The "Rocky Ground" Disciples Matthew 13:5-6; 20-21

Matthew 13 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root...20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

•   Key Thought: Just hearing the Word will not make you spiritually strong. The Word must be planted and rooted deep within your heart. 

I was greeted after the worship service by a man who was so excited. The Word had entered into his soul and he wanted to join the kingdom. He wanted to know how to join and get involved in the ministry of the church. After some discussion we agreed to meet on Saturday that week. 

He came to the first meeting and six months later, he was ready to publicly join the church. He was a dedicated member for a year. He was serving in various ministries and committees. However, something happened. His marriage came to a test and without any warning; he gave up his spiritual journey for something else. How could this on fire Christian suddenly change course?

He and others like him are "Rocky Ground" Christians. They hear the Word, receive the Word immediately, their souls appears to be joyful, but they last only a little while. Why? Because the Word never really penetrated their hearts deeply. 

In some parts of Palestine lying right beneath the ground is a layer of limestone. When seed fall upon this ground, something dramatic happens. The limestone holds the rain and heat from the sunlight right under the surface; therefore, the fallen seed sprouts quickly and dramatically. But, it has no root. (TPOSB, Matthew Vol. 1, p. 291)

Jesus describes this soil as he teaches us about "rocky ground" growth for certain disciples. A sermon is preached or a Bible lesson is taught or a ministry gesture hits home. The gospel is received with great passion and joy. There seems to be spiritual growth. Then a test of faith or life comes. The "rocky ground" believer has no root and just gives up quickly. The faith growth that had a good beginning has a sad ending. 

The Law/Gospel approach is needed to correct this event. The use of the Law acts as a pickaxe to dig deep into the heart so that the Word of God can penetrate further. As the Law sinks deeper into the heart, the realization of sinfulness focuses on our shame and a better understanding of God's love. It is the Gospel that truly makes us to repent and be rooted in Christ. 

Questions:

1. Is faith or feeling the keynote of the gospel? (Romans 5:1)

2. How has life tests affected your faith?

3. How are "rocky ground" believers better than "on the path" disciples? (Mattew 13:4; 19)

Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

Luke 6:49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

The “On the Path” Disciples Matthew 13:4; 19

Matthew 13: 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up… 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

           

·      Key Thought: Some listen but do not really listen.

Who are the “On the Path” Disciples? These are believers who hear and listen to the Word of God but they are not really hearing or listening. They hear and listen but do not understand. These people attend worship services and Bible studies. The Word has fallen upon them and around them. Some have been baptized and confirmed. Yet, their hearts, minds, and souls are hard and closed. Their thoughts are not on God’s Word but are elsewhere. These disciples faith is easily taken away or given up.

Recently, I met a woman who discovered that I was a minister. She told me that she was no longer a believer because of the recent lost of her son in a tragic accident. She could no longer believe that there is a loving God anywhere. Her faith was not deep seated in the heart. She had an “on the surface of the heart” faith.

There have been other occasions when people ask me to help them with a problem. They read the Holy Scriptures but do not understand the Word.

There are at least four reasons why some believers are “On the Path” disciples:

1.     Rebellion. They rebel because of some tragedy or some circumstance and they blame God.

2.     They do not watch and pray. They do not consider the gospel important enough to merit their attention. In their minds, other things need their attention more than the gospel.

3.     They are careless in handling the gospel. They treat the gospel as an item, an additive, a part of life instead of life itself. When needed and when time is available, the gospel is acceptable. Their attitude is that the gospel has its place, but it is not the permeating factor of life that so many make it.

4.     They are deceived. What matters to them is attendance, being present in worship services and associating with other Christians. A change of heart and life is meaningless. Religion to them is a matter of form and ceremony, not life.

Acts 28:27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Proverbs 29:1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

Questions:

1.     When was the last time you “tuned out” a speaker?

2.     Have you been tempted lately to give up on your faith?

3.     How well do you hear and listen to the Word of God?

4.     What one action could you do this week to improve the way you listen to God’s Word?

Warning: The devil goes to church and bible study. He is there to make us inattentive and distracted. He is there to taint our confessions and beliefs. Every time we are around the Word, there is an attempt by the evil one to stop it from taking root.

Hebrews 2:1f We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Discipleship According To the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 1-9; 18-23

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)