1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9He who has ears, let him hear."
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For 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.'
16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Reflection
Reading this passage and especially the last verse about yeast makes me recall what I find out about yeast many years ago shortly after I become Christian. Pastors, Bible Studies Leaders whom I met have been teaching me and others that yeast represent evils as many bible verses said they are evil. When I told some of them, I found out that yeast are not necessary evil, they were surprised. They did not know it. I also told some of my friends about it, they also did not know about it. I explained to them. If you do not understand why yeast are not evil, let me explain. In this verse “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough”, this is referring to small yeast that can make dough grow many fold. This is good growth that becomes bread and feed many people. This is also referring to one’s faith to be like yeast that grows, saving many lives and growing God’s kingdom. Hope you can understand.
In a way I can identify that even though I was young in my faith, yet I can understand God’s word which others didn’t know about. A small seed that grows. Christ Unite ministry was started shortly after I become Christian is because of this reason to share my knowledge and findings to others as I find some pastors, church leaders and my Christian friends couldn’t answer my questions.
With this note, I like to share that I have just created 70 Bible Studies courses which you can sign up and study with me. I hope to be able to meet you online wherever you are and minister to you. You can find the courses at this link https://christunite.org/biblestudiestrainingcourses/
Prayer
Dearest Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ & Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me this gift to be able to hear, see and understand your word. You have been telling me to feed your sheep for many years, I am sorry I didn’t go to seminary to become a pastor. To understand your word doesn’t require to be certified with Masters or Doctorate studies. You are the one that teaches me. Remember that you have picked Peter and John who are not educated to become your disciples, apostles. What they had learned from you, they shared your word with others. They have spread many seeds and grow. Let me be like Peter and John. May I be able to sow many good seeds and they will grow, producing many folds of good fruits.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
