MATTHEW 13:1-9
around his wealth and less and less centered around the things of God and His Word.
d. Wealth tends to misinterpret the blessings of God. It leads a person to the false idea and security that to have
is to be blessed by God, and not to have is to be blessed less by God. This is a false concept that has
prevailed since the beginning of time: that to receive and have anything in this world is a blessing from God,
and the more a person has, the more he is especially blessed. God has promised the necessities of life in this
material world, but His great blessings are spiritual (Mt.6:25-34).

Note: these four deceptions show clearly why it is so difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enter-
ing in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mk.4:19).
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful
lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim.6:9).
“Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall
eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days” (Jas.5:3).
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into
the kingdom of heaven” (Mt.19:23).
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim.6:7).
“The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his [God’s]
wrath” (Job 20:28).
“For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their
wealth to others” (Ps.49:10; cp. Eccl.2:18).
“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Pr.23:5).
“As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by
right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool” (Jer.17:11).

4
(13:8, 23) Fruit—Salvation: only a small number allowed the Word to take permanent root. A person who allows the
Word to take permanent root represents the honest and good heart (Lk.8:15). Christ says two things about him.
1. He hears the Word of God and understands it. His heart is soft and tender toward God, so he listens, meditates, con-
centrates, and thinks. He is not hypocritical, wasting his time and being present physically but absent mentally. He does not
allow his thoughts to wander off when the Word of God is being preached. He is responsible and behaves intelligently. He
listens to God’s Word, studies and receives it.
2. He is fruitful. He bears the fruit of God’s Word and Spirit in his own life (Gal.5:22-23). And he reproduces himself
by reaching out to lead others to a saving knowledge of the Lord.
Note that John 15 classifies fruit-bearing as “no fruit” (Jn.15:2), “fruit” (Jn.15:2), “more fruit” (Jn.15:2), and “much fruit”
(Jn.15:5, 8).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new” (2 Cor.5:17).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (Jn.12:24).
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn.15:5).
“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph.5:9).
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and
praise of God” (Ph.1:11).
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col.1:10).
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Ps.92:13-14).

Thought 1. God’s Word shall never return to Him void (Is.55:11). This is a glorious encouragement to the true mi-
nister and teacher of God.

Thought 2. Fruit is that which distinguishes the true believer from the hypocrite.

5
(13:8, 23) Fruit—Commitment: this is a shocking truth! Not all believers are equal. Some bear only 30 percent fruit;
some 60 percent fruit; and shockingly, only a very small number bear 100 percent fruit. Most are just not willing to give
100 percent of their energy, effort, strength, time, and possessions. There is not the willingness to pay the price—not within
most men.

6
(13:9) Decision: Christ issues a strong call, “Hear. The person who has ears to hear, let him hear” (v.9).

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Mt.7:21).

Thought 1. The ear has no greater purpose than to hear the message of God.
Return to Table of Contents
25
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38