Jesus tells another parable: A man went out and sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds in the field as well. When the wheat sprouted up, so did the weeds.

The man’s servants asked him why there were weeds in the field where he sowed good seed. The man replied that it was his enemy who did this.

His servants asked him if he wanted them to pull up the weeds. The man said no because it was possible that some of the wheat would be pulled up with it. He said at harvest time he will have his harvesters gather up the weeds first in bundles to be burned, and then all the wheat that is harvested can be stored in his barn.

Jesus is going to later explain to His disciples what the meaning of this parable is. However, I think it’s safe to say up front that we want to be wheat. We want to belong to Jesus…not to the enemy. The question is…who have you been representing in your life? Because if the answer is not clearly Jesus…there is only one other option according to this parable. Pursue Jesus in all things today…

The same day, Jesus went and sat by the lake. The crowds became so great that He had to get in a boat and begin teaching them from the boat as they stood on the shore. He told them a parable. He said a farmer went out to sow some seed. Some fell along the path, and the birds ate it. Some fell on rocky places, and because they had no root they sprang you fast but were scorched by the sun. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, which produced a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. He who has ears let them hear.

The disciples asked Jesus why He was speaking in parables.

Jesus replied that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to them, but not everyone else. Whoever does not have this knowledge, it will just be taken from them. He also quoted Isaiah 6:9-10 as a reason:

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

Isaiah 6:9-10

Jesus said blessed are your eyes and ears because they see and hear. Many prophets and righteous people long for this.

Jesus then explains His parable: The seed is the message about the kingdom of heaven. Some people hear but do not understand and Satan takes it from them…this is the seed that fell on the path. Some people hear the word and receive it with joy, but when trouble and persecution come they fall away…this is the seed that fell on rocky places. Others hear the word, but the worries of life and the temptations of life come and swallow them up…this is the seed that fell among the thorns. Still others hear the word, and produce a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown…this is the seed that feel on good soil.

What’s interesting to me is that we aren’t the seed represented here…we are the destination of the seed. The seed never changes…the Gospel never changes. It is the same for every person. The problem is where are we at in life? Do we allow God’s word to grow in us so that we can be disciple-makers…or are we constantly finding ourselves among the rocks and thorns? Be aware of the life you are living…understand that in order for the Gospel to grow within you, you have to give it good soil to do so. A good way of seeing what kind of soil you have provided for the Gospel in your life is simple…are you producing a crop? If not…then the Word has not yet taken root in you.

While Jesus was still speaking, His mother and brothers showed up outside wanting to talk to Him. Someone came to Him and told them that they were outside wanting to speak to Him.

Jesus’ response is to ask who His mother and brothers are. He then turns to His disciples and says that they are His brothers. In fact, He says that anyone who follows the will of His Father in Heaven are considered His family.

Jesus was not disowning His own mother and brothers here. He was simply using this as an opportunity to speak to His disciples and the crowd who was gathered that anyone who is obedient to God is included in the family of God. Are you part of the family of God? If you don’t know what it means to become part of the family of God don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The reality of it is…we all want to be part of that family. The question is…who is willing to be obedient?

Some of the Pharisees that were there told Jesus that they want to see a sign.

Jesus’ response is to say that a wicked generation wants a sign! The only sign given to them is that of the prophet Jonah. Because as Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the earth for three days and three nights. The people of Nineveh will stand at judgment and condemn this generation because as Jonah preached they repented. This generation has someone greater than Jonah and Solomon and will not listen.

Jesus continues by saying as an evil spirit is driven out it just goes around with nowhere else to go. It finally decides to go back to the person it was cast from, but it seems cleaned up and swept out. So the spirit will bring seven other spirits and they will occupy the person again. This time, leaving the condition of the person worse than it was before. Jesus says this is how this generation will be.

Jesus gives them the ultimate sign. He tells them what will come. He compares His death, burial, and resurrection to Jonah being in the fish. However, to me the comparison that is more significant here is comparing this generation to those of Nineveh. He’s trying to tell the crowd that they need to recognize who speaks before them and repent as Nineveh did. Sometimes we also need to recognize what we have been choosing to follow and listen to. Jesus’ message is to repent and turn to Him. So let’s do just that…repent today and turn back to Him.

They brought a demon-possessed man to Jesus who was also blind and mute. Jesus heals him, and the people begin questioning if he might be the Son of David.

The Pharisees, hearing what the people were saying, spoke up and said that Jesus was only able to drive out demons by Beelzubul, the prince of demons.

Jesus of course knew their thoughts, and responded by saying that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan were to drive out Satan, his kingdom cannot stand. In the same way, if Jesus were to drive out demons by Beelzubul, by whom then do their people drive them out? But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Jesus continued by saying that you wouldn’t enter a strong man’s home to steal from him without first tying up the strong man.

Jesus says that whoever is not with Him is against Him. Every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Make a tree good and it’s fruit will be good, make it bad and it’s fruit will be bad. How can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the mouth speaks what is in your heart. Every good man will bring up the good stories in his heart, and every evil man will bring up the evil stored in his heart. You will be judged by your words…your words will either acquit you or condemn you.

There is a lot to unpack here. Jesus sort of pours it on the Pharisees here. He basically tells them that how you speak, and what you speak comes from your heart. By our words could come blasphemy which will not be forgiven. I believe through this passage we are being encouraged to examine our hearts. What have we stored up? Hate, judgment, criticism, and pride…or goodness, forgiveness, humility, and love? What we store up will always come out. Who are you striving to be today? Restock your heart today with what is good.

Aware that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him, Jesus left the synagogue. A large crowd followed Him and He continued to heal those who were sick. He warned them not to tell anyone about it. This was to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah wrote:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Isaiah 42:1-4

Jesus knew they were plotting to kill Him, but His main mission was covered in the prophecy He brought light to. His mission was to save our souls…and His love for us is proven time and time again through this effort. Jesus literally had high ranking, important people, plotting to kill Him…and the only thing He was focused on was His sacrificial mission to save us from our sins. Jesus is worth every breath we take…every thought we have…every word we speak…every action we make. Give Him praise today.

Jesus continued on through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry so they began to pick some heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees approach Jesus to make sure He knew that what His disciples were doing on the Sabbath was unlawful. (This was considered work)

Jesus answered them by reminding them of a time when their forefather David and his companions ate of the consecrated bread because they were hungry…which is also unlawful. He then says something greater than the temple is here and He quotes from Hosea as He proclaims that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath:

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

Hosea 6:6

As they left the grain fields He entered their synagogue where the Pharisees tried to catch Him in sin. There was a man with a shriveled hand, and they asked Him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.

He responded by saying if any of them had a sheep to fall into a pit they would lift it out. He says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

Jesus then had the man stretch out his shriveled hand and Jesus restored it. The Pharisees went out from there, however, plotting how they might kill Jesus.

We can get so caught up in the legalism and tradition that we end up failing to see the power of God at work. When we are so focused on the checklist, we miss the divine. God wants us to be obedient…but Jesus makes it known that He is greater than law and tradition. He says to love God and love others. How much of the power of God have we missed out on because we were too caught up in tradition? Let God rule your heart today.

Jesus continues speaking and He says that He gives praise to the Father because He has hidden these things from the wise and educated, and revealed them to little children and this is what pleases Him.

Jesus continues by explaining that all things have been committed to Him by His Father. No one can know the Son and not the Father, and no one can know the Father and not the Son. Here Jesus was basically saying that they were one in the same. Jesus was given authority from the Father…they are both God.

He continues by saying to come to Him all who are burdened and He will give them rest. Take His yoke for He is gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest. For His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

In this passage, Jesus is revealing to the people standing there that He is the Son of God. In fact, He was given all authority from the Father. They can seek Him and find rest from their struggles, their temptations, their weaknesses. Sometimes those burdens can get to be too much…Jesus says compared to those His burden is light. Do you need rest from the struggles and trials of this world? Seek Jesus…find rest in Him today.

Jesus begins denouncing some of the towns He had performed miracles in because they did not repent. He said woe to you Chorazin and Bathsaida! He compares them to Tyre and Sidon and says if the miracles He has performed for them would’ve been done in these two towns they would live repented. He then says it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at judgment than it will be for them. He also speaks of Capernaum, and the fact that they will go down to Hades. He compares them to Sodom and said if the miracles He performed had been done in Sodom, they would remain today. It will be more bearable for Sodom at judgment than it will be for Capernaum.

The whole focus here is repentance. Jesus could say the same to us. He died for us and yet we, at times, fail to repent. It’s important to Jesus that we turn from our wicked ways, our life of sin, and live solely for Him. When is the last time you examined yourself? Is repentance present? Is God pleased? Why? Why not?

After Jesus had finished instructing His disciples, He went into the towns preaching and teaching. At this point, John the Baptist was in prison. He heard about what Jesus was doing and sent his disciples to Jesus to find out if He was the One who is to come or if they should continue waiting for someone else.

Jesus’ response to them was to say that the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the lame can walk, the dead are raised, those with leprosy are healed, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on His account.

As John’s disciples left to bring him the message, Jesus turned to the crowd and asked what they went into the wilderness for. Was is a reed in the wind, a well-dressed man, or a prophet? Jesus says it was for someone greater than a prophet because John is the one written about:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty.”

Malachi 3:1

Jesus went on to say there has been no one greater born than John, and yet whoever is least is greater. Jesus proclaims that John is the Elijah who was to come.

John came neither eating nor drinking and he was called demon possessed. The Son of Man comes eating and drinking and He is called a drunk and a glutton. However, wisdom is proved right by her deeds.

This passage of scripture focuses on Jesus confirming who some questioned John may have been, and also who others think Jesus might be. Jesus is confirming that John is the Elijah that God promised, and He of course is the Son of Man. This was an important moment. God’s promise is being fulfilled right before their very eyes. Of course some wouldn’t believe…but that’s no different than today. God fulfilled His plan of redemption…and yet some do not believe. It’s up to us to share the truth…are you willing?