San Diego First United Methodist Church’s Daily Devotion for
Week of Monday, 10 February – Sunday, 16 February 2014
Sermon theme for coming Sunday, 16 February 2014: Designed by
Jesus: Parable of the Sower
Text to read: Matthew 13: 1 On that day Jesus went out of the
house, and sat by the seaside. 2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he
entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3 He
spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to
sow. 4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and
devoured them. 5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil,
and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. 6 When the
sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered
away. 7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Others
fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some
sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
18 “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. 19 When anyone hears
the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and
snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by
the roadside. 20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the
word, and immediately with joy receives it; 21 yet he has no root in himself,
but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the
word, immediately he stumbles. 22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he
who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches
choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 What was sown on the good ground,
this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears
fruit, and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some
thirty.”
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary for
Matthew 13:1–9, 18-23
1. Mark iv, 1; Luke viii, 4.
2. He went into the vessel - Which constantly waited upon him,
while he was on the sea coast.
Verse 3. In parables - The word is here taken in its proper
sense, for apt similes or comparisons. This way of speaking, extremely common
in the eastern countries, drew and fixed the attention of many, and occasioned
the truths delivered to sink the deeper into humble and serious hearers. At the
same time, by an awful mixture of justice and mercy, it hid them from the proud
and careless. In this chapter our Lord delivers seven parables; directing the
four former (as being of general concern) to all the people; the three latter
to his disciples. Behold the sower - How exquisitely proper is this parable to
be an introduction to all the rest! In this our Lord answers a very obvious and
a very important question. The same sower, Christ, and the same preachers sent
by him, always sow the same seed: why has it not always the same effect? He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear!
Verse 4. And while he sowed, some seeds fell by the highway
side, and the birds came and devoured them - It is observable, that our Lord
points out the grand hindrances of our bearing fruit, in the same order as they
occur. The first danger is, that the birds will devour the seed. If it escape
this, there is then another danger, namely, lest it be scorched, and wither
away. It is long after this that the thorns spring up and choke the good seed.
A vast majority of those who hear the word of God, receive the seed as by the
highway side. Of those who do not lose it by the birds, yet many receive it as
on stony places. Many of them who receive it in a better soil, yet suffer the
thorns to grow up, and choke it: so that few even of these endure to the end,
and bear fruit unto perfection: yet in all these cases, it is not the will of
God that hinders, but their own voluntary perverseness.
Verse 8. Good ground - Soft, not like that by the highway side;
deep, not like the stony ground; purged, not full of thorns.
Verse 19. When any one heareth the word, and considereth it not
- The first and most general cause of unfruitfulness. The wicked one cometh -
Either inwardly; filling the mind with thoughts of other things; or by his
agent. Such are all they that introduce other subjects, when men should be
considering what they have heard.
Verse 20. The seed sown on stony places, therefore sprang up
soon, because it did not sink deep, ver. 5. He receiveth it with joy - Perhaps
with transport, with ecstacy: struck with the beauty of truth, and drawn by the
preventing grace of God.
Verse 21. Yet hath he not root in himself - No deep work of
grace: no change in the ground of his heart. Nay, he has no deep conviction;
and without this, good desires soon wither away. He is offended - He finds a
thousand plausible pretenses for leaving so narrow and rugged a way.
Verse 22. He that received the seed among the thorns, is he that
heareth the word and considereth it - In spite of Satan and his agents: yea,
hath root in himself is deeply convinced, and in a great measure inwardly
changed; so that he will not draw back, even when tribulation or persecution
ariseth. And yet even in him, together with the good seed, the thorns spring
up, ver. 7. (perhaps unperceived at first) till they gradually choke it,
destroy all its life and power, and it becometh unfruitful. Cares are thorns to
the poor: wealth to the rich; the desire of other things to all. The
deceitfulness of riches - Deceitful indeed! for they smile, and betray: kiss,
and smite into hell. They put out the eyes, harden the heart, steal away all
the life of God; fill the soul with pride, anger, love of the world; make men
enemies to the whole cross of Christ! And all the while are eagerly desired,
and vehemently pursued, even by those who believe there is a God!
Verse 23. Some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty - That
is, in various proportions; some abundantly more than others.
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Monday - What part of the Parable of the Sower immediately grabs
my attention – the sower, the seed, or the soils?
Where do I see myself in the parable?
Tuesday – What characteristics of the Sower do I relate to?
What actions of the Sower seem foolish?
Why?
Wednesday – When are times in my life that I feel like I am on
the hard path?
What keeps me from being receptive to God’s leading?
Thursday – What aspects of my faith seem shallow?
How can I plant deeper roots in my faith?
Friday – When do I feel like I’m on thorny ground?
What parts of my life seem to choke my spiritual well-being?
Saturday – When do I feel most like the good soil?
What spiritual practices help me be more receptive to the
“seed?”
Sunday – Where do I see fruit in my life being multiplied
“thirty, sixty, or hundredfold?”
How can I be more receptive to being God’s good soil in bringing
forth the harvest?
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First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
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