How Do You Hear

“HOW DO YOU HEAR?” MATTHEW 13:1-9 INTRO: The Bible is a wonderful book in that it serves as its own interpreter. Jesus gave us a parable here and a little later interpreted it for us. D. L. Moody when asked how he interpreted the Bible, replied: “I read something which I don’t understand, and I just keep reading and eventually I find the answer to my question right there in the Word.” In vv. 1-9 Jesus relates to us the parable of the sower and then in vv. 18-23, He gives us its interpretation. In this parable, the Lord speaks of:  THE SEED. The seed, He tells us is the Word of God.  A SOWER. These are those who sow the good seed of the Word. The Bible tells us: 1. HOW TO SOW ( PSALM 126:5-6). 2. WHERE TO SOW ( ISAIAH 32:20).  THE SOIL. This represents the peoples of the world. Those who hear the Word. In this parable we find four different types of hearers. I want to ask you this evening: “How do you hear?” Note with me first… (1) THE STUBBORN HEARERS MATTHEW 13:4, 19—“And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up…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.” A. THEIR HEART IS UNYIELDING. The seed never took root because the seed fell on hard soil. The hard beaten path, where no plough had broken up the ground. (CLARKE’S COMMENTARY NT, VOLUME 5A: MATTHEW – LUKE by Adam Clarke. The Master Christian Library. Version 5. The AGES Digital Library Commentary. AGES software. Copyright 1997). Before the seed can take root the ground has to be prepared. Hosea tells us in Hosea 10:12—“…break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD…”. About the only weapon we have against the hard heart is prayer. God will answer our prayers for the hard-hearted sinner but usually it comes with a high price. The Church was, no doubt, praying for Saul of Tarsus. The Lord finally had to strike him down on the Damascus Road to get his attention. ILLUS: A pastor tells about one of the churches he pastored early in his ministry. In the community where the church was located there was a man the church had been working on for years. One day, some members went to see him and talk with him about his soul. He told them not to bother him any more. He said, “When I go to church it will be in a pine box.” He was very rude and extremely hard-hearted. In about five or so years after that it was found he had cancer. The doctors did everything they could for him, but to no avail. A few days before he died he asked for the preacher to come and lead him to Christ. At last the church’s prayers were answered. It took the man’s death and to be carried to church in a pine box, but praise God, prayer was answered. To be receptive to the Word the heart must be prepared. B. THEIR HEART IS UNCARING. We expect those without Christ to have a lack of compassion, caring, and concern for those around them but I must remind you this evening that some of the hardest people you will ever deal with are church people, and some of them are preachers and deacons. If the heart lacks caring then the Word can not make a lasting impact on the life! We have looked at THE STUBBORN HEARERS but let us also see… (2) THE SHALLOW HEARERS MATTHEW 13:5-6, 20-21—“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away…But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 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.” A. THEY LACK SPIRITUAL GROWTH. These are people who have never matured in the Word of God. Notice Jesus said, “because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” (vv. 5-6). They remain spiritually anemic until they decide to grow up! Peter tells us—“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 3:18). For the Christian, growth is not a choice but a command. Daily we are to grow. Paul said in Ephesians 4:14—“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” When you hear the Word of God you should be able to tell the difference between truth and error and the difference between what is false and what is faithful.

B. THEY LACK SUSTAINING GRACE. These are babes in Christ who cannot take sound doctrine. They are easily led off into false doctrines. Jesus says of them—“..when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (v21). They are emotional, spasmodic, and easily offended. The reason many are so easily offended today is because they don’t love the Word. The psalmist said in Psalm 119:165—“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

HOW DO YOU HEAR? We have looked at THE STUBBORN HEARERS and THE SHALLOW HEARERS but also let us consider… (3) THE STRANGLED HEARERS MATTHEW 13:7, 22—“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them…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.” A. THEY ARE DISTRACTED BY THE WORLD. They have allowed themselves to become entangled with the things of this life instead of giving priority to their spiritual well-being. 2 Timothy 2:4 tells us—“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Friends, we are in a spiritual battle and Satan will do everything in his power to distract us so that we will not be our best for God! Friends, there is nothing wrong with possessions as long as our possessions don’t possess us! B. THEY ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WORD. When we are distracted by the world we then are also disobedient to the Word. Martha is an example of being entangled and distracted by the world. Luke 10:40-41 tells us— “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” How are we disobedient to the Word when we are distracted by the world? : 1. WE LOVE THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. We become enamored with the things of this life. God loses the priority in our lives. A close companion of Paul named Demas turned back to the world. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:10—“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…”. 2. WE LET THINGS BRING US ANXIETY AND WORRY (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7). Worry is sin. But we let the anxieties and cares of this life build up in us and then we start to worry about many things. 3. WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO WORSHIP (PHILIPPIANS 4:4). We may not be happy at all times about the circumstances of our lives but we can be happy in the Lord! Someone said, “Joy is the glory of God. It is a thought we do not link enough to Him.” – Stopford A. Brooke. Friends, this world and all the pressures of life will cause us to lose our joy. When we become distracted by the world we do not realize the glory of God nor do we rejoice in the glory of God. HOW DO YOU HEAR? We have considered THE STUBBORN HEARERS, THE SHALLOW HEARERS, and THE STRANGLED HEARERS but let us consider one final hearer… (4) THE SPIRITUAL HEARERS MATTHEW 13:8, 23—“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold…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.” A. THEY HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION. Notice v8 says—“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit…” and v23 tells us—“…he that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it…”. These are people who are “rooted and grounded” in the Word of God. They refused to be led astray. They know what they believe and also why they believe it. 1. THEY READ GOD’S WORD. 2. THEY HEED GOD’S WORD. 3. THEY OBEY GOD’S WORD. Colossians 2:6-7 encourages us—“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” B. THEY HAVE A STABLE FAITH. The Word of God has made an impact on their lives and influenced their behavior. The psalmist said in Psalm 1:1- 2—“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” They do not all bear the same amount of fruit because they are not all gifted in the same measure. Jesus said—“Some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” (v8). They do not all bear the same amount of fruit but they do what they can. Friends, these are the ones who can be counted on. Psalm 1:3 tells us the blessed man—“…shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” CLOSING: Our Lord said in Matthew 13:9—“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” This means “Let every person who feels the necessity of being instructed in the things which concern his soul’s welfare pay attention to what is spoken…” (CLARKE’S COMMENTARY NT, VOLUME 5A: MATTHEW – LUKE by Adam Clarke. The Master Christian Library. Version 5. The AGES Digital Library Commentary. AGES software. Copyright 1997). Friend, let me ask you this evening, “HOW DO YOU HEAR?” “Are you one of THE STUBBORN HEARERS or THE SHALLOW HEARERS or THE STRANGLED HEARERS or are you one of THE SPIRITUAL HEARERS? The true test is “What will you do with the Word that has been preached to you this evening?” The psalmist said in Psalm 143:8—“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” May that be our prayer tonight!

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY FOR SUNDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 2008.