Daily Writing

Saturday, 13 September 2025

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. Matthew 13:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And others, it fell upon the thorns, and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus described how the seed that fell on the rock-like areas scorched and withered. He now turns to another category, saying, “And others, it fell upon the thorns.”

Thorns in Israel are about as bad as they get. They are everywhere, and they come in a seemingly unlimited number of torturous varieties. When God cursed the earth and said that it would produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18), it seems He was specifically highlighting this promised curse in the land of Israel.

Everyone listening would understand His words. The sower is out spreading seed. As he does, some of it falls on the uncleared area where thorns had not been fully removed through burning or tilling. They may not be evident if the tops were burned off, but the roots remained because they weren’t in the main part of the field that was fully tilled and cleared.

Leaving thorns around a field can have a positive purpose, such as keeping out unwanted creatures, but once the seed falls into such an area, there is no going back and picking it out. It is there for the duration. Once cast there, Jesus says, “and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them.”

Like dominant plants in any area, those that are hardiest will overcome those that are not. Thorns don’t need much water to thrive. They get started early, and when the rains come, they are already prepared to speedily grow beyond whatever else is in the soil. As such, the grain cannot compete against the thorns, and they become choked out, never reaching maturity. Vincent’s Word Studies notes the words of Ovid that closely match Jesus’ words of these past verses –

“Now the too ardent sun, vow furious showers,
With baleful stars and bitter winds combine
The crop to ravage; while the greedy fowl
Snatch the strewn seeds; and grass with stubborn roots,
And thorn and darnel plague the ripening grain.”
Metamorphoses

Life application: If you go to Israel on a vacation, business trip, tour, or whatever, be sure to have long pants and appropriate shoes if you plan on going for walks in the fields or mountains.

There are thornbushes, thistles, scratchy weeds, etc., all over the place. One can have a jillion lacerations after a short walk through an area that was not cleared. Many of these look innocuous until you step into them. Once you do, it is painful just trying to back out.

This is true throughout the world. The curse that was pronounced at the beginning has continued to be proven true throughout human history. In Israel, a land that is still being reclaimed after two thousand years of inactivity due to the curses of the law being brought to bear against the people for rejecting Jesus, every hill that remains unoccupied bears a reminder of the curse.

Slowly, Israel is subduing these areas and rebuilding towns and villages in the wilderness. Where they haven’t, the walk may appear beautiful and an exciting challenge when viewed from a distance, but once you get into the area, you may find yourself wishing you had gone to Tahiti or even to North Korea… anywhere but the painful hill you are walking on.

So be careful if you go. If you remember to avoid such pitfalls, you should probably have a great adventure as you enjoy the land where Jesus walked.

Lord God, it will be really great when we are given a new place to set our feet, one without thorns, thistles, poison ivy, and harmful critters. Violating one law brought about all of this and so much more. But we know that through the grace of Jesus Christ, what we will experience will be more wonderful than we can imagine. Thank You for this sure hope we possess. Amen.

Friday, 12 September 2025

But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. Matthew 13:6

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And sun, having risen, it scorched, and through not having root, it desiccated” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the seed that fell on the rock-like area. When it did, it sprang up quickly. However, He now says, “And sun, having risen, it scorched.”

A new word, kaumatizó, to burn or scorch, is seen. It is derived from the noun kauma, a burn. That, in turn, is derived from kaió, to set on fire or to light, as in lighting a lamp. In the case of the seed, it doesn’t catch on fire, but rather heats, scorching it. With this occurring, Jesus next says, “and through not having root, it desiccated.”

Another new word, xérainó, to desiccate, is seen. It is derived from the adjective xéros, dry or withered. The seed has no root in the ground to protect itself. Instead, the root lay exposed along with the shoot. Once the dew or whatever other water is absorbed, there is no source left to continue to keep the shoot fresh, and the entire seed desiccates and withers away.

Life application: Even before reading Jesus’ explanation of this seed, we can contemplate what this would be like if it were a human instead of a seed.

If a person goes into the desert with only a certain amount of water, he will need to get more or he will also wither and die. If there are stores along the way, they can be likened to water supplies for keeping him alive. If not, there may be cactus that can be used to hydrate with.

Knowing where water sources can be found is essential in such a place. It is why desert dwellers can survive. The aborigines in Australia are able to live in the harshest conditions imaginable because they understand the layout of the land, accessing the minuscule water sources to stay alive.

Spiritually, things are no different. The word is equated to water in Ephesians 5:26, where Paul speaks of the washing of water by the word. It is the source of becoming connected to God. Suppose a person hears the gospel, believes, and is saved. At that moment, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit as stated in Ephesians 1:13, 14.

However, that is a note of eternal salvation more than anything. It is not a note of remaining close to God during our earthly walk. In other words, the sealing of the Spirit regenerates us into a state of eternal life. We will never lack this again. However, without the word after salvation, our spiritual walk in this life will dry up.

We cannot progress in our understanding of God without knowing Him as He has revealed Himself in His word. And so, without reading and applying the word to our lives, we will, like a seed without water, dry up in our spiritual lives. Peter speaks of this type of thing in 2 Peter 1:2-9.

A person who doesn’t pursue the things the Bible lays out, even if saved, will eventually forget that he was saved at all. God doesn’t, thankfully, but our lives in Christ while here in this life will be desiccated and lacking any cognitive connection to God without staying connected to Him and growing more like Him as we emulate who He is as described in His word.

Obviously, some people cannot read, and so this continued growth can come through church attendance, Bible lessons, etc. But these things need to be in accord with the word. Be sure to stay close to the word. It will tell you of the wonderful workings of God, how to live in a manner pleasing to Him, etc.

It’s important! Be sure to drink in the word each day.

O God, help us to renew ourselves daily as we engage with Your word. May we not neglect this. We heard the gospel and were saved. But we must remind ourselves of this as well. Give us the desire to grow in You and to be closer to You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 11 September 2025

Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. Matthew 13:5

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And others, it fell upon the rock-like, where it had not much earth, and immediately it out-rose through not having soil depth” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued His parable concerning the sower and his seed, noting that some seed fell on the road, explaining that the birds came and devoured them. He next tells of what happens to some of the other seed, saying, “And others, it fell upon the rock-like, where it had not much earth.”

A new adjective, petródés, is introduced. It is derived from petra, a rock or mass of rocks, and eidos, a view as in a form, appearance, shape, etc. As such, it is a place appearing rocky. In this case, it would be a rocky area, but not everything rock-like is actually rocky, such as a wall painted like rocks.

In this case, it may be an area where stones that have been tilled up are tossed, heaping up in a pile. It also might be an outcropping of rocks that abuts the tillable land. Whatever the situation, the sower, while tossing out his seed, inadvertently has some land on this rocky area. When he does, Jesus next says, “and immediately it out-rose.”

A second new word, exanatelló, is used. It is derived from ek, out or from, and anatelló, to rise or spring up. The seed feels the warmth of the sun, and the rock may have had dew settle on it, spurring the seed to germinate and begin to rise. There is a problem with this, though. Jesus notes what it is, saying, “through not having soil depth.”

A third new word, bathos, deep or a depth, is introduced. Some etymologists place this word as the origin of our modern word bath. Others say that it is derived from a Germanic word. Either way, the seed has no soil to cover it. Jesus will explain the result of those seeds’ germination in the coming verse.

Life application: The parable of the sower is given based on something almost every person there would fully understand. The society was mostly agrarian. There are those who had other professions, but even those people would be at least familiar with what happened when a seed landed on a rocky spot.

In other words, Jesus is dealing with the people in a manner they would be able to comprehend if they thought the matter through. They may not understand the spiritual application He intended, but at least they would know what was being conveyed concerning seeds.

His speech was plain and directed to them without a lot of nonessential extras. This is just how we should speak to people about the gospel. God has made it extremely simple to understand. So much so is this the case that little children can hear it and be saved. People who are mentally challenged can comprehend it and call on Christ.

And more, it is universal in its ability to convert. It is not limited to some cultures, a “western” mindset, skin color, age, education level, or any other dividing factor. God is perfect and holy, and man is fallen and separate from God because of sin. In this state, he is condemned.

However, God sent Jesus to live the perfect life that we cannot. He was crucified for our sins according to Scripture. He was buried. He rose again on the third day according to Scripture. This is the gospel, the good news, that saves a person when he believes. Nothing else is needed, and its effects are eternal.

Tell this message to a little child who just got caught stealing a cookie, and he will get it. Tell it to a prostitute who wants to be freed from the life she is living, and she will get it. Tell it to a doctor or a scientist, and he will understand the meaning.

The message will be understood. The issue isn’t whether a person will hear and understand. It is whether a person will hear and believe. All God wants for His gospel to effect salvation is for the hearer to accept the premise, admit that they have sinned, and believe that God has accomplished what is necessary to bring about restoration.

How simple the message is, and yet how difficult it is for some to believe. And more, people may hear the message and reject it today, but hear it again tomorrow and believe. So keep on giving the simple message of salvation to those who need to hear it.

Glorious God Almighty, with all the wisdom You possess and with all the knowledge in the universe held by You, when it comes to saving humanity, You made the message so simple. There is no need to search high or low, or north or south. Rather, it is right with us when it is spoken in our ears. May we be responsible enough to share it with those who so desperately need You. Amen.

Wednesday, 10 September 2025

And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Matthew 13:4

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And in his sowing, some, indeed, it fell near the road, and it came, the birds, and it devoured them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus began His first parable concerning sowing seed while sitting in the boat. Continuing that parable now, He says, “And in his sowing, some, indeed, it fell near the road.”

The word hodos signifies a road of any kind. It can be a highway, a traveling route, a path, etc. It is also used to signify one’s journey at times, with the road being stated as the trip itself. It is also used to speak of a person’s conduct. We do the same thing when we say something like, “This is not a good path you are on.”

In this case, it refers to either a main road which passes through fields to the right and left, or it could refer to foot paths that are between fields on the sides of a main road, providing access to the various fields in a district.

Either way, as the farmer goes out, he reaches into his bag, pulls out a handful of seed, and casts it towards the furrows that were plowed for the next planting. Without a precise aim for each kernel, some of them will miss their intended target.

Of the grain that misses, some of it will fall near the road or path. Because it is in the open, Jesus continues, saying, “and it came, the birds, and it devoured them.”

Some texts amend the first verb to a plural reading. Unless both verbs are plural, that change makes no sense. Rather, the singular verbs mixed with the plural “birds” is probably referring to a flock, speaking both of the individuals and them collectively.

Regardless of this, the point is that the seed lay exposed on a flat, trodden area. It was clearly visible to the birds as they passed by and easy to pick up and devour. This word, katesthió, to devour, is new. The word kata intensifies esthíō, to eat. As such, the birds hungrily devour the seed, it being easy prey.

As Jesus will explain this parable to the disciples, an analysis of His explanation will come at that time.

Life application: Without getting to Jesus’ explanation, we can still think about what may be presented there from a general standpoint. What is it about separation in an open area that makes things an easy target?

One of them is that there is little effort needed to identify or lay hold of something like that. If you have a mob of people beating someone up, there is so much commotion that the eyes won’t focus on any single person. But if one of the people smacking the poor fellow gets tired and takes a break to watch others beat him up, he may step outside of the crowd.

With his hands all bloodied from the pounding, he obviously participated in the pummeling. And yet, he is now in an open and exposed place, standing motionless. The girlfriend of the guy getting wailed on has a chance to look at him, remember what he looks like, and file that away for later identification.

This simple example extends to anything that is alone, motionless, and exposed. A shovel full of dirt may have diamonds in it, but they are not exposed. That same shovel full of dirt might be put into an agitator to help separate the contents, but as long as it remains in motion, only glimpses of any diamonds will be seen. When the diamonds pass into a trough carrying only diamonds, a single diamond will not be discernible from the others.

All three of these traits need to be available for a diamond to be easily identifiable. Once it is alone, not in motion, and exposed, the quality of the diamond will be easier to determine. This is why filling a job requires checking out each candidate individually.

Think about Jesus’ approach to identifying the state of the seed He describes in this example. If you are alone, idle, and exposed, you are an easy target for a foe. Think of fish balls in the ocean. They cluster when a predatory fish is around, swirling as one in a ball. The same is true with swallows in the air, forming what is known as a murmuration. Be sure to check fish balls and murmurations out on YouTube. They are amazing to see.

But why do they do this? It is because the predators are far less likely to catch prey in such a commotion. Now, think about how you can protect yourself in a spiritual manner based on this simple principle.

“Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Glorious God, give us wisdom to keep safe from the enemy that is working against us. Help us to be on the lookout, prepared for his attacks, and capable of overcoming them when he does. Your word tells us how to do these things. So give us the wisdom to pick it up and read it. Amen.

Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. Matthew 13:3

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He spoke to them, many in parables, saying, ‘You behold! He went out, ‘the sowing’ to sow’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus got into a boat and sat while the multitudes stood on the shore. Next, Matthew records, “And He spoke to them, many in parables.”

There is a new word in Scripture, parabole, a parable. It is derived from para, near, and ballo, to cast. Thus, it signifies to throw alongside. Therefore, it signifies to liken or compare. Using a parable, then, is to state something in a way that is comparable to something else.

Of parables, HELPS Word Studies says they are “a teaching aid cast alongside the truth being taught. This casts additional light by using an arresting or familiar analogy, (which is often fictitious or metaphorical, but not necessarily).” The Topical Lexicon says –

“Fifty times in the Greek New Testament, the word clusters around the ministry of Jesus Christ and appears twice in Hebrews. A parable is more than an illustrative story; it is a spiritual gem embedded in earthy language, inviting faith‐filled listeners to dig for meaning while veiling truth from the hard-hearted.”

As can be seen, the importance of this literary device is not to be underestimated. Jesus will convey truths through these simple but also deep teachings to inform God’s people. They are words to guide them in understanding the workings of God in redemptive history. Understanding this, He begins His first parable of Matthew, “saying, ‘You behold! He went out, ‘the sowing’ to sow.’”

In the Greek, the locative verb (he went out) is first, laying stress on the act. After that, the one who went out is then described as “the sowing.” The meaning is, a person who is set to sow in the fields. The implication is that the ground has been cleared and plowed. Thus, it is ready to receive the seed that will become the next crop.

Life application:  Jesus’ parables are given to make a comparison between two separate things that have a common application. Those separate things are the natural world in which life takes place for humanity, or at least is understood by humanity, and the spiritual realm in which God’s workings take place.

This spiritual realm can be worked out in various ways, such as human reaction to something that occurs, angels working behind the scenes to accomplish tasks, Jesus the Messiah fulfilling His ministry or guiding the effects of His ministry, the working of the Spirit of God, etc.

The fact that a parable is used to describe spiritual things by using common earthly/human events shows that the two concepts are not disparate at all. Rather, when a topic is chosen, such as a sower sowing seed, there will be something in the spiritual realm that somehow mirrors what is going on there.

With only a few words of the parable revealed so far, we can consider what it means for a sower to sow. As noted, there is a person going out from one place to another. At the time of Jesus’ incarnation, He did just that. A sower will sow when the ground is prepared for receiving grain. The time of the law, the word of the prophets, the span of Israel’s existence, and so forth, all were used to prepare the people for His coming.

A sower will obviously have seed to sow. There is a spiritual dynamic of sowing that will take place, intended to bring about a result. Seed, zera in Hebrew, is that which is used to bear more fruit like the one it came from. The word is from zara, to sow (with the implication of producing), exactly what the sower is there to do.

A sower’s seed will be in a bag. The seed will have been kept safely away from things that could harm it until it is ready to be sown. At the time of Jesus, a sower scattered his seed by hand, the symbol of authority and power. The seed will be cast by the action of the arm. The arm, zeroa, speaks of power and exertion but also of effective reach.

Notice the intimate connection between the three words. The basic verb zara (to sow) leads to the nouns zera, seed, and zeroa, arm (for scattering seed). Jesus is beginning His first parable with a thought that goes back to the first page of Scripture, where seed is noted several times, beginning with these words –

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields (zara) seed (zera), and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed (zera) is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so.” Genesis 1:11

The next time seed is mentioned after Genesis 1 is in Genesis 3 –

“So the Lord God said to the serpent:
‘Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
¹⁵ And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed (zera) and her Seed (zera);
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.’” Genesis 3:14, 15

As all seed reproduces after its own kind, what will this Seed of the woman be? There is a physical reality being spoken of to reveal corresponding spiritual truths. Pay attention to what Jesus is saying in His parables. Think about what Scripture says about things as you open the word each day. God is telling us a story of what He is doing in a world that He created for us to understand Him and His ways, and all of it is centered on what He is doing through Jesus Christ.

Lord God, give us wisdom and understanding in Your word. May our pursuit of it bear much fruit in our lives as we seek out the details of this wonderful story of redemption and restoration. Thank You for Your word that tells us of Jesus, and thank You for Jesus, our great Lord and Savior. Amen.