February 11, 2016

DON'T CHOKE

Matthew 13:1–23

Danay Robinson
Thursday's Devo

February 11, 2016

Thursday's Devo

February 11, 2016

Central Truth

There are things that will block the fruitful entry of His truth into your life. Avoid them.  

Key Verse | Matthew 13:22

"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22)

Matthew 13:1–23

The Parable of the Sower

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, 1 13:9 Some manuscripts add here and in verse 43 to hear let him hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

15  For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 2 13:21 Or stumbles 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Footnotes

[1] 13:9 Some manuscripts add here and in verse 43 to hear
[2] 13:21 Or stumbles

Dive Deeper | Matthew 13:1–23

In this passage, Jesus shares a parable, states why He speaks in parables, and then explains the parable. In His explanation, He describes in metaphor four illustrations of people who hear the word, which is the gospel, or truth: (1) when truth is quickly snatched away by the evil one before it can take root; (2) when truth falls away over time when trouble arises; (3) when truth is choked by cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches; and (4) when truth is heard, understood, rooted, and over time bears much fruit. I think we've all been witness to each of these in our lives—people who hear truth and quickly turn away, those who are lured for a time by truth but dissolve, and those who are completely, eternally transformed by it.

What caught my heart was the third man—the one who had the word choked out of his life. Knowing how sweet truth is, it makes me pause when “simple” things such as worry, the deceit of riches, and the desire for other things (Mark 4:19) can sneak in and rob us of the joys of His truth. Every word Jesus speaks is a learning opportunity for all of His disciples, including you and me. So what should our reaction be when Jesus the Teacher speaks of worry, a practice most of us partake in that chokes truth of its fruitfulness?

Let’s think about this. When a mother is reading a book and her son runs in screaming, “Mom! Your other son is choking!,” she never responds with, “That’s nice, sweetie. Go tell your father.” Not ever. Why? Because the word choke requires a response. She rushes to the choking son and does what she needs to do to clear his air passage so that he can breathe. That’s the reaction we must have when Jesus said the word choke. We must respond immediately and equip ourselves with knowledge of how to do the spiritual Heimlich Maneuver so that the vital passage for truth in our lives is never blocked.

Discussion Questions

1. When Jesus speaks of these four soils, with which one do you identify the most?

2. Are the foundational truths of Christ being choked by your thoughts that are not being held captive and brought back to truth?

3. We are all subject to falling into the sin of worry and making an idol out of riches. What are some ways you can avoid going down this path?