Grow Stronger Roots

Parables of Matthew: A Personal Reflection on Matthew 13:52

Continuing the Deep dive into the parables in the Book of Matthew.

When I first lingered over the words of Matthew 13:52, something in me stirred—something equal parts curiosity and conviction. The verse reads:

“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” — Matthew 13:52 (KJV)

I’ve read many parables, but this one feels different. It’s short, almost easy to overlook, yet it carries a depth that keeps unfolding the more I sit with it.

Seeing Myself as the Householder

As I meditate on this verse, I imagine myself as that “householder.” Christ paints a picture of someone who has a storeroom—an inner treasury—filled with both the old and the new. And the more I think about it, the more I realize how true this is of my own walk with God.

There are the old treasures:

Scriptures I’ve known since childhood
Lessons learned through trials
Moments when God proved Himself faithful

And then there are the new treasures:

Fresh insights from passages I’ve read a hundred times
Convictions that challenge my comfort
Unexpected encouragements that meet me right where I am

Christ seems to be saying that a disciple—especially one who teaches or shares truth—should draw from both. Not clinging only to the familiar, nor chasing only the novel, but weaving them together into a living testimony.

Learning as a Lifelong Calling

The phrase “instructed unto the kingdom of heaven” hits me hard. It reminds me that being a follower of Christ isn’t passive. It’s a continual apprenticeship. I’m not just storing information; I’m being shaped, trained, and transformed.

Sometimes I forget that. I slip into thinking I already know enough, or that the lessons I’ve learned in the past are sufficient. But this parable nudges me—gently, firmly—to keep learning, to keep seeking, to keep letting God expand the treasury of my heart.

Bringing Forth the Treasure

What really challenges me is the action in the parable: “bringeth forth.” The householder doesn’t hoard the treasure. He shares it.

That convicts me. How often do I keep quiet when I should speak? How often do I hide what God has taught me because I’m afraid it won’t be received well, or because I underestimate its value?

This parable reminds me that the treasures God has placed in me—old and new—aren’t meant to stay locked away. They’re meant to bless others.

A Living, Growing Faith

What I love most about this verse is how it captures the dynamic nature of faith. It honors the old without letting it become stale. It welcomes the new without discarding what came before.

In my own life, I’m learning to embrace that balance. To cherish the foundational truths that have anchored me for years, while also staying open to the fresh work God is doing in me today.

And maybe that’s the heart of this parable: A disciple of Christ is someone whose faith is both rooted and growing, both grounded and expanding—someone who treasures the whole journey.

Discovering the Path of Salvation books by Stephen Luckett

When the Net Comes In: A Personal Reflection on Matthew 13:47–50

Continuing our study of the Parables in Matthew.

I’ve always been drawn to the parables of Jesus, but Matthew 13:47–50 has a way of stopping me in my tracks every time I read it. Christ compares the kingdom of heaven to “a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind” (Matthew 13:47, KJV). As someone who often feels like I’m swimming through life’s currents—sometimes gracefully, sometimes frantically—this image hits close to home.

A Net Big Enough for Everyone

When I picture that great net sweeping through the waters, I’m reminded that God’s kingdom is wide, welcoming, and patient. The net doesn’t discriminate. It gathers “of every kind”—the broken, the proud, the humble, the wandering, the devoted. People like me on my best days, and people like me on my worst.

There’s something comforting in knowing that God’s reach extends far beyond what I can see or understand. Yet there’s also something sobering in what comes next.

The Sorting

Jesus goes on to say that when the net is full, the fishermen “sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away” (Matthew 13:48, KJV). I can almost feel the weight of that moment—the quiet, deliberate sorting. No chaos. No confusion. Just a final, righteous separation.

And then Christ explains the meaning plainly: “So shall it be at the end of the world” (Matthew 13:49, KJV). The angels will come. The wicked will be separated from the just. It’s one of those passages that refuses to let me stay comfortable. It calls me to examine my heart, my motives, my habits, my loyalties.

A Warning Wrapped in Mercy

The imagery becomes even more intense when Jesus describes the fate of those who reject God: they will be cast “into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50, KJV). It’s not a verse I can gloss over. It’s not meant to be.

But even in this warning, I sense mercy. Christ tells us the truth because He loves us. He reveals the end so we can choose differently in the present. The net hasn’t been drawn to shore yet. There is still time to turn, to repent, to cling to Him.

Living With the Net in Mind

When I meditate on this parable, I feel a renewed urgency—not a panicked fear, but a steady, reverent awareness. I want to live as someone who belongs in the vessels of the good. I want my life to reflect the grace that pulled me out of the deep in the first place.

And I want to remember that the net is still gathering. That means the people around me—family, friends, strangers, even those who frustrate me—are all swimming in the same waters of God’s mercy. My role isn’t to sort them. My role is to shine Christ’s light while there’s still time.

Closing Thoughts

Matthew 13:47–50 reminds me that the kingdom of heaven is both inclusive and holy. God casts His net wide, but He also calls us to transformation. The parable challenges me to live with eternity in view, to take Christ’s words seriously, and to let His grace shape who I am becoming.

Every time I read it, I feel the tug of that net again—firm, gentle, and full of purpose.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

Guest Post: Extraordinary/Extra Ordinary

This is a guest post from a dear brother in Christ: Harry Connor who gained his Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theologic Seminary. I will add my words at the end.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Matthew 2:11

Extraordinarily Ordinary

This week my Lutheran and Catholic friends at Saint Luke’s celebrated the visit of the Magi, The feast that celebrates the visit of the Magi (Wise Men) to the baby Jesus is the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, celebrated on January 6th, twelve days after Christmas. This Christian holiday commemorates the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, symbolized by the Magi’s arrival bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh

If you say, “yesterday was an extraordinary day,” you mean that something incredible happened. But if you say, “yesterday was an extra ordinary day,” you mean that it was even more normal and boring than usual. Just making one word into two gives the sentence an entirely opposite meaning.

Extraordinary events surrounded Magi’s visit to Bethlehem. But there were also a few extra ordinary things they discovered on their journey. An ancient prophecy and an extraordinary star led them to an extra ordinary little town called Bethlehem. The star stopped above what was probably an extra ordinary home. Inside, they found an extra ordinary looking Jewish couple with an ordinary-looking baby.

But the Magi saw past the child’s ordinary surroundings. They saw their Savior, who was going to give them a gift far more precious than the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they had just laid at his feet. That baby would give the gift of sins forgiven and eternal life. The wise men didn’t need to see a king in a palace surrounded by servants. They’d likely seen plenty of kings like that in their lifetimes. The Magi needed to see their Savior. That’s exactly what God led them to see.

It’s human nature to think we need more than what God has given. Maybe you’ve felt that attitude creep around in your heart. What God provides you in his Word might not seem like enough. You want him to do more for you. You want him to communicate more extraordinarily with you. Many are looking for that burning bush experience or the Road to Damascus experience.

But God chooses to use some extra ordinary looking ways to bring his good news to you. In the ordinary pages of the Bible, we see the Savior who proves his eternal kingship with a resurrection from the dead. By the Word we receive faith, as Paul said: Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. By the Word we see that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, By the Word we know we are the sons of God and co-heirs with Christ, By the Word we know that we have eternal life in Christ and can never be lost, we are kept by the Divine power of God. The Word of God is spoken; we hear it and know that Jesus has the power to forgive even the darkest sins. The means by which God extends his love to you look like ordinary things, but they work extraordinary results. Stay alert and watch and listen for the ways God is speaking to you.

My views:

First off, I believe Pastor Harry is absolutely on track with everything he states in the post., Although it did get me to thinking. (That was the point, right, to make us think?)

I have posted many times about our language use and how small changes can make huge impacts. Here he proves that the same two words have an opposite meaning depending on their usage in the spoken word (or written).

How often do we catch ourselves saying, “Wow, today was such a bad day,” or “This week is rough—I’ll be glad when it’s finally over”? We speak those words almost without thinking, but they shape far more than we realize.

I did exactly that last Thursday. I declared the day “bad,” and sure enough, everything that followed seemed to fall right in line with what I had spoken. The heaviness of that day didn’t just stay in Thursday—it spilled into Friday, and honestly, I was still carrying it with me this morning. It’s Saturday, and I woke up feeling the weight of days-old frustration.

Then I opened my messages and read this post that stopped me in my tracks. It was exactly what my heart needed. In that moment, my entire outlook shifted. Pastor Harry has been a mentor to me for years, even though we’re separated by thousands of miles. I know he didn’t write that message specifically for me, yet I have no doubt the Holy Spirit nudged him to share it—knowing that I would read it today, right when I needed a reset. For that, I’m deeply grateful. Thank you, Pastor Harry.

This reminded me of something simple but profound: the words we speak carry power. Not just the words we say to others, but especially the ones we whisper to ourselves. They can lift us up or weigh us down. They can open doors or close them. They can shape our day, our attitude, and ultimately our life.

Choose your words with care. Speak life, speak hope, speak truth—even to yourself. Your life truly rises and falls on the words you choose.

To God be the Glory for giving me what I need, as always!

Manifesting Miracles :Christian perspective on choosing your words and following the lead of the Holy Spirit.

The Hidden Treasure: Discovering the Kingdom in Everyday Life: Matthew 13:44

Continuing in the Gospel of Matthew Parables

There’s a single verse in the Bible that has captivated my heart for years, and it comes from Matthew 13:44. It reads:

“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.” — Matthew 13:44 (KJV)

Every time I read this verse, I’m reminded that the true riches of life are not found in what we can touch or own, but in what God reveals to our hearts. Jesus wasn’t speaking merely about money or land — He was speaking about discovery, joy, and total surrender.

When I think about that “man” in the parable, I see a picture of myself at different seasons of life. There have been times when I stumbled upon something so spiritually rich — a fresh understanding of God’s love, a calling to serve, or a glimpse of His grace — that I wanted to give everything else up just to hold onto it. That’s what the kingdom of heaven has felt like to me: a priceless treasure hidden in the soil of ordinary life.

It’s fascinating that the man didn’t find the treasure in a palace or a temple. He found it in a field — an everyday, dusty place. That detail comforts me because it reminds me that God often hides His greatest treasures in plain sight. In the middle of daily routines, conversations, or even trials, the presence of the kingdom is quietly waiting to be discovered.

What really strikes me is the man’s reaction: “for joy thereof.” He doesn’t sell all that he has out of obligation or fear — he does it out of joy. The discovery of the treasure was so overwhelming that everything else paled in comparison. That’s a challenge to my own heart. How often do I hold back from full surrender because I underestimate the joy of what God offers in return?

This verse reminds me that the kingdom of heaven is not a distant reward; it’s a present reality waiting to be uncovered. Each time I pray with sincerity, serve others in love, or choose faith over fear, I’m walking through a field that might just be hiding treasure.

So I ask myself — and maybe you can ask yourself too — what would I be willing to trade for the treasure of knowing God deeply? Because once we truly find it, like the man in the parable, we’ll realize that giving up everything else was the most joyful decision we could ever make.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — Matthew 6:21 (KJV)

Discovering the Path of Salvation

The Merchant’s Choice: My Pursuit of the Pearl of Great Price: Matthew 13:45–46

Continuing our study of the Parables in Matthew.

There are moments in my walk with Christ when a single passage of Scripture stops me, redirects me, and quietly asks, “What are you really pursuing?” Recently, the Lord brought me back to a familiar parable—one I’ve read countless times, yet this time it pierced deeper than before.

Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46, KJV).

I’ve always loved this parable, but I used to read it as a simple story about value—about recognizing what matters most. Lately, though, I’ve begun to see myself in the merchant. I’ve been that person searching, striving, collecting “goodly pearls” that I thought would satisfy: accomplishments, comfort, approval, security, even ministry itself. None of them were wrong in themselves, but none of them were the Pearl.

And the truth is, I often held onto them far too tightly.

The Moment I Realized What I Was Clinging To

Not long ago, I found myself overwhelmed—spiritually stretched thin, emotionally drained, and frustrated that my efforts weren’t producing the peace I longed for. I kept asking the Lord why I felt so empty. In that quiet place of prayer, He reminded me of this parable.

It was as if He whispered, “You’re carrying too many pearls that were never meant to be your treasure.”

That hit me hard.

The merchant didn’t buy the Pearl of Great Price in addition to everything else. He didn’t tuck it into a bag full of lesser pearls. Scripture says he “sold all that he had” to obtain it. He released everything—every lesser pursuit, every distraction, every competing affection.

And suddenly I had to ask myself: What am I unwilling to lay down so I can fully take hold of Christ?

The Pearl Is Not a Thing—It’s a Person

The more I meditated on this passage, the clearer it became: the Pearl of Great Price is Jesus Himself. Not His blessings. Not His gifts. Not His answers. Him.

Paul understood this when he wrote, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8, KJV).

That’s the heart of the merchant. That’s the heart I want.

Letting Go to Take Hold

This pursuit has required honesty—painful honesty. I’ve had to acknowledge the things I’ve elevated above Christ without realizing it. I’ve had to surrender habits, attitudes, and comforts that were quietly competing for my devotion.

But something beautiful has happened in the letting go.

The more I release, the more I receive. The more I surrender, the more I see Him. The more I loosen my grip on lesser pearls, the more precious the true Pearl becomes.

And with Him comes the peace I was chasing, the joy I was missing, and the purpose I was trying to manufacture on my own.

The Ongoing Pursuit

I wish I could say I’ve mastered this, but the truth is, the pursuit of the Pearl is daily. Every morning I choose again what I will treasure. Every day I decide whether I will cling to Christ or cling to my own understanding.

But I can say this with confidence: He is worth everything. Every sacrifice. Every surrender. Every step of obedience.

The merchant didn’t walk away poorer—he walked away with the only treasure that truly mattered. And so do we when we choose Christ above all.

A Final Reflection

If you find yourself weary, scattered, or spiritually stretched thin, maybe the Lord is inviting you—just as He invited me—to examine what you’re pursuing. To lay down the pearls that cannot satisfy. To take hold of the One who can.

Because the Pearl of Great Price is not hidden from us. He is waiting to be found by those who seek Him with their whole heart.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV).

And in that pursuit, you will discover what I am discovering day by day: There is no treasure like Jesus. There is no joy like knowing Him. There is no price too high for the Pearl of Great Price.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

A Small Thing That Changes Everything. Matthew 13:33

Continuing in the parables of Matthew. I remember the first time the words of this short parable truly settled into my heart. It was during a quiet morning, when the house was still and the coffee was steaming, and I read once again:

“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.” (Matthew 13:33, KJV)

Just one verse. A handful of ancient words. Yet how profound they are! In a chapter filled with stories of seeds and soils, treasures and nets, the Lord Jesus gives us this domestic picture—one so ordinary that any woman listening that day would have smiled in recognition. A woman. A bit of leaven. Three measures of meal (enough flour for a large household loaf, perhaps thirty or forty pounds). And the quiet, hidden work that transforms the whole lump.

I have come to love how the Saviour chooses such humble things to unveil the mysteries of the kingdom. He could have spoken of armies or kings or mighty winds, but instead He points to a woman’s hands kneading dough in the corner of her home. There is something deeply comforting in that. The kingdom of heaven does not always arrive with trumpets and banners; very often it arrives hidden, small, and working silently from within.

In my own life I have seen this truth unfold more times than I can count. When I first began to follow Christ, the change felt tiny—almost invisible. A whispered prayer here, a verse read in secret there, a moment of forgiveness when my flesh wanted revenge. It was but a morsel of leaven placed into the heavy, resistant lump of my old nature. I could scarcely see the difference at first. Yet day by day, week by week, the Spirit worked. Attitudes softened. Desires shifted. What once seemed impossible—loving my enemies, rejoicing in trials, finding contentment in little—began to rise and spread until the whole of me was touched.

And it is not only in the individual heart that this happens. I look around at the world today, and I marvel that the gospel, starting with twelve ordinary men in a backwater province of the Roman Empire, has permeated nations, cultures, languages, and centuries. A small beginning, hidden in the lives of fishermen and tax collectors, yet it has leavened entire societies. Hospitals were born of this influence. The dignity of women and children was lifted. Slavery was challenged and abolished in many places because the gospel worked its way through the conscience of men. Though the work is often slow, unseen, and opposed, the promise remains: “till the whole was leavened.”

Of course, there are days when I grow impatient. I see the hardness of hearts, the divisions among God’s people, the way evil seems to rise faster than good. In those moments I must return to the parable and remember: the leaven does not strive or shout; it simply is placed within, and then it works. Patiently. Inevitably. Irresistibly.

I am reminded also of the mystery of the “three measures.” Some see echoes of Abraham’s hospitality to the Lord in Genesis 18, when Sarah prepared cakes from three measures of fine meal. Perhaps the Lord is gently showing that the kingdom comes in continuity with the promises of old, yet hidden in a new way—through the quiet influence of grace rather than outward power.

Whatever the deeper layers, the lesson for me is clear: do not despise the day of small things. Do not grow discouraged when progress seems imperceptible. The same Lord who hid leaven in meal has hidden His kingdom life in us, and He will not fail to bring it to completion.

So today I pray: Lord Jesus, keep working in me that good leaven of Thy Spirit. Though I see but little rising at times, I trust Thee to permeate every part—my thoughts, my words, my relationships, my very being—until the whole is leavened. And may I be faithful to carry this same hidden grace into the lives of others, believing that what begins small in Thy hand shall one day fill the earth.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

The Mustard Seed and the Quiet Work of God in My Life-Matt. 13:31-32

Continuing in the study of the parables in Matthew: Reflecting on Matthew 13:31–32 (KJV)

When I read the parable of the mustard seed, I’m always struck by how Jesus uses something so small to reveal something so immense. In Matthew 13:31–32, He says:

“The kingdom of heaven is like to 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.” — Matthew 13:31–32 (KJV)

Those words remind me that God often begins His greatest work in the smallest, quietest ways.

I’m Learning to Value Small Beginnings

When Jesus calls the mustard seed “the least of all seeds,” I can’t help but think of the small things in my own life — the prayers whispered in weakness, the steps of obedience that feel insignificant, the moments of faith that seem too small to matter.

Yet Jesus tells me that the kingdom of heaven works through these very things.

God doesn’t wait for me to be impressive. He starts with what little I have, and He grows it into something far beyond what I could imagine.

God’s Growth in Me Often Happens Quietly

The mustard seed doesn’t explode into a tree overnight. It grows slowly, steadily, almost invisibly. That’s often how God works in me.

There are seasons when I don’t see much happening. There are days when my faith feels tiny. There are moments when I wonder if my efforts matter.

But Jesus reminds me that the kingdom grows beneath the surface long before it becomes visible. What God plants in me is alive, and it will grow in His time.

I’m Called to Be a Place of Refuge

I love the image of the birds lodging in the branches. It tells me that the work God does in me isn’t just for me. As His kingdom grows in my life, others should find shade, rest, and welcome.

The mustard tree becomes a home for many — and I want my life to reflect that same spirit of hospitality, compassion, and grace.

I’m Learning Patience with God’s Process

Seeds take time. Growth takes time. Transformation takes time.

This parable reminds me to trust God’s timing, even when I feel impatient or discouraged. My job is to sow, to trust, and to stay faithful. God’s job is to bring the increase.

Even the smallest seed — even the smallest faith — is enough when it’s placed in His hands.

What This Parable Means for My Walk with God

As I meditate on this passage, I’m reminded to:

Treasure small acts of faith — God sees them even when no one else does.
Trust God’s hidden work — He is growing things in me that I cannot yet see.
Be patient — spiritual growth is a process, not a moment.
Welcome others — the kingdom in me should offer shelter to those around me.

The mustard seed teaches me that God’s kingdom is powerful, resilient, and always expanding — and that He invites me to be part of that quiet, beautiful growth.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

“Lord, Help Me Discern the Wheat From the Tares” Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

A reflection on Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 (KJV), Continuing our study of the Parables from the Gospels.

When I read Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares, I feel as though He is inviting me into a deeper honesty about the world around me — and the world within me. He begins by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field” (Matthew 13:24). I picture that field, full of promise, and I realize He is talking about more than ancient farming. He is talking about my life, my choices, my spiritual landscape.

When Good Seed Meets an Enemy

Jesus says that while men slept, “his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat” (Matthew 13:25). That line hits me. I know what it feels like to wake up and realize that something harmful has taken root — a habit, a fear, a resentment, a distraction. I didn’t plant it. I didn’t want it. Yet there it is, growing right alongside the good.

I find comfort in the fact that Jesus acknowledges this reality. The presence of tares doesn’t mean the field is ruined. It means the story isn’t finished.

The Impulse to Pull Everything Up

When the servants in the parable ask, “Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?” (Matthew 13:28), I recognize myself. I want quick fixes. I want to rip out every flaw, every weakness, every confusing situation. But the master says no — because pulling up the tares too soon might damage the wheat.

That response challenges me. Sometimes God’s patience feels like delay, but it is actually protection. He sees what I cannot. He knows what is still tender in me, what needs time to strengthen before any uprooting can happen.

Living in the “In‑Between”

Jesus later explains the parable plainly: “The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” (Matthew 13:38). The field is the world — and I am living in the tension of a world where good and evil grow side by side.

This helps me understand why life feels mixed. Why joy and sorrow coexist. Why progress and struggle walk hand in hand. The parable doesn’t deny the tension; it names it. And in naming it, Jesus gives me peace.

The Promise of a Just Harvest

Jesus’ words about the end of the age are sobering but hopeful. He says, “The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels” (Matthew 13:39). Nothing is overlooked. Nothing is forgotten. Nothing is left unresolved.

The tares will not choke the wheat forever. The confusion will not last forever. The injustice I see — and the brokenness I feel — will not have the final word. God’s timing is not my timing, but His justice is sure.

My Prayer as I Walk Through the Field

As I meditate on this parable, I find myself praying:

“Lord, give me patience as You separate the wheat from the tares in my life. Teach me to trust Your timing. Help me nurture what is good, endure what is difficult, and wait with hope for the harvest You have promised.”

And I hold onto Jesus’ final assurance that “the righteous shine forth as the sun” (Matthew 13:43). That is the future He is preparing — and the future I long to grow toward.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant Heareth, The First Parable in Matthew

Beginning the study through the parables of the Gospels.

A reflection on Matthew 13:3–9, 18–23 (KJV) Parable of the Sower

When I sit with the Parable of the Sower, I feel as though Jesus is speaking directly to me — not just telling a story, but holding up a mirror to my own heart. As I read, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow” (Matthew 13:3), I sense that He is inviting me to ask a simple but searching question: What kind of soil am I today?

The Path: When My Heart Feels Hard

There are days when I hear God’s word but it barely sinks in. Jesus says that some hear the word and “understandeth it not” (Matthew 13:19). I know that feeling — when distraction, pride, or spiritual fatigue make my heart feel like a beaten path. On those days, I pray for softness, for the ability to truly listen.

The Rocky Places: When I Start Strong but Fade

Sometimes I receive God’s word with joy, just as Jesus describes: “Yet hath he not root in himself” (Matthew 13:21). I recognize myself in that line. I’ve had seasons where I start with enthusiasm, only to wither when life gets difficult. It reminds me that depth doesn’t happen by accident. Roots grow slowly, quietly, through daily faithfulness.

Among Thorns: When Life Gets Crowded

Jesus’ words cut close when He speaks of the seed “choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life” (Matthew 13:22). I know how easily my priorities get tangled. Worry, ambition, and busyness creep in like thorns. They don’t attack me; they simply crowd out what matters. I’m learning that spiritual growth often requires subtraction, not addition.

The Good Ground: When I Let God Cultivate Me

Then Jesus describes the good soil — the heart that “heareth the word, and understandeth it” and “beareth fruit” (Matthew 13:23). I long to be that kind of soil. But I’m realizing that good soil isn’t naturally occurring. It’s tended. It’s turned over. It’s weeded. It’s watered.

In other words, God doesn’t ask me to be perfect soil — only willing soil.

The Sower’s Generosity

What moves me most is the sower Himself. He scatters seed everywhere — on the path, the rocks, the thorns, the good ground. He doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t calculate. He doesn’t avoid the “bad” soil.

His generosity tells me something about God: He keeps sowing into me, even on the days I feel unworthy or unready.

My Prayer Today

As I meditate on this parable, I find myself praying:

“Lord, break up the hard places in me. Pull the thorns. Deepen my roots. Make my heart good ground for Your word.”

And I trust that He will — because the same Sower who scatters the seed also knows how to tend the soil.

Discovering the Path of Salvation

The “Parables” in the Gospel of John

Continuing the listing of “parables” from the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke here.

Readers often expect to find parables in every Gospel, but John stands apart. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels) contain dozens of parables, John includes none of the traditional story‑based parables Jesus used elsewhere.

Instead, John presents Jesus’ teaching through:

extended conversations,
symbolic actions,
metaphors,
and rich theological discourses.

Even though these are not parables in the classic sense, John’s Gospel is filled with powerful figurative illustrations that function similarly by revealing spiritual truth through imagery.

Below is a breakdown of the major illustrative figures Jesus uses in John, each with KJV citations.

1. The Good Shepherd and the Sheepfold

John 10:1–18 Jesus describes Himself as the Shepherd who knows His sheep and lays down His life for them.

Note: John 10:6 uses the word parable in the KJV, but the Greek term means figure of speech.

2. The Door of the Sheep

John 10:7–10 A vivid picture of Jesus as the only true entrance to salvation and safety.

3. The Grain of Wheat That Dies

John 12:24 A single seed must die to bear fruit—an illustration of Jesus’ sacrificial death and the life it brings.

4. Walking in the Light

John 8:12; John 12:35–36 Jesus uses the contrast of light and darkness to describe belief, discipleship, and spiritual clarity.

5. Living Water

John 4:10–14; John 7:37–39 A metaphor for the Holy Spirit’s life‑giving presence.

6. The Bread of Life

John 6:32–58 Jesus uses the imagery of bread to explain that He alone sustains spiritual life.

7. The True Vine

John 15:1–8 A rich illustration of dependence, fruitfulness, and abiding in Christ.

8. The Great Catch of Fish (Symbolic Sign)

📖 John 21:1–14 Not a parable, but a symbolic miracle pointing to the disciples’ future mission.

Why John Has No Traditional Parables

According to biblical scholars, John’s Gospel intentionally omits the parables found in the Synoptics because his focus is different:

He emphasizes identity more than narrative.
He highlights signs and discourses rather than short stories.
His goal is to reveal Jesus as the eternal Son of God (John 20:31).

As one source notes, “The Gospel of John does not contain any traditional parables at all”.

Summary

While John includes no classic parables, it contains some of the most profound illustrative teachings Jesus ever gave. These metaphors—Shepherd, Door, Vine, Bread, Light—are not stories but living symbols that reveal who He is and what He offers. I will still be expanding on these as I go through all the parables listed in the other Gospels over the next few weeks.

Discovering the Path of Salvation