Matthew 21:33-46 The Parable of the Tenants

Fruitfulness is God's expectation for my life. Jesus explains in a parable how God (master) gave every resource (a fenced vineyard with a tower and winepress) required to Israel (tenants) so that it could produce fruit. Unfortunately, when the prophets (servants) came to inspect and demand fruit, some were stoned and others killed. Finally, God sends Jesus Christ (the son) to them and they kill him (crucifixion). The vineyard has been taken away from them and given to other tenants (Gentiles) who will produce its fruits.

It is easy to focus on Israel's failure to produce, but I can fail the same way. Fruitfulness is an expectation, even a demand because God is the one who provides everything I need. All I have to do is work. I'm not talking about working for my salvation, but working out my salvation. I could develop the attitude of the first tenants and think that what God provided is mine and that I don't have to give an account to anyone. Failure to produce is not an option.

What kind of fruit does God expect from me? For starters, the fruits of the Spirit should be evident in my life. It is imperative that I take inventory of each one of them and ensure that they are produce in my vineyard: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How am I doing? There is certainly a lot of room to grow. The trend is encouraging, but I can't be lazy or careless. I must continue to work. Gardeners know this better than most: A good harvest requires much work and care.

The fruit of my vineyard should be filled with good deeds also. God has prepared many good deeds for me to do. Helping those in need. Serving the local church. Providing for those who suffer. All these are good works designed for me to do and I must not shy away from them. Ultimately, what good is faith if there are no works. Part of the good works I must accomplish is evangelism. To be a witness for the kingdom so it can expand and grow. Every soul that comes into the kingdom becomes a precious fruit of my labors.

Lord, give me diligence and watchfulness to work in your vineyard. Don't let me become a bum who produces no fruit. May there be abundant fruit in my life day by day. Strengthen me to work; encourage me to persevere; fill me with hope.

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 The Parable of the Weeds

Kingdom business is difficult because I have a king who is righteous and demands righteousness from all his servants (me included), yet I know I am flawed, imperfect due to my sinful nature. Doing business in the kingdom demands that we deal with one another's sins. The disciplines of confession, repentance, and forgiveness are a must in order to succeed in our service. People who have difficulty exercising or refuse to exercise any of these disciplines don't understand the kingdom of God at all.

Now let's add to the personal sinfulness of each servant in the kingdom the fact that we serve in an evil world. There are other people in the world who do not care for the kingdom at all. These are the sons of the evil one. Jesus explains in his Parable of the Weeds that there is a work of the enemy in the world; people who reject and even persecute God's servants.  When asked about uprooting the weeds, Jesus is against it lest the wheat is uprooted along with the weeds. Kingdom business is not about leading a crusade to eliminate infidels. It is about enduring the hatred and persecution of those infidels with the love that God can only give until the end of the age.

Moreover, I can't avoid the thought that if we have weeds in the field (the world), there are some trying to infiltrate the ranks of the faithful in the local church. There is plenty of warning in the Scriptures against false teachers who set themselves against the teaching of the apostles and silently slip into the congregation to spread their teachings. Jesus' teaching to let the wheat and the weeds grow together applies to the world, but not to the church. The counsel of the apostles is that we must keep on eye on these wolves and keep them from harming the flock by whatever means: Membership classes, Supervision of the teachings, especially in Small Groups, and Church Discipline that includes excommunication.

Kingdom business is performed in a hostile environment. I may sit in a neat and tidy office, but spiritually I am in the depths of a battlefield. The battle is being waged on multiple fronts: relationships among brothers and sisters within the church, relationships with the world that surrounds us, and the dealings with wolves that step into the local church to harm it. How can I survive? The hope that Christ offers keeps me going. One day, I will shine like the sun in the kingdom of my Father.

Father, give me strength to stand firm until the end of times. Fill my heart with the hope of your return. Don't let my heart grow weary in the work of the harvest.

Matthew 13:1-23 The Parable of the Sower

The reason Jesus spoke in parables has to do with understanding. Understanding is not only the ability to process information, but the desire to comprehend it and the will to submit to it.  The scribes and Pharisees had no desire to make Jesus' teachings their own and much less the will to submit to them. They were following him to find a way to bring him down. Due to the figurative nature of a parable, if one is to understand it, one must take time to comprehend it to then submit to it. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus explains that lack of understanding is the curse for those who have set their hearts and wills against God's words.

The Parable of the Sower uses different types of soils to illustrate what it means to understand the word of God. Jesus uses four different kinds of soil: the soil along the path, the soil with rocks, the soil with thorns, and the good soil. The good soil is the only one that produces fruit according to its capacity or potential because it is the only one that understood the word of God. Understanding (head and heart; desire and will) the word of God results in fruitfulness in his kingdom to our potential. We could look at the other soils as illustrations of circumstances that prevent understanding in contrast with the good soil. 

The soil along the path is compact due to people walking over it. Good soil is loose. The word of God cannot penetrate such soil and the devil is quick to snatch it away. There are people who have hardened hearts caused by bad experiences in life. They have hardened their hearts as a means to protect themselves from the world, but they have closed themselves even to God's word; there is no understanding. Soil like this needs tilling before seed can be planted.

The rocky soil is the shallow soil because the rocks are in the way. Good soil is deep. The word of God springs up in shallow soil but when the storms of life come: tribulation or persecution, there are no roots to sustain it; it falls away; there is no understanding. These are people who may like the kingdom but are not willing to count the cost of following Jesus. They are not willing to carry their cross to follow. Soil like this needs to be cleared of the rocks first before seed can be planted.

The soil with thorns is the busy soil. Good soil is free. The word of God springs up in the busy soil but is quickly choked by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches; there is no understanding. These are people who are too busy working and making a living that they have no time for the kingdom. Their hearts are divided and cannot devote themselves solely to God. Soil like this needs to be cleared of the thorns before seed can be planted.

Father, till my heart, clear it of rocks, and uproot its thorns so that I may understand your word. Help me flourish and produce fruit a hundredfold in your kingdom for your glory and honor forever.