2026 Pentecost Devotions I
Saturday, July 11
Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
“… When anyone hears the word of the kingdom …”
Interestingly, all of the folks “heard” the word of the kingdom yet only one responded. According to the parable, it’s the one who “understood”. All the others simply heard but didn’t grasp its meaning well enough to stay focused. So what is it about the word that we are to understand?
According to Jesus’ words in the context of Matthew 13 – the verses between the telling of the parable and its explanation (vss 9-18) – it is because the people have grown dull. They hear but don’t listen; they perceive but don’t understand. In other words, the teaching of our Lord is going in one ear and out the other. They’re not taking the word to heart.
Perhaps that’s what Jesus means when he says three of the four who heard the word didn’t understand. They never took what they heard and made it their own. They never internalized Jesus’ words and thus never recognized him as the Messiah, the deliverer and redeemer. They never received him as Lord and Savior.
Today, we hear a lot about the word of the Lord. Everybody seems to be quoting Scripture to rationalize their thoughts and actions. However, very few seem to take what Jesus says about loving God and loving neighbor to heart. Instead, like three of the four, the word has no root in them. To them, they’re just empty words.
Prayer: Lord, may your word take in root in me such that love of You and love of neighbor become my highest and best purpose. Amen.