Pentecost 7

July 16, 2023

Text – St. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

“Planting and Harvesting”

Jesus’ popularity is unmistakable.  Huge crowds pressed up close to hear Him.  They were amazed at His speaking.  He was One who spoke with notable authority, “unlike the scribes” of the temple. In this reading, the multitude was so large that Jesus has to get into a boat and put off from shore to preach to this diverse group of close associates and curiosity seekers.

Jesus’ enemies are jealous and eager to see the crowd diminish and this teacher dead!  Jesus knows that when the circumstances change: when a commitment is called for the curiosity seekers will be gone, even His close friends will be weighing the cost.  Will it be their life or their faithfulness they will sacrifice for Him?

In this parable in Matthew 13 Jesus unfolds the picture of the short-term situation and the long-term stretch of the Last Days.

This is exactly what will happen.  The Word of God will be sown throughout the human condition as it is found then and now.  Into each life will be offered the divine promise of God’s eternal kingdom.  Sad to say, most people will not care in the slightest about it and its implications to them.  Most people will find something they think more profitable to them… more worthwhile that CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN.  Of four different examples of the Sown Word, only 1 is considerate fruitful. Something goes awry in most of the cases.

This doesn’t mean an end to religion.  Religion will continue to thrive.  Each person will still be devoted to religion.  The false theologies and philosophies, the cults, and the sectarian assemblies with their particular peculiarities will always have plenty of undiscerning adherents.  But true faith in God will not be found as readily and as often.  The kingdom of the true God will always be a minority among the world’s population.  But don’t think that people won’t have their excuses on the Last Day!  God’s grace is evident so that no one can claim ignorance and get let off the hook.  The decree has gone forth to all this world’s inhabitants.  Pardon has come through a Savior by means of His great and personal sacrifice, through a fellow brother who is also God in the flesh.

When ignored, it is ever more clearly and actively proclaimed until His flock is safely gathered in.  On Judgment Day each will be asked, “How did you treat God’s message of Law and Grace, pardon and peace, which was proclaimed to you in My name?”

For dramatic effect… Excuse No. 1 – I never recognized it.  At the time I thought I heard a greater calling; and everyone seemed to be doing the same.  I was “one of the guys.”  I thought I read somewhere in the Bible, ‘eat, drink, and be merry,’ and it seemed natural to follow my heart’s desire and my life’s ambitions.  My parents dutifully dropped me off for Sunday School when I was a child, but I grew up knowing from their example that religion was something mostly for children and old people and we could include it in our lives if it fit.  I intended to become religious when I retired.  How was I to know that you’d call me before my time?  Otherwise, I lived a fairly decent life…

From the throne boomed forth this Word – “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Excuse No. 2 – I was a Christian once.  I grew up in a very strict church.  They told me to do whatever the Bible said.  This was OK until I couldn’t keep that lifestyle secret anymore.  I couldn’t do what my friends did… no matter how much fun it appeared to be.  I saw this religion make enemies of friends and strangers within families.  Where was the love?  Where was the tolerance?  Didn’t they realize we are only human… we all make mistakes?  When I saw that no matter how faithful I tried to be, I did sad and sinful things.  Some called me a hypocrite, others made fun of my faith, others just said things behind my back.  I chucked it all when I couldn’t take the pressure any longer.  I didn’t like sticking out like a sore thumb!  So, I just dropped out!

From the judgment throne – “Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There there is much weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  “Everyone to whom much is given, from him much shall be required!”

Excuse No. 3 – I’m sorry I’m here.  I don’t mean to bother you.  I just don’t have the time right now, but if we can make an appointment for later… maybe we can work something out.  I would have gone to church, but it seemed as if something always came up. Sometimes work, sometimes the kids were sick, sometimes we just needed to rest from the previous frantic week. Is it somehow a sin to do what is necessary to seal and secure the welfare of my family?  Look. Life is difficult… I went through some tough times! I AM taking classes now to improve myself!  Well, maybe we can get together at some other time… but I assure you, we’ll get together then.

From the mouth of the Lord – “Today, is the day of salvation… O you fool! Your soul is required of you.” What good are these things now? “You have laid up for yourself treasures and are not rich toward God.”  Off you go into everlasting punishment.  “Assuredly, I say to you I do not know you!”

What’s missing in these three examples is trust in God’s mercy and a focus on the love of Jesus.  There is too much self and not enough of God!

Example No. 4 – Standing afar off, he would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

From the throne of our Savior – “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  For by grace are you saved through faith… “your faith has saved you!”

We all have seen those who have felt free, when feasible and expedient, to use to one’s advantage to use excuses thought valid by many, but clearly condemned by God.  We have followed too closely at times the prince of this world and not the Lord of Glory, the Prince of life and peace!  For this reason, we deserve to be condemned… but approaching His throne in humility, for Jesus’ sake we are not condemned but gathered to His bosom.

We have followed the wide path to destruction because that was the line everyone else was standing in and it was the easier way.  And when life as a Christian compromised the easy life or brought with it trials and mistreatment, we, by nature, follow the path of least resistance.

For this reason, we deserve to be condemned, but through the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God in whom we believe, we are not rejected!

We have gotten ourselves preoccupied with this world and its existence along with its varied and numerous choices.  We have pursued our ambitions with little to no time reserved for our Lord or His life-giving Word.

For this we deserve to be condemned.  We should cry out, “Be merciful to me, a sinner!”  And for the sake of Christ our Savior we go home justified today!  We have been pardoned through the cross and the blood that was shed there!  We are viewed from the throne of God as NOT GUILTY! Not because of who or what we are or ever have been, but because of what Jesus has done for the world and therefore for us which we claim as our very own!

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world… to condemn you, for God is greater than your grieving heart and the vicious accusations of the devil.  The Son has come to rescue us from certain damnation!

So, then, what about the fruit that is expected in the life of the redeemed? It is present again by God’s work and through the power of the Spirit!  A saved heart, true faith, and a zeal for doing good and godly things go hand in hand, “for I was hungry, and you gave me food.  I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was sick or in prison, and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You like this and do this for You?

And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did this to the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me!”

It’s true, God’s Word works wonders in our lives; through it faith blossoms, it saves us by pointing us in all things to our Savior, Jesus, it strengthens us for the battles ahead, it comforts us in our lowest moments, and it changes our minds for the better.  God has prepared in us fertile soil, ready and receptive to what He is giving. Just as the Scriptures note, “and still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown!”  Such a result is in every way to the glory of our God!

The Lord has done some awfully wonderful things in our life and through our life for Jesus’ sake… what could possibly be of greater importance than to rest and rely on Him in any need and at any time?

Amen.