Jesus did not teach universalism. Jesus said, “Many are called, few are chosen.” While teaching the disciples the first parable, Jesus reveals foundational understanding required to become part of the Kingdom of God. God hides things from people who are not called – blessed are ye who hear. The implementation of God’s will has been turned over to His people. God’s will is done when God’s people do it. Strive to enter in. The kingdom of God contains both judgment and reward.
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Ch. 29: JESUS TELLS A PARABLE OF A SOWER
THE SAME DAY that his mother and brothers had come to see him, Jesus want down by the seaside. Great multitudes came to hear and see him. Jesus sat in a boat and spoke to the crowd on the shore, saying:
“Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up. 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 schorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
When they were alone, his disciples asked Jesus:
“Why speakest thou to them in parables?”
Jesus replied:
“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, “By hearing ye shall not hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest as any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower: When anyone 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 wayside. 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.
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. 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 a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Jesus also said:
“Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing his, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
And Jesus added:
“Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall me be measured to you; and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given; and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”
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Scriptures:
Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-25; Luke 8:4-18