand, was perfectly comfortable leaving the listeners confused, with no explanation and no application.

The disciples are also confused. Why would Jesus teach so cryptically? Why not be clear?

Read vs 10-12

The secrets of the kingdom have been given to some and not to others. And who reveals these secrets? God Himself.

This perfectly comports with what Jesus said back in chapter 11.

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” -Matthew 11:25-27

Again, the secrets of the kingdom have been given to some and not to others. This also means that people cannot discover the secrets of the kingdom unless God reveals them to a person. There are insiders and there are outsiders.

It’s even more pronounced when we consider the setting and who is where. The crowds are on the shore, separated from Jesus. The disciples are in the boat, by His side, receiving special teachings that no one else is privy to (except for every reader of Matthew 13). The disciples are the insiders, being given the secrets of the kingdom. The crowds are outsiders, unable to perceive the kingdom of God. Does not the Bible teach, from cover to cover and garden to garden, that there are those inside God’s kingdom and those outside?

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but for the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

This reminds me of our capitalistic saying, “It takes money to make money.” Jesus is certainly not promoting capitalistic ideals, but there is a similar compounding principle at work. If a person uses the spiritual truth they have been given that truth will grow. More will be added. If you do not use that spiritual truth, it will wither away, bit by bit.

Muscles work similarly. If you use them they grow, your body strengthens, you’re able to engage in more physical activities. If you do not use your muscles they become soft, then atrophy, and your physical capabilities dramatically decrease. If you do absolutely nothing, you will atrophy to the point of death.

Read vs 13

Jesus directly answers the disciple’s question about why He teaches in parables, and again, He sends us on a collision course with God’s sovereign will. Everything that exists, and everything that happens, has its place in the purposes of God. He is Creator and Sustainer. Even people’s response to the gospel accords with the plan of God.

As Leon Morris writes, “The disciples were not disciples because, left to themselves, they had decided that this would be a good thing. They were disciples on the Gospel view because God had chosen them. And it was in the outworking of this divine choice that they came to see Jesus for who He was for what He was doing in bringing the kingdom of God. They could understand the parables because of the insight that God gave them, but God did not give this insight to those who rejected Jesus. The word of God is always effective: it brings enlightenment or judgment – enlightenment to the disciples and judgment to those who rejected Jesus. It was in this sense that it was the divine purpose that [those who reject Jesus] should not understand.”1

To sum that up, Jesus teaches in parables as a judgment to those who do not want to truly understand Him. But this is a paradox, and as we will see in a moment, the parables are also a blessing to those who are pursuing Jesus, who are seeking after the kingdom of God.

(Parenthesis)

In the boat, along the shore of Galilee, Jesus’ teaching is not exhaustive. For nothing is said in all of chapter 13 about outsiders becoming insiders. But as long as people live, there will always be the opportunity to enter the kingdom of heaven. Think of Saul, who initially rejected Jesus – even persecuting the church – only to encounter Christ and be transformed into the Apostle Paul. The opportunity for those outside of the kingdom to enter is always there.

(Close Parenthesis)

Then Jesus cites an Old Testament precedent for teaching in a veiled way. He quotes Isaiah 6:9-10.

Read vs 14-15

Verse 15 says people have closed their eyes. Closing your eyes is something you do on purpose. It is a deliberate refusal to see. Because people have closed their eyes and do not want to see, because they have shut their ears and refuse to hear, God will not force them.

They will hear, even if they do not understand; and their lack of understanding is their judgment. But the good news is proclaimed so that those who do want to hear, who have their eyes open in eager anticipation, so they will understand!

Every heart is diseased by sin, and it is our death. Those who shut their eyes to the word of God will not receive healing, and will die in their sins. Even what they have will be taken away.

But those who see with their eyes, those who hear with their ears, those who understand with their heart (understanding with the heart is what this is really about), they will be healed. Their sins will be forgiven, they will be given a new heart, and they shall be freed from the power of sin and death. They shall live forever in the presence of Christ. To those who have, more will be given!

That is the healing Isaiah speaks of and Christ quotes! What a blessing it is to understand these truths in your heart!

Read vs 16-17

Understanding that Jesus is the Messiah, and the nature of His kingdom, this is the goal, this is the purpose, this is the understanding that brings blessing.

Many times I’ve heard people say they wish they lived in Old Testament times, when God moved in pillars of fire and smoke, when He parted oceans and made the sun stand still. Of course, it would be amazing to see such things, but they are mere shadows compared to the brilliance we are privileged to behold.

The faithful ones of old, the prophets and the truly righteous, they longed to see what we can see, but they were born in an age too early. (Here too is something of God’s sovereign choosing.) The disciples, and every reader who has come since, we get to see the glory of the ages: the kingdom of God arrived in the person of Jesus Christ!

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

-1 Peter 1:10-12

Then, after saying how blessed the disciples are (every disciple) for what their ears are hearing, Jesus says, “Hear then the parable of the Sower.” To the understanding that the disciples have, Jesus is about to add more.

And He says this to you, “Hear then the parable of the Sower.” You are meant to be active in this. The way you listen to the words I am about to read reveals what kind of soil you are.

Read vs 19-23

It is important to notice that Jesus starts by identifying what the seed is in verse 19. The seed is the word of the kingdom. You could also say, the gospel of the kingdom. Very simply put, the gospel is the message that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The soil of the path: this is the careless hearer. They hear the words that are said, but they are not willing to wrestle with its meaning. Sure, they have a surface level interest, there isn’t any real desire for change. They like things as they are. They’re happy to keep their eyes shut.

Knowing that the gospel – even carelessly heard – always poses a threat to him, the devil then swoops in and snatches away anything that could possibly become productive. Perhaps he uses doubt, or lies, or temptations, or any other number of things that careless hearers use to justify why they will not repent. What they have heard has been lost. Even what they had is taken away.

The shallow soil: this is the shallow hearer. Unlike the careless hearer, this person joyfully receives the gospel. They respond to the gospel immediately and everything looks exciting and transformed.

But soon enough, life happens. Difficulties come, or persecutions. What is revealed is that their reception to the gospel was pure emotionalism. Excitement about Jesus, a feeling of spiritual ecstasy, these things are not enough. Because when trials come, happy feelings do not come with them. And for a person whose relationship to Jesus is only based on how good they feel, the sorrows of struggle scorch their delusion of faith.

Sadly, so many churches today are basing their services off of good-feeling emotionalism. They are pumping out people who think they are Christians, but really they are shallow hearers who will fall away when things get hard. Though there are churches committed to emotionalism, shallow hearers are everywhere. And it grieves me to see, from this beloved body, numerous people fall away when things have gotten hard. But it is just as Jesus said would happen. The gospel received by emotions only looks good at first, but leads to disaster later.

The thorny soil: this is a hearer filled with worldly anxieties and/or materialism. In this instance the gospel is received, and it takes root. It begins to grow, even if slowly. But in time, the commands of Christ are outcompeted by the cares of the world (worldly anxieties), or deceitfulness of riches (materialism).

Here’s how these competing anxieties and materialistic desires choke out the gospel of the kingdom. You want people to like you; so to not offend someone, or look like a fool, you tell no one about Jesus. You stay silent. You want to be secure and comfortable; so you never get out of your comfort zone and serve the church, or go on a mission trip, or visit someone in a desperate situation, or take up your cross and follow Jesus. You love your stuff, or maybe your bank account; so you never give your money to the house of God, or your resources to those in need.

There are a million other examples of how worldly anxiety and materialism destroy the word of the kingdom. Ultimately it comes down to this: instead of a selfless life pursing Jesus and loving His people, thorny soil people live a quiet self-serving life.

We have now seen, multiple times, that Jesus has called His disciples to leave everything behind to follow Him; even to regard Him as more important than their own families. A thorny soil person is not willing to part with much. In the end, they are choked to death by their own selfishness. They produce nothing of value for the kingdom and are worthless.

The good soil: this is a person who hears the word and seeks to truly understand it. They do not listen carelessly, but they engage with the word of Christ and wrestle with it. They will not rest until they know how the word of Christ is meant to change them.

Good soil people are happy to experience emotions, and they do receive the word of Christ with joy, but they understand that there is a deeper commitment needed, something completely life changing. And though they receive the gospel with joy, there is a soberness to it, because they understand there is a heavy cost to following Jesus.

And when that cost is counted, good soil people are prepared. They pull the weeds of their lives. They want nothing in their life that will compete with the word of the kingdom. They want nothing that might prevent them from whole-heartedly following Jesus. Good soil people live in a posture of repentance.

Such people will produce an abundance of kingdom fruit: 30, 60, 100-fold. This fruit is not one dimensional, but multifaceted: gospel proclamation, making disciples, spiritual maturity, serving the church, carrying one another’s burdens. Or simply put, the fruit is obedience to the Father. As Jesus said,

“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” -Matthew 12:50

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” -Matthew 7:24

How will you receive this word? Hearing the word is not as simple as listening. Don’t let Christ’s word get plucked from your heart. Don’t be a shallow listener. Don’t be content with a worthless faith as you give your heart to worldly anxieties and materialism.

Meditate upon God’s word. Wrestle with it. Know that you need to be changed by it, and then engage in that change. Obey Christ and give everything to follow Him!

One final point. This is not called the parable of the four soils, but the Parable of the Sower. Is that because those who will become the beneficiaries of this parable are the very ones who will be sowing seed? Perhaps Jesus gives this parable, yes so that we can assess what kind of soil we are, but also so that we – His disciples – will not become discouraged as we proclaim the gospel and see people responding in all kinds of disappointing ways.

Such is the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and the rest of the parables in chapter 13 will only build on these truths.

He who has ears, let him hear.

1Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel According to Matthew. Pg 341. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.