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THE THORNY GROUND (3)
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 5
Matthew 13:1-23

Memory Verse: Matthew 13:22

 

“…and the deceitfulness of riches,
choke the word,

and he becometh unfruitful.”

 

THE THORNY GROUND (3)
 
The third type of earth is the thorny ground. Why they did not remove the thorns before planting is not the issue. This was how the farmers sowed in Jesus’ time; hence, it is not about correcting sowing methods. Jesus used existing methods of sowing to teach spiritual truths. The seeds fell among thorns and grew side by side with the thorns. Both fought for a limited supply of nutrients from the earth and the seeds grew but did not bear any fruit when harvest came. Matthew 13:7: “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.”
 
Jesus explains the thorny ground in Matthew 13:22: “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” He also heard the Word of God like the way side and stony place hearers but is more similar to the stony place hearer, with the Word of God falling on him with a seemingly godly response. The difference was how they rejected the Word of God. In the case of the stony place hearer, the threat of persecution caused him to disobey. However, the thorny ground hearer disobeyed God’s Word because of the care of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. The care of the world may seem harmless, like parents providing for their children’s daily needs and education. They find their solution in riches because money solves the problem of not having enough for today and tomorrow. Does money solve the problem of lack? The answer is yes and no. It is yes because the problem of not having enough is solved with more money. It is no because the real problem is that at the end of one’s life, death awaits. No matter how much money a person has, he will die one day in his sin, and hell awaits him if he is not born again.
 
The thorny ground hearer is a more deadly and subtle enemy. To disobey God’s Word without realising it because of the busyness of making more money results in the fatal sin of delusion. He lives in sin while he thinks he is holy in Christ.
 
THOUGHT: Am I a Christian in name only?
PRAYER: Father, help me to be a genuine Christian within and without. Deliver me from the sin of ignorance and delusion.

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