Wed.'s Devo - Parables by the Sea

Read Matt. 13
By the Sea of Galilee was the setting for Jesus' parables. Matt. 13 was preached from a ship in the sea. Jesus always spoke to the people about the kingdom of God in parables. When his disciples asked him why he spoke to the people in parables but told them the meaning; he told them it was only for the masses to know the mysteries of the kingdom because God had chosen to give this to them. The people had natural eyes but they couldn't see spiritually. But when he gives you eyes to see spiritually and you use them then he multiplies that ability. In his parables he explains the kinds of people he is talking about. The first one hears the truth but has no understanding so he looses what he heard. The second one hears it and is excited till the trials of life happen and he gets bitter toward God and gives up. The third hears the Word and he is so distracted by life and getting ahead down here that he loses it also. But the forth is the good soil, the hungry heart, that receives the Word and he lets it become his food. He lives it and shares it with others. He produces much fruit.
Every parable is about the Word going forth and producing disciples which was a mystery to them. This meant that the Jews weren't just in the kingdom because they were Jews and it also meant that the Gentiles had the same rights to the kingdom. This was pretty blasphemous to the Scribes and Pharisees.
The Devil has the same plan and throws his seed into the lot, but in the end his seed will be burned in the fire of Hell.
Lord, I am always praying this but I believe it is your heart: Give us eyes to see and a heart to understand your mysteries and may we produce much fruit.