What is the work that Jesus has for us? While I don't have my reference books with me, Jesus does want us to work. Why else would he talk about this? What kind of work? Jesus mentions in Matthew about the workers for the harvest.
Paul says of himself and the fellow apostles that they are God's fellow workers in 1 Co 3:9. Fellowship implies togetherness; so Paul is writing here that he is working together with God. What work does God do? Well, he makes things grow. Because Paul says, So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are anything, but God, who makes things grow. So then, the work that we are to do can really be thought of as working in the field. What is needed for farming? Well, first, there needs to be a field. The earth is that field. What comes next? Someone needs to till the ground, to prepare it for seed. Then someone needs to actually plant the seed. That, I believe, is the first thing that we as humans do. Someone needs to water the seed, to help it grow. But God is the one that makes things grow. The seed is the word. The word is Jesus. Someone needs to plant and someone needs to water. Satan can come to take the seed before it takes root and weeds can grow up to choke the plant.
So, an analysis of the different types of seed:
The seed on the path:
- hears but does not understand
- evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart
- as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them
- The seed sown in rocky places:
- receive the word with joy when they hear, but have no root
- believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away
- at once receive it with joy, but with no root, last only a short time
- hears the word, but worries of this life and deceitfulness of wealth choke
- made unfruitful
- hear, but as they go on their way are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures
- do not mature
- hear the word, but worries of life, deceitfulness of wealth, desire for other things choke the word
- made unfruitful
Seed sown on good soil:
- hears the word and understands it
- stands for those with a noble and good heart
- hear the word and retain it
- hear and accept the word
- produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times
- by persevering produce a crop
- produce a crop- thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown
mt 13 3 When 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. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receive it with joy. But since he has no root, he last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The 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. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hers the word and understands it. he produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.
lk 8 11 The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good hear, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
mk 4 3 some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown in rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept, and produce a crop- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.
So, then, what are we to do with this? I believe that if this is in the bible, than it is important. Are we supposed to know what types of soil different people can be? The bible does say that the heart is deceitful. If we do not know our own heart, then how can we proclaim to know the hearts of others?
So, we know that there is a field, that God makes the field, and that God prepares the field. We know that someone goes out to plant, and that others water. But it is God that makes things grow. What happens after? Well, there is a parable that Jesus tells of what happens. A landowner planted good seed in his field. But later, weeds sprouted up with the wheat. His tenants asked him, sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? His reply was, 'an enemy did this.' do you want us to go and pull them up? No, because in doing so you may pull up the wheat with the weeds. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters, tie weeds in bundles to be burned, then gather the wheat into my barn.'
As Peter says, "Now that y ou have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1Pe1:22 How can we do this? This must be faith combined with good works.
As Ephesians says, it is by grace we have been saved, through faith, and this not of ourselves, it is the gift of God so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ jesus to go good works, which he prepared in advance for us to do.
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