Matthew 13:20 Then HE told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
[New International translation]
Summary
JESUS spoke and taught in parables. HE used simple stories to illustrate a spiritual or moral lesson.
The “parable of the sower” is one of the parables used by JESUS to illustrate a number of points. JESUS explains this parable in the later verses of Matthew 13. The various scatterings of seed represent various scenarios that can occur when a person hears the Good News (i.e. Gospel of JESUS CHRIST). For example:
- The hard path where some of the seeds fell represents the heart of a person who hears the Gospel about the Kingdom of Heaven and doesn’t understand it; then Satan (i.e., the evil one) comes and snatches away the seeds from his heart. (Verses18-19)
- The shallow, rock soil represents the heart of a man who hears the message and receives it with real joy, but he doesn’t have much depth in his life, and the seeds don’t root very deeply, and after a while when trouble comes, or persecution begins because of his beliefs, his enthusiasm fades, and he drops out. (Verses 20-22)
- The ground covered with thistles represents a man who hears the message, but the cares of this life and his longing for money (i.e., the deceitfulness of wealth) choke out GOD’s Word, and he does less and less for GOD. (Verses 22)
- The good ground presents the heart of a man who listens to the message and understands it and goes out and brings thirty, sixty, or even hundred others into the Kingdom. (Verse 23)
Each one of these illustrations is worth studying in detail. Each one is worth meditating. Each one is worth praying about. Each one is worth asking, as the disciples asked at the Passover meal, “LORD is it I.” (Matthew 26:22) Am I that one? “Or, was I that one yesterday?”
Some of us may even ask ourselves if the church that I attend is the kind of “soil” that makes it easy for someone to “hear” the Gospel? Are we a “hard” soil church? Are we a “thistle” church, “tripping others up with protocol or “pointy comments” that hurt the heart. Or, are we good, nurturing soil church, ready to provide the nutrients for those “thirsty for THE WORD?”
Instead of examining “the church,” some may turn inward, for a self-examination, much as you might do on Communion Sunday. (See 1Corinthians 11:28.) Some may ask: “Am I a “prickly person?” Am I open to suggestions or do I always “take the hard line?” “Am I nurturing, helpful and doing things to advance the Kingdom of GOD?” Or, do I treat others like “unwelcome immigrants”--- am I always ready to close the “Kingdom of GOD” borders?
Obviously, there are a number of ways to receive a message, to hear or listen to a message, to be a message or to lay the “ground work” for the message and THE MESSENGER.
The Meat Message
On Monday, October 26, 2015 an international panel of cancer experts with the World Health Organization (WHO) made an important announcement about red meat, processed meat and cancer risk. Processed meats are bacon, cold cuts, ham, hot dogs, salami, bologna, corn beef, canned meat, jerky, sausage, including those in meat based sauces. They are generally meats that have been cured, had added salt or preservatives added to them to extend their “shelf life” or change the taste. Red meats include: beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat. After pouring over more than 800 research reports, the cancer experts with the World Health Organization made a statement.
According to WebMD, this group has been making statements since the 1970’s, classifying various substances, from chemicals in foods to particles in air pollution. Substances are classified in 5 tiers:
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- Group 1: Carcinogenic -- causes cancer
- Group 2A: Probably causes cancer
- Group 2B: Possibly causes cancer
- Group 3: Can’t tell -- not enough evidence
- Group 4: Doesn’t cause cancer
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organizations, processed meat is in Group 1 and red meat is in Group 2A. Processed meats are now in the top tier with tobacco and asbestos. See, “Meat and Cancer, What’s The Risk?” by Brenda Goodman, MA, reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 26, 2015; www.webmd.com/food-recipes/20151026/meat-cancer-risk.
WebMD notes that processed meats “have long been linked” to certain cancers of the digestive tract, especially colorectal and stomach cancers. As one scientist put it, this is really nothing new. The fact that the World Health Organization is saying it just gives the connection between processed meat and cancer, “more weight.” Id. It also helps spread the message.
It was reported that “50 grams of processed meat per day, less than 2 slices of bacon [or the amount of meat equivalent to an average size hot dog], increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%.” However, there were no specific guidelines regarding red meat consumption. Wed MD notes that while the WHO has made no specific red meat guidelines, the WHO reported that a person’s cancer risk will rise the more they eat.
WebMD notes that The American Cancer Society recommended that if meat is still on your menu, you should bake, broil or poach it instead of frying or charcoaling. They also recommend eating more healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.
Like other cancer reports involving money making industries, the WHO report will be debated, others will question the conclusions, or point to other studies. It will be noted that the risk of process meats is much lower that the risk of smoking. [For example, one study pointed out that the risk of smoking a single daily cigarette increased a person’s risk of lung cancer by 200%-400%, far lower than the processed meat cancer risk] Id.
The real question will be what will you do with the message?
Deal with the message and THE MESSENGER
Some messages have been around a long time:
-Love GOD and love your neighbor as yourself;
-Eat fruits and vegetables
-Exercise daily;
-Reduce stress;
-Don’t smoke;
-Limit your sugar intake;
-Stay connected to a community;
-And, other messages.
Matthew 11:15 states: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The Living Bible’s translation is: “If ever you were willing to listen, listen now!”
Today, pray for a listening heart. Today, listen to THE MASTER, THE MESSENGER.
Hear THE WORD, deal with the message and BE BLESSED!
