Four Kinds of Hearers Part 1 | Matthew 13:18-23

Scripture

• Matthew 13:18–23

About this sermon

Introduction: What can we expect — until our Lord returns — when it comes to the ministry of the Word of God? As we preach the King and His Kingdom. As we declare the good news of how one comes to know the King, and to enter His kingdom, what kinds of responses will we meet with? That is what our Lord is teaching His disciples. Remember, He is unveiling truths about the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, that the Jewish people did not understand. Namely, truths that have to do with the rejection of the king, but the outworking of God’s saving plan. Our Lord’s teaching has to do with the word of the kingdom as that plan is fulfilled. This is important for self-examination — what kind of a hearer am I? This is important for ministry expectations — what will we meet with as the Word of God is declared? In both cases, what we are examining is how the Word of God operates during this age in which the citizens of the future earthly kingdom of Messiah, and the present spiritual kingdom, are being gathered in. Matthew Henry put it simply and well when he said: “(1.) The seed sown is the word of God, here called the word of the kingdom (v. 19): the kingdom of heaven… The gospel comes from that kingdom, and conducts to that kingdom; the word of the gospel is the word of the kingdom; it is the word of the King, and where that is, there is power; it is a law, by which we must be ruled and governed. This word is the seed sown, which seems a dead, dry thing, but all the product is virtually in it. It is incorruptible seed (1 Pet. i. 23); it is the gospel that brings forth fruit in souls, Col. i. 5, 6.” ESV 1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ESV Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing-- as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, We said last time that when we come to this 13th chapter in Matthew’s gospel account, we meet with an important change. Our Lord is now teaching the crowds with parables (vs.3, 10, 34). His own disciples recognize the difference (vs.10). His public instruction is veiled. His private instruction is unveiled. It is when His disciples come to Him for the explanations of His parables, He makes the meanings plain. Verses 10-17 make clear what is happening. Jesus is teaching in a way that indicates judgment upon those who are refusing their king. Jesus is teaching in a way that indicates grace upon those to whom grace has been given. We must not to underestimate the judgment element of the parables. Most of us are now very familiar with these parables. We read them with their explanations already in our minds. But sitting on a beach, listening to the Lord’s teaching as He has sat down in a boat, hearing these stories for the very first time, you would have no understanding of the spiritual application unless Jesus gives it to you. As we noted last time, it is a serious warning for us even to this day. WHEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF GOD’S WORD — EMBRACE IT. ALL OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT EQUAL. SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITY IS NOT FOREVER (Hebrews 3:7-19). SO, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD IN THIS LOST AND DYING WORLD UNTIL JESUS COMES, REALIZE THAT WE WILL MEET WITH FOUR KINDS OF HEARERS. We will meet with four kinds of responses to the Word of the kingdom. Four kinds of hearers. What we receive here is simple, but very important. • THE HEARER WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND (vs.18-19) The first kind of hearer Jesus tells us about is a CARELESS hearer. Before we look at what He says concerning that kind of hearer, first notice what He says to His own disciples. Our Lord begins by reminding His disciples of the responsibility imparted by the grace of God. “Blessed are your eyes … your ears …” (vs.16-17). You have been brought into the reality of what generations of godly people have longed for.” HEAR THEN (that is an imperative). In the Greek text, fronted in the sentence, is Ὑμεῖς (2nd person plural personal pronoun) (YOU, therefore, LISTEN). And I just want to remind us that having received the Word of God by the grace God imparts the responsibility to go on HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. Do you zealously attend to the Word knowing that God has granted you access to that word? HAVING THE WORD SHOULD INCREASE HUNGER FOR THE WORD! But the first kind of person being described DOESN’T have that hunger. • THEY HEAR BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND συνίημι — “to have an intelligent grasp of someth. that challenges one’s thinking or practice, understand, comprehend τὶ someth”.