Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

What Is a Christian?

Someone Who Sows the Seed of God’s Word!

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ²Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹He who has ears, let him hear.”

¹⁸“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. ²²The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. ²³But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV1984)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

If you were  to ask a variety of people the question, “What is a Christian?” you would probably get a variety of answers.  One person might say, “A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus.”  Okay.  But since the Scriptures tell us that even the demons believe that Jesus is, “The Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) that definition isn’t very adequate, is it.  Someone else might say that a Christian is someone who accepts Jesus as their Savior.  And yet, since Scripture reveals to us that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” unless God the Holy Spirit gives them that ability, (See 1 Corinthians 12:3) that answer is also incomplete.  Still another person might answer that question in a more cynical way by saying, “A Christian is someone who believes that they are better than others.”  While that answer pains our heart, we’ll have to admit that sometimes it might have a little bit of truth to it.

What is a Christian?  For the next few weeks we are going to address that question using various portions of Scripture.  As we begin this sermon series let’s see how this portion of Matthew’s Gospel answers the question, What Is a Christian? by reminding us that a Christian is:  Someone Who Sow’s God’s Word!

Matthew begins our text by saying to us, “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  Then he told them many things in parables.”  This was one of Jesus’ busiest days recorded in the Bible.  Looking back on Matthew 12 we see that Jesus had a busy day of healing and teaching.  He had an emotionally stressful day in that He had to defend Himself against the cruel accusation that He was in cahoots with Beelzebub.  And to top it all off His mother and brothers came to talk to Him because— as Mark tells us— they were afraid He was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).  After a day like that you and I would probably want to the day to end so that we could finally get some rest— but not Jesus!  Jesus took this opportunity to teach this large crowd “many things in parables.”

Jesus very often used parables as He taught the people.  Why?  There are two reasons.  First, in Matthew 13:35 Jesus tells us that His use of parables was in fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecies.  Second, Jesus’ parables were designed to both reveal as well as conceal.  For those who believed and trusted in Jesus— such as His disciples, such as us— the parables reveal eternal heavenly truths by using an earthly comparison.  For those who did not believe and trust in Jesus the parables became an act of judgment against them.  (See Matthew 13:10-18)

While the Parable of the Sower utilizes events and truths that were extremely common in the lives of the people who first heard Jesus speak this parable we need to make sure that we do not misunderstand what Jesus is teaching us here.  This parable is not intended to teach us that the different kinds of “soil” represent different kinds of people— some whose hearts are more “open” and more “receptive” to the seed of God’s holy Word and some whose hearts are not.  Scripture very clearly teaches that by nature we are all born spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and spiritually the enemies of God.  Nor is this parable designed to teach us that there is a difference in the “seed” that is sown— sometimes it “works” and sometimes it doesn’t.  The prophet Isaiah remined us this morning that God’s powerful effective Word “will not return to (Him) me empty, but will accomplish what (He) I desires and achieve the purpose for which (He) I sends it” (Isaiah 55:11).  What this parable is intended to do is to encourage us to remember that as Christians our responsibility is to sow the seeds of God’s holy Word— and then let God do what only God can do!  This dovetails beautifully with what the apostle Paul proclaimed in our Epistle Lesson for today, “What, after all, is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Only servants, through whom you came to believe— as the Lord assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:5, 6).

This is what gives us confidence to share God’s Word with others.  As Christians our responsibility is to sow the seed of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can— and then trust God to do what only God can do!  At the same time, however, we need to understand, we need to recognize that some of the seeds that we sow will never take root and grow; some of the seeds that we sow may grow for a little while and then wither away, and some of the seeds that we sow may grow and then get choked out, and — by the grace and power of God alone— some of the seeds that we sow will not only grow but bear abundant fruit!  Let’s take a closer look at how Jesus addresses each of those four scenarios.

As Christians we sow the seeds of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can— with the understanding that some of those seeds will never take root and grow.  Jesus addresses this reality when He says, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up…Listen to what the parable of the sower means.  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.”

Sometimes we share God’s holy Word with people whom— unbeknownst to us— fall into the category of hard-hearted hearers.  No matter how well we share God’s Word, no matter how clearly we share God’s Word, no matter how faithfully we share God’s Word they are among the people whom the Bible describes as “hearing but never understanding…seeing but never perceiving…their heart has become calloused” (Matthew 13:14).  You may have encountered people like this as you are sharing the seeds of God’s holy Word.  If so, should you simply give up?  Should you consider it a waste of time to keep on sowing the seed of God’s holy Word?  Not at all!  This is where we need to remember that as Christians our responsibility is to sow the seeds of God’s holy Word!  It is not our responsibility to make that seed grow!

At the same time, this serves as a warning to us, my friends.  Our old sinful nature is constantly trying to “harden” our hearts.  Our old sinful nature is constantly trying to push us onto the path where Jesus will say to us what He said to the Emmaus disciples, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).  Satan is constantly trying to use our own sin and our own doubts to trample our hearts and prevent the seeds of God’s Word from growing inside of us.  Recognize those threats so that you can avoid your faith being “trampled” to death!

As Christians we sow the seeds of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can— with the understanding that some of those seeds may take root and grow— but only for a short time.  Jesus addressed this reality when He says, “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root…The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

You may be able to picture the faces and remember the names of people who fit this description.  When they first start worshiping with us they are filled with joy and enthusiasm!  This may be the first time that they heard how much God loves them and how completely God forgives them!  (Pointing to the cross)  Then the persecution sets in.  Their family or their friends begin to ridicule them because church has suddenly become so important to them. Then their peers begin to pressure them to go back to doing all the “fun” things that used to enjoy doing, things that they now know are not God-pleasing.  Then they become disappointed or disillusioned because their life is not as easy or as carefree as they hoped it would be.  Then they begin to drift away from church and we don’t see them anymore.

This also serves as a warning to us, doesn’t it.  If we allow our “connection” to Jesus to become “shallow” and “superficial,” if we do not sink the roots of our faith deep into God’s holy Word through regular attendance in church and Bible class, if gathering together in God’s Name is done for any other reason than “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), then we too run the risk of having our faith scorched by “troubles” and “persecution.”  Pray that God Himself will help you to avoid this spiritual tragedy.  Maintain regular contact with the spiritual food God freely provides for you in His holy Word and in His holy Sacrament so that the roots of your faith will grow strong and deep!

As Christians we sow the seed of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can— with the understanding that some of these seeds may take root and grow— only to be choked out by the “thorns” and “thistles” of this world.  Jesus addresses this reality when He says, “Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants…The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”

Since our sermon text for next Sunday is the Parable of the Weeds, we’re not going to go into a great deal of depth here today.  Suffice it to say that any of us who have been unfortunate enough to run into “thistles” and “thorns” when we are out in the field or out in the woods understand very easily what Jesus is talking about here.  Satan knows each and every one of us well enough to know which “thorns” and which “thistles” to use against us.  For some it is the “worries of this life.”  For others it is the “deceitfulness of wealth.”  Recognize what Satan is trying to do to you!  Realize that Satan’s goal is to “choke” your faith to death!  Run to Him (Pointing to the cross) for protection and for strength!

And finally, as Christians we sow the seeds of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can— with the understanding that purely by the power and grace of God alone some of those seeds will fall on “good soil” and bear “abundant fruit.”  Jesus addresses this wonderful reality when He says, “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produces a crop— a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown…But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understand it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The fact that we are Christians is a miracle— a miracle performed by God Himself!  Through the power of His holy Law God shattered the hardness of our sinful hearts.  Through the power of God’s glorious Gospel He planted the seed of saving faith in our heart.  Through the power of His holy Word and Sacrament God continues to “water” our faith and causes it to not only “grow” but He causes it to “produce a crop, yielding a hundred, or sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  Just as one kernel of corn produces multiple cobs of corn that all have many seeds on them, so also God empowers the Gospel seed which He has planted in your heart to grow even more seeds— seeds that you can now sow into the hearts of others!  While this crop can vary from Christian to Christian, while this crop can vary from year to year— each and every one of us can have the confidence of knowing that we are to simply sow the seed of God’s holy Word and then rejoice every time God causes that seed to grow and bear fruit!

What is a Christian?  A Christian is someone who confidently sows the seeds of God’s holy Word!  As you look back over the course of your life you can see how true that statement is.  Your parents faithfully sowed the seed of God’s holy Word by bringing you to be baptized in the Name of the Triune God.  As a result God gave you the gift of saving faith in your heart.  As your parents brought you to church and to Sunday school pastors and teachers faithfully watered the seeds of God’s holy Word.  As a result your faith was strengthened and nourished.  As a Christian you now sow the seed of God’s holy Word in the hearts of your children and your grandchildren, your friends and your neighbors and your acquaintances.  As a result others have come to know Jesus as their only Lord and Savior.  Through your offerings you are sowing the seed of God’s holy Word in hearts all across the world.  While we confidently sow the seeds of God’s holy Word as far and as wide as we can, let’s humbly remember what God Himself told us through His servant Isaiah:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

To God be the glory!

Amen