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.