Sowing poor seed or not caring for our crops leads to a bad harvest. Jesus explains the parable in Matthew 13:18-23. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. When none of that worked to make me “happy” I went back to God–feeling chewed up by the devil (the birds), swept away by life (the weather in the rocky terrain), and choked by sin (those thorns). “Give, and it will be given to you. Pastor Greg Laurie breaks down Galatians 6:7-8 in a way like no one has. Perhaps you are thinking if you don’t understand then God doesn’t want you to and you give up (I used to think like that). Reading the parables (as well as some of the OT) is when I most appreciate the ESV Study Bible my sister got me for Christmas a few years ago. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ Matthew 13:24-30 ESV / 164 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Y Topical Bible 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. I want you all to realize, wherever you are in your faith journey, there is hope that you will one day be planted in good soil where you are rooted in your faith. ‣ Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Today’s passage: 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. They are those who hear the word, ... You will recognize them by their fruits. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. ‣ As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. Our lives will produce fruit in keeping with the state of our hearts. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor reap its aftergrowth, nor gather in from its untrimmed vines. N ‣ He will render to each one according to his works: With which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms, Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. The last group is that on good soil which is rooted and sustainable. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. Are you not of more value than they? Change ). Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. “The point is this:  whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”. “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Verse Concepts. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—, “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. The Parable of the Talents … 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. It may be tiring at times to remain faithful, but that is the way to reap the great rewards of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. God is also seeking to reap a bountiful harvest of faithful disciples. The book of Proverbs is a wealth of wisdom on the truths of reaping what we sow. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. In case you want your own copy, I linked it. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. “Do not be deceived:  God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. ‣ For necessity is laid upon me. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Matthew 13:3-4 begins this parable, and verses 18-19 begin Jesus’ explanation of the parable to His disciples…, “And He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. ‣ If you want that answer read past this verse to Matthew 13:10-13. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Dec 20, 2019 Dec 20, 2019 by Editor in Chief. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”. ‣ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. ‣ God said to Moses, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ... Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. Our worship is an investment in our relationship with God, and this investment will always lead to His blessings. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. God is the one who orchestrates who hears and understands, right? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Be careful that your deeds will lead to approval from the Lord. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. In case you want your own copy, I linked it! You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? Sowing Seeds. If I am not rooted, how can I pray and what can I do to become rooted?” This serious self reflection has helped me so much! ‣ Why does Jesus have to talk in stories that sometimes don’t make sense. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ‣ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. ‣ Our Lord, come! Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. The harvester needed to prepare the ground for planting. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.