Before we look at some verses in Matthew 13, I want to share two Scriptures with you. Hosea 6:3a (from KJV, AMPC and AMP) and Joshua 1:8 (from AMPC):
Hosea 6:3a Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: KJV
Hosea 6:3a Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. AMPC
Hosea 6:3a “So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the]Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. AMP
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMPC
I have shared both of these portions of Scripture many times on this blog because they are both powerful and essential to our continual growth in the Word of God. We WILL know the Word IF and WHEN we decide to pursue that knowledge! We must make a determined purpose to know the Word because the Word of God was designed by God Himself to only be illuminated to those who truly love and pursue it! Now let's look at Matthew 13:10-16:
10 Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables? 11 And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. 14 In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation’s heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them. 16 But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.
Now realize that Jesus was speaking to Jewish people who lived under the Old Covenant! The disciples followed Jesus by their own free will! They understood more than the people who simply followed after Jesus to see what He would do. But, even those people had the ability to know IF they desired to know! Simeon was an Old Testament believer, but He knew and recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he saw Him as an infant (Luke 2:25-35)! We, who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour are completely without excuse as we have the Spirit of God, the Teacher, living inside of us, making learning and understanding the Word SO much easier than those who came before! In verses 18-23, Jesus explains the different "soil" that affects the understanding of the Word. I desire to have soil that will produce great fruit! You and I are the ones responsible for the condition of the soil of our hearts! Make sure that you are maintaining a grateful and thankful heart, that you are staying filled with the Spirit of God, that you spend time daily in praise and worship, that you spend time in intimate fellowship with Him, that you also fellowship with like-minded believers, that you are receiving from the ministry gifts (Ephesians 4), that you meditate on the Word you hear and that you are putting it into practice. Does this sound like a lot to do? Well, how important IS it to you to know the Word of God! Only YOU can determine that for yourself! My prayer is that it becomes as VITAL for you as breathing! THEN you will know the Truth and that Truth will set you free (John 8:31-32)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":
Shalom in Him!
