Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

I was a college professor for 30 years, helping Mississippi adults become positive contributors in their communities using the skills they learned in my classroom. I always felt a warm sense of respect when students addressed me as Mrs. Payton, Mrs. P., Professor, or ma’am, but when a student called me “Mama,” it was a home run. Although less formal than Mrs. Payton, “Mama” carried so much more respect for what I tried to accomplish in the classroom than being called anything else. With Mama, they were safe. With Mama, they were given my best. With Mama, I was fair, honest, and loving.

Jesus also was called by many names: Lord, Master, Messiah, but when his disciples called him “Rabbi,” Jewish for teacher, it summarized a relationship of intimacy and trust. The synagogue closed the doors to Jesus, so as an alternative, Jesus made his classroom in the open air of hillsides, streets, and today’s class was held on the shore (Matthew 13:53-58). In today’s reading, Jesus took the pulpit on Peter’s fishing boat in the waters of Lake Gennesaret, now called the Sea of Galilee. The calming sound of the tide was all around Him, and the restless growing crowd was in front of him (Matthew 13:1-9).

Typically, Jewish rabbis waited for a listener to pose a question and would craft their sermon around answering that question. Jesus followed a similar format in today’s reading. The disciples asked, “Why do you speak in parables?” To listeners, parables were just as complicated as their interpretation. Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand” (Matthew 13:10-18). Not everyone was called to understand the meaning of parables, just those who were chosen to receive the secrets of heaven.

Enduring Word commentary further explains, “In this sense, the parables of Jesus were not illustrations making difficult things clear to all. They presented God’s message so the spiritually sensitive could understand, but the hardened would merely hear a story without heaping up additional condemnation for rejecting God’s Word.”

On the boat, Jesus notes He was looking at future teachers of The Gospel and pioneers who would plant and nurture the growth of churches throughout Asia Minor. This was a feat that would take The Holy Spirit working alongside skilled educators of the Word. He tells them of the far-reaching responsibility that comes with being a teacher (Matthew 13:18-23). “And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

Sowers cast seeds of truth from The Word, and those seeds of truth would land on varying heart circumstances: rocky soil that represents the hardest places of life such as unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, and disillusionment; soil choked with weeds such as worry, mental and physical health challenges; and in ideal circumstances that produce growth, seeds will settle and take root in good soil that’s being fertilized daily by reading God’s Word.

Jesus finally asks the disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” to which the disciples responded “Yes.” Like handing a graduate their degree He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things that are new and fresh and things that are old and familiar.” Disciples are students first, and when they become teachers, in a very meaningful sense, these disciples are being taught deeper truths by Jesus (Matthew 13:10–11), and so are like "[scribes] trained for the kingdom of heaven." As such, the disciples' work would be to teach these truths to others (Matthew 28:19–20), both "old" and "new."

Reflection:

• Reflect on a past or current circumstance where you were required to make an adjustment because of receiving a fresh seed from The Word. Identify the condition of your heart. Did this new seed fall on rocky, thorny, or good soil? How can you cultivate a better heart condition for future seeds?
  
• Make intentional time with God by cultivating a heart condition on good soil. Consider a complete social media detox and fast from all social media platforms. Redeem the time spent on more spiritual pursuits.
• Prayer: Lord, I want my heart to be a fertile place for the seed of Your Word to grow strong and produce good fruit. Quicken my spirit to submit to Your work in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Family Application: Matthew 13

Author: Cooper Herrington

In this chapter, Jesus is teaching again. Jesus uses stories to teach. We call these stories Parables. One parable that Jesus used to teach was the parable of the mustard seed. A mustard seed is a very tiny seed, but when it grows it becomes a massive plant. Jesus said that the kingdom of Heaven is like this. Our small acts of love, generosity, service, or so many other small things turn into something big over time.

What is something small that you can do today that could make someone’s day better? How can you love someone like Jesus loves us?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for teaching us and teaching us through stories. God help me be like the mustard seed. Let me serve in small ways that will have a big impact on the people around me. Lord, let the people who do not know You and do not have a relationship with You come to know You. Amen.