Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Pentecost 7 | July 16, 2023 | Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (allusions to Isaiah 55, Psalm 65 and Romans 8) | Luther H. Thoresen |

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ 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. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

(Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, NIV)

Note 1: All quotes in the sermon are from the English Standard Version.

Note 2: This initial portion of this might be used as the basis for a Children’s message, and is marked off by parentheses. It is set up as a “Biblical Simulation” of the story/parable in the reading. You may have seen this done as part of Bible Camp ministry, or congregational youth ministry. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the “usual” sermon, or inserted at a later time in the sermon. This might utilize adults and youth whenever it is utilized.

(“Good morning. This morning I need helpers as we begin. We are going to “act out” part of the scripture for today…but you don’t need to speak any lines. I’ll be providing them from the scripture.” [Now the pastor arranges which youth might become the sower, the seed on the path, the bird/s, the seed in the rocks, the seed in the thorns, the thorns, the seed on good soil. Now the pastor “directs” the action as the parable is re- read or told by the pastor, and allowing time for the “action” to happen with some creative expression allowed by youth.] “Well done. Thank you for presenting the text in this way. Let’s pause a moment and ask, ‘What do you remember from this story?’ [take time for conversation] ‘Were there places where you felt happy or sad or mad or whatever? What were they?’ [take time for conversation] Thank you. Later in the Gospel reading, Jesus explained the parable. So, let’s act it out again like before with Jesus’ explanation.” [Now the youth probably know the locations and basic action, so the pastor can read/tell the explanation of Jesus as it is acted.] “Thank you. After this time, ‘What do you remember from Jesus’ explanation?’ ‘Were there times you were sad, happy or mad?’ I appreciate your help in presenting and thinking about Jesus’ story. I’ll be talking more about it in the sermon. For now, let’s pray: God, thank you. Thank you for this story. Thank you for your word that gives us life now and eternally because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Thank you for your word that brings about good things in our lives and in the lives of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

When farmers in the Midwest are going to plant corn or soybeans in the spring, it is quite a process. A production it is. Some farmers do quite a bit of soil preparation, some have adopted minimum tillage and some plant with “no till.” Some have cover crops to manage, some do not. Sometimes, machines place fertilizer on fields guided by GPS before the planting. Seed from a seed company was ordered months earlier. This seed would be appropriate for the length of the growing season, usual climate, pesticides or herbicides that may be used, and maybe soil type. Once it’s time to plant, seed is loaded in a planter or drill. The seed is placed in the ground, often also guided by GPS (so the seed is placed in the same location as the fertilizer). The planters may also

adjust the number of seeds planted in various parts of the fields based on soil tests that determine how many plants different soils might support. Altogether, the farmer wants to

• Get the seed just right;
• Get the soil just right;
• Get the planting population and depth of seed in the ground just right;
• Get the fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides just right.All of this to maximize the likelihood of a high yield, of maximum bushels of crop per acre of land. I mention all of this, NOT to make fun of contemporary agriculture, but to highlight how different it is from 100 or 500 or 2000 years ago. The agricultural world of Jesus was very different from today.

  You heard references to the common practices in Jesus’ day in the parable. I’ll note some of them in passing. I think I have understood historical practices correctly. We heard that a sower went out to sow. That is, the seed, probably wheat or barley, was broadcast on the field – cast by hand as someone walked to and fro on the field. Some fell here, some there – on a path, in the rocks, among thorns or on good soil. The field was plowed, maybe once before casting the seed, and probably once (again) after casting the seed. However, this was a very simple plow that did not turn the soil over. This plough only broke the soil open to bring nutrients to the surface, and allow water in. Ploughs were not made of metal until the early 1700’s and ones that turn the soil over were not invented until later in the 1700’s. So the ones in Jesus’ day were probably made of wood and pulled by a team of oxen. Rocks were often found while ploughing (like today), and then rolled to the edge of the field. Thorns grew wherever their seeds landed when distributed by birds or the wind, or attached to animal fur or people’s clothes. So, one didn’t always know where the path, the rocks, the thorns or the good soil would be until well after the seed was broadcast. Yet, a harvest was produced – in the parable of 100 or 60 or 30 fold (that is 100 or 60 or 30 times as many seeds were harvested as those that were tossed out). This was a good harvest in ancient times…maybe within the people’s experience, or just beyond it. Good regardless.

  Then, as now, we might say “the harvest is in God’s hands.” Whether in Jesus’ day or in 2023

• without seed produced last year – there is no harvest;
• without the soil of God’s good creation – there is no harvest;
• without the needed amount of rain – there is no harvest;
• without the needed amount of sunshine – there is no harvest.This may lead us to wonder and awe and more. There is plenty of awe and wonder in Psalm 65 that we shared today! There was awe and wonder in the whole of creation, and there was awe and wonder in the harvest! In the Gospel today, we may also be in awe and wonder of the harvest which overcame the obstacles of path and birds, of rocks and of thorns. Yet, we might equally be in awe and wonder as Jesus explains the

parable. The “word of the kingdom” is the seed that God sows among all people. God’s word has produced a harvest in history, and will produce a harvest in the present! God’s word has borne fruit in history and will bear fruit in the present – in your lives individually, and in your life together as the people of this congregation.

We can trust God’s word because of God’s faithfulness in the past.

• At the creation of all things, God said things like, “Let there be light,” and there was light;
• When God’s people were in bondage in Egypt, God said, “Let my people go” and though it took 10 plagues, God’s people were free to go through the sea into the wilderness on their way to the promised land;
• When God’s people were rebellious…and rebellious…and rebellious, God said through the prophets, “I am going to send for…King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon…and the whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 25:9a, 11) and so it happened;
• After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God said to the captive people through Isaiah, “You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace…” (Isaiah 55:12a) and “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth…I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert…” (Isaiah 43:19) and so it happened – the people came home;
• At the right time God sent for his Son, God said, “Jesus” and Mary conceived the Child, Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and was raised again!Gospel words do not return empty! In your Baptism, God said, “You are mine,” and so it is. In the Holy Communion, God says, “Here is Jesus’ body and life blood for the forgiveness of your sins, and for life eternal,” and so it is. In the hearing of the words of scripture – in worship, in personal devotion, in proclamation – the word is sown in your life and mine to bear fruit, and so it is. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” and so it is!

neighbor does.”

Now, may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen

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Pr. Luther H. Thoresen, ELCA, STS, retired thoresenluther54@gmail.com