August 13 Daily Devotional

Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8

Jesus was the greatest teacher and preacher that ever lived. In his teaching and preaching he often used parables. Parables are short stories which he told to illustrate the truths of the gospel. He compared spiritual and heavenly things to the things of this visible world. He was going about through the cities and villages preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God. Before a great multitude he spoke the following parable: “A sower went out to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns: and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And others fell into good ground, and sprang up, and brought forth fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear!”

And his disciples asked Jesus what this parable might be. And he said, “The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their heart, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while they believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among the thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

“Another parable spake he unto them, The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”