Take a moment to pause and imagine yourself as part of the crowd eagerly gathering to hear Jesus preach.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach (Matthew 13:1-2).
The crowd has grown so large that Jesus steps into a boat, creating a better vantage point from which He can address everyone who has come to listen.
There was a time when Gandhi traveled across India by train, stopping at various stations to address large crowds gathered to hear him speak. On one occasion, with an especially large crowd waiting in anticipation, he surprised everyone by simply quoting the Sermon on the Mount.
I wonder how the people felt, expecting to hear a call for revolution and change in their country, only to hear Gandhi share the words of Jesus from the back of the train.
Gandhi was influenced by a British missionary named C.F. Andrews, and it’s possible that Gandhi learned how to engage with an eager crowd by observing or learning about Jesus.
In any case, Jesus and Gandhi shared a similar approach: Jesus delivered a brief, thoughtful message to a large crowd and then quietly walked away.
This is what Jesus said to the crowd before departing to have a private conversation with His disciples.
“Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up.
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away.
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears, hear!” (Matthew 13:3-9).
Don’t Go There!
You’re probably like me and already familiar with the interpretation Jesus provides for this parable a few verses later in Matthew’s Gospel.
But today, try something different: resist jumping ahead. Imagine you’re part of the original crowd, hearing only the brief words of this parable for the first time.
Why do you think Jesus chose to speak this way? What kind of impact do you think He wanted His words to have on your life?
Let’s reflect on and answer these questions today.
(1) Why? Approximately 35% of Jesus’ recorded words were in the form of parables. It’s clear that He believed parables played a vital role in conveying the profound truths about what God was accomplishing through His life.
When Jesus told parables, He invited His audience to engage in a thought process they might have rejected if presented as a direct confrontation.
By drawing them in and gaining their attention, He could then deliver His message in a way that compelled them to reflect and decide whether they would align themselves with God’s will or remain focused on their own.
The people who gathered by the Sea of Galilee to hear Jesus might have been disappointed by the brevity of the parable He shared. Perhaps they were expecting something more substantial.
However, if they paused to reflect on the parable as a gift from God, they would realize it was a challenge to align their lives with His will.
There is no greater gift than being guided to stand in alignment with Almighty God.
I remember attending a meeting where Henry Blackaby was speaking. It was my first time hearing him speak in person, and I was eager to learn from this great man of God. As he spoke, however, the Holy Spirit began whispering something to me.
It was almost like I said to the Spirit, “Could you be quiet for a moment? I’m trying to listen to Dr. Blackaby.”
After the meeting ended and I finally took time to respond to the Holy Spirit, God spoke to my heart and said, “Which would you prefer—hearing Henry Blackaby talk about Me, or hearing Me speak to you directly?”
Parables draw us out of our self-centered will and place us in a posture where we can truly hear God’s Word. This is precisely why Jesus uses parables.
(2) What? Each person must answer this question for themselves. In tomorrow’s article and YouTube video, we’ll discuss the interpretation, which will help us address it further.
For now, let’s imagine we’ve only heard the opening words of this parable. How would those words impact us?
We might initially feel frustrated after traveling so far to hear Jesus speak, only to be presented with a brief parable. However, as we journey back home, we might find ourselves discussing its meaning with friends, uncovering insights we wouldn’t have gained if Jesus had simply explained everything to us directly.
Messianic expectations were high in Israel, but Jesus did not fit the image or behavior that the people expected of the Messiah. To help His audiences grasp the concept of a Messiah who was different from their preconceived notions and to understand God’s rule as distinct from what had been commonly taught for years, Jesus often used parables.
The people of the first century weren’t the only ones whose ideas needed to be challenged by God. I, too, need my understanding of God to be challenged so I can draw closer to Him.
Approaching the parables with fresh eyes—without assuming we already know their meanings—and listening for God’s voice within them can help us align our thoughts and actions more closely with His will and deepen our relationship with Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 