The Sower and The Seed

*Scriptures from the New King James Version Bible

The Sower and The Seed

Matthew 13:1-9

The Parable of the Sower

 

1 On the same day Yahushua went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Sower and the Seed is my favorite parable, not only because of the significance of its meaning, but it describes the challenges that will come against you when you begin this walk of truth. Many will be induced by all or at least one of the snares presented in this parable. Without wisdom, understanding and endurance given by the Set Apart Spirit it is very possible to become trapped in the spiritual tentacles of the enemy. To understand the Parable of The Sower and the seed, Yahushua explains to the disciples:

Matthew 13:14-15

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.’

 John 3:36, further explains the above scripture...

John 3:36

36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Yah abides on him.”

The Parable of the Sower explained

By the wayside

Matthew 13:18-19 (NKJV)

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside

Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Romans 10:18 (NKJV)

18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,

And their words to the ends of the world.

On Stony Places

Matthew 13:20-21 (NKJV)

 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Ezekiel 33:31-32(NKJV)

31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

John 5:35 (NKJV)

35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

Among the thorns

Matthew 13:22 (NKJV)

 22 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 19:23 (NKJV)

23 Then Yahushua said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

1 Timothy 6:9 (NKJV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)

for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 

On Good Ground

Matthew 13:23(NKJV)

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

John 15:5(NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

Philippians 1:11(NKJV)

11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Yahushua Messiah, to the glory and praise of Yah.

 Colossians 1:6(NKJV)

6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of Yah in truth; 

Which seed do you want to be?

I hope these scriptures have given you a better understanding of the parable of The sower and the seed. If not, ask Yah to give you the spiritual understanding you seek, He will answer!

HalleluYah!

Working Out Your Own Salvation

 Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)
Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Most of us when we first enter in to the truth we want to spread the good news of Yah and Yahushua. The excitement of it all is infectious, uplifting, gratifying and soul-stirring, yet before we get the full understanding ourselves some of us tend to rush forward trying to convince non-believers to change their way of thinking, to become righteous and fall in line with the Torah.
There is much to learn in the Torah and many lessons that witness to us in the scriptures showing us how to implement and self-examine ourselves to perfect our own walk so that “we” can be righteous in the eyes of Yah. As babes and the learned can we afford to be self-righteous in our judgment of others before we are perfect within ourselves?

 

 Matthew 23:13(NKJV)

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

 

 

 Deuteronomy 15:9(NKJV)

9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the The Most High against you, and it become sin among you.

Matthew 6:23(NKJV)

23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Mark 7:20-23(NKJV)

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Philippians 1:5-6(NKJV)

5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Yahushua Messiah;

John 6:27(NKJV)

27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because Yah the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Ephesians 6:5-7 (NKJV)

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Messiah; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Messiah, doing the will of Yah from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to Yah, and not to men,

 

 Hebrews 13:20-21(NKJV)

20 Now may The Most High of peace who brought up our Messiah Yahushua from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Yahushua Messiah, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:13-16(NKJV)

13 for it is Yah who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of Yah without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Messiah that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

 

It is important that we share the good news of Yah and Yahushua, to convey the message of repentance for the kingdom is at hand and to have the belief and faith to acknowledge we cannot do anything without the salvation and mercy of our intercessor, Yahushua and The Most High, Yah. 

 

However, it is our “individual” responsibility to prepare our mind and spirit for the expectation of Yah’s kingdom. To be a light and a witness to others as representatives of Yah’s esteem. So we should look not on others righteousness or unrighteousness and strive to perfect our own before we can reproach another.

Matthew 7:3-5(NKJV)

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

*then you will see clearly…by examining your “own” shortcomings and stumbling blocks you may still need to overcome.

How do we grow in the knowledge and esteem of being righteous in Yah’s favor?

2 Timothy 2:15(NKJV)

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to Yah, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Peter 2:5-10
Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Messiah Yahushua. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Messiah and Savior Yahushua.

~Shalom~

Vanity

Ecclesiastes 6:9 

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.
This also is vanity and striving after the wind.

All is Vanity

 

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 (NKJV)

The Vanities of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;

“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

King Solomon in all his wisdom came to understand that in life man/woman is a vain creature and that he toils his entire existence on satisfying his lustful appetites on futility and self-gratification. While ignoring the importance of the spiritual aspects of the matters of his/her soul, his/her true understanding goes unchallenged and ultimately at the peak or twilight of life he/she comes to realize or not, the time wasted on trivialities has cost him/her true peace of mind in their life. 

 

What hast thou learned?

Ecclesiastes 1:3-4

3 What profit has a man from all his labor

In which he toils under the sun?

4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;

But the earth abides forever.

As we seek to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, is there really a complete true happiness of the things we hold a worldly value to, such as excessive wealth, material gain, false sensual affection, ill-gotten riches, vain personal status based on narcissistic values?

Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

8 All things are full of labor;

Man cannot express it.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing,

Nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 That which has been is what will be,

That which is done is what will be done,

And there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there anything of which it may be said,

“See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,

Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come

By those who will come after.

According to the above scriptures every generation has done what the generation before has done and still history repeats itself over and over and nothing changes because man has not learned or considered the paths or lessons of those who have come before them. 

Such an example is King Solomon.

Solomon asked Yah for wisdom so that he may lead his people.

2 Chronicles 1:8-12

8 And Solomon said to Yah: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O Most High Yah, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

11 Then Yah said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

Yah granted Solomon what he asked for and was pleased with Solomon because all the things he could have asked for he chose to do the will of Yah. His heart was for the wise judgment and council of Yah’s people. Not only did Yah grant Solomon wisdom but he added riches, wealth and honor to him.

Yah visited Solomon again after he built the temple and completed all Yah had asked of him.

Chronicles 7:17-22

17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’

19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

 21 “And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the The Most High done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.’”

 

And for a time Solomon was a righteous, faithful and noble king until he allowed his lusts for foreign women to take him away from the will of Yah.

1 Kings 11:1-4(KJV)

1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which The Most High said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with The Most High his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Using Solomon’s example we can see King Solomon began with the will to please Yah, but allowed his lust to lead him out of Yah’s will. It is a very common attribute of man/woman to feed the lust of the flesh rather than do what is required according to the will of Yah.

Romans 7:21-25

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of Yah according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank Yah—through Yahushua, Messiah our Savior!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of Yah, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Yet with the spirit of Yah----through Yahushua it is possible. 

In our weakness to please ourselves we are in a constant quest to fill a void we believe is a need, but it is only the superficial pleasures of the flesh and it leads to all the wicked temptations of the world. These trappings and snares consume the soul leading us further away from the true spiritual satisfaction we are unknowingly seeking. It is inevitable because we are a part of a world that seduces the lusts of the flesh.

Solomon goes on to say in his later years with regret.

Ecclesiastes 2:12-16

The End of the Wise and the Fool

12 Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;

For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—

Only what he has already done.

13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly

As light excels darkness.

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head,

But the fool walks in darkness.

Yet I myself perceived

That the same event happens to them all.

15 So I said in my heart,

“As it happens to the fool,

It also happens to me,

And why was I then more wise?”

Then I said in my heart,

“This also is vanity.”

16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever,

Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.

And how does a wise man die?

As the fool!

King Solomon found out too late what all his sins, vanity and self-gratification had cost him. Is the price of futility and self-gratification worth the loss of your soul? This is really the true knowledge that man/woman is meant to gain in our lifetime, the pathway back to the will of Yah.

Definition: vanity~ the quality of being worthless or futile.

    "the vanity of human wishes"

Definition: self-gratification~the indulgence or satisfaction of one's own desires.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear Yah and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

14 For Yah will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of Yah and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

~shalom~