The Kingdom Parables (Matthew 13:1-43) Reflection & Meditation
Reflection and Meditation on Matthew 13:1-23 & Matthew 13:24-43
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:1-23
The Sower is a person who sows (proclaims)
the seed (the word of God). This parable tells us about 4 different types of
persons who get to hear the word of God. The first person is compared to the
seed falling on the ‘path’. The second person is compared to the seed falling
on ‘rocky ground’. The third person is compared to the seed falling on ‘thorny
ground’. The fourth person is compared to the seed falling on ‘good soil’.
1. The ‘path’ is a person who gets to hear
the word of God. But due to lack of listening attentively he does not
understand what is spoken. Due to lack of interest he has not allowed the word
to enter inside him. The devil can easily divert his attention to other things
and thus steals the seed.
2. The ‘rocky ground’ is a person who has
listened attentively and allowed the word of God to enter him. But due to lack
of meditation the word has not taken deep root. When he tries to practice the
word he has to contend with peer pressure. He cannot endure the sarcasm and mocking
by others and is discouraged and gives up. For this person public recognition
is more important than recognition from God.
3. The ‘thorny ground’ is a person who has also
listened attentively and allowed the word of God to enter him. This person has
also done some meditation on the word. But he lacks the power that is received
through daily prayer. And when he tries to put the word into practice he
realizes that he has to give up many ways of getting pleasure (sexual
immorality, excessive entertainment, indulging in sinful activities etc). He
also realizes that he has to give up some of the ways of gaining wealth
(bribes, cheating, illegal activities etc). He cannot bear to endure such
losses and thus gives up. Love of pleasure and wealth act as thorns and choke
the love of God.
4. The ‘good soil’ is a person has listened
attentively and allowed the word of God to enter him. This person values the word
of God and treasures it. The word is kept fresh in the mind by regular meditation.
This person seeks the help of God to practice the word through daily prayer.
The love of God in him is greater than the love of worldly things.
However Jesus says that among the persons who
are ‘good soil’ all will not give the same results. Some will produce 100, some
60 and some 30. The results depend on the EFFORTS put in by each individual.
Greater the efforts greater will be the results.
Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
Matthew 13:24-43
Here the Wheat are the children of the kingdom
(believers in Jesus or the righteous) and the Weeds are the unbelievers
(unrepentant sinners). God gives enough opportunity to everyone to believe in
Jesus and change their ways. If God eliminates the evil doers the innocent will
also suffer. For example if the father in a family is eliminated for his evil
ways then the wife and children will also suffer even though they are innocent.
God uses the actions of the evil doers to test the faith of the believers. God
knows everything but testing makes us aware of the level of our faith. The good
ways of the believers will also convict the conscience of the evil doers and
can lead them to conversion. The suffering of the believers has salvific value
and can lead many sinners to Jesus. But at the end of time the two will be
permanently separated.
This post provides detailed easy to understand explanation of the parable of the sower and the parable of the weeds among the wheat.
