Central Truth

You'll never see until you acknowledge your blindness. You'll never be exalted until you humble yourself. Seeds won't grow where the soil isn't good. And faith isn't needed until your heart is like that of a little child, willing to trust your Father.

---

Reflections

I've heard it said that Jesus taught in parables so that the people could understand his simple everyday life examples. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus said so Himself: just read it! He knows they aren't getting it, and He knows why they aren't getting it, and He is even saying so, right here in the very first parable!

The reason worldly people so often don't get Jesus (and understandably don't get us who follow Jesus) is because they haven't been given the gift of the 'secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven.' They can receive this gift, just as we have received it, and their eyes can be opened, revealing their need for Jesus. All that is required is the ability to become like a little child...'for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children' (Matt 19:14, NLT). The reason Jesus uses children as examples is because of the trust that little children have for their parents. If our parent tells us something, we believe it. If we are scared when we are little children, who do we run to? It is our mother or daddy! Why? Because we know they are safe and they will help us! Even when things don't turn out the way we want after we run to your parent, they still love us. Or at least that is the way it should work.

Faith is the same way. When we are born again and when we turn our lives over to Jesus, that seed is sown. Our eyes are opened to the truth of God's Word. The parables make sense to us. In this story, we would have stood at the waters edge enlightened! Most of the rest of the crowd stood there saying, 'Huh?'

So Jesus is teaching an important point here about the soil of the heart. But really it is important to note that first He's saying that we can't even get to that meaning, or anything else he wants to teach us, until we take the blinders off.

Are you still standing there saying, 'Huh'?

---

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever been in a class and didn't understand a concept being taught, but didn't raise your hand to ask a question? What prevented you from asking for help or clarification?

2. In this scripture Jesus is describing several types of soil. Carefully consider the various types: the path, the rocky, the thorny, the good. Now consider your own heart for a moment. What is the soil of your heart looking like these days? What needs to be done to tend it and cultivate it?

3. Jesus' disciples often had questions for Him. When did they ask him questions? Was it in front of the crowd or in private? Have you had a private conversation with Jesus today about the questions you have that are bugging you?

---