A farmer went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn't deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they did not have any roots, they dried up. Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out. But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown (Mat 13.3-8).
Listen, then, to the parable about the farmer.
When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on the stony ground, this is the person who hears the word and accepts it joyfully at once, but since he doesn't have any root in himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls away. As for what was sown among the thorn bushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the word so that it can't produce a crop. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown (Mat 13.18-23)
“The path” are people who hear the gospel but refuse to believe. “The stony ground” are people who hear the gospel and quickly believe but denounce the faith when they face persecution or any hardship. “The bushes” are people who hear the gospel and believe, but do not obey it because of their desire for earthly riches and pleasures of life. These thorns choke the word of God in the heart of the believer such that it does not bear any fruit. Care for the things of the world and the desire for riches prevents them from bearing fruit.
The worldly-minded believer is preoccupied by many earthly concerns: self-image, “success”, reputation, property, money, social status, political power, marriage, kids, etc. The care for such things chokes the word of life. A worldly-minded Christian cannot bear fruit for God. The fruitless branch is burnt (Luke 13.6-9; John 15.1-2).
The Israelites in the deserts cried for the flesh pots of Egypt, the cucumbers and garlic which they could no longer find in the wilderness. Because of their carnality, they perished. Though we are in the world, our hearts should not be of the world. Christians should store up treasures in heaven so that their hearts can be in heaven. We get purses in heaven when we sell our earthly riches (Mat 19.21, Luke 12.33).
When the children of God left Egypt, they did not leave everything behind. They carried with them images, and memories of the “good” old days. This baggage made it difficult for them to withstand the trials in the wilderness. They grumbled and tested God in unbelief. As a result, their corpses fell in the desert. No adult of arm bearing age in the generation that left Egypt entered the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua.
When Moses initially left Egypt, he left everything behind. He considered the suffering of his brethren worthier than all the pleasures of Egypt. Without any regrets, he left his earthly princely glory, to qualify for a better spiritual one.
Christ Jesus hid his title, of Christ Messiah, accepting only its spiritual role than political. He revealed himself only to his disciples and the woman at the well.
Not all believers completely leave the world behind as they “journey to heaven”. They go on this spiritual journey, carrying with them the images and memories of the “good” old days of the world. They continue to have the mind and desires of the world. They want to fit God in their own ways rather than fit themselves in God’s ways.
To reach the promised land, we must lay aside all our worldly thoughts and put on the mind of Christ. Acknowledge the futility in our former way of thinking and humble ourselves before God to renew our mind. Do not let the cares of the Egypt (world) to cause you to create idolatrous images. The man who lays his hand on the plough and keeps looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God.
You do not come to Jesus so that you can enjoy the things of Egypt: job, wealth, promotion, political power, wife or husband or child, good house and good food etc. You come to Jesus for salvation from sin, sickness, death, the devil and nature. The Lord will daily meet our needs and no excess (wants). The Israelites were required to pick manna as they needed for each day and no more. Any excess got rotten. In the Lord’s prayer, we are to pray to the father for our daily bread.