Matthew 13:1–9, 19–23

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ²And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹He who has ears, let him hear." ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Today there is much talk about immigration; both legal and illegal. Every country has its rules for residency, for immigration into the country, and for becoming a citizen of the country. If we want to live in the kingdoms of man we have to know the rules of that country; how to become a resident or citizen. For example, if we are German citizens and want to be U.S. citizens we have to know the rules for naturalization; the requirements for becoming a citizen of the U.S. and how to apply for citizenship. Or, if we are U. S. citizens and want to become British citizens, we have to know the rules for citizenship there and how to apply for it. The same is true for God's kingdom; if we want to be citizens of the kingdom of God we have to know where to go and how to become a citizen in that kingdom.

After his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mt. 4:17). Jesus had much to say about the kingdom of God. For the next couple of weeks we will be having a mini-series of sermons on the Parables of the Kingdom.

We pray daily, "Thy kingdom come." It is the desire of every believer to be in the kingdom of God and also to see the kingdom extend to those who are not yet in it. For God dwells in his kingdom and reigns there. The citizens of His kingdom enjoy perpetual peace and intimate fellowship with God under his Lordship and love.

So then we come back to the question: "How do I become a citizen of the kingdom of God?" What are the requirements for residency and citizenship? Jesus tells us plainly; there is only one way to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said it was impossible to enter into it except by being "born again." (John 3:3-6). Unlike most manmade kingdoms, there is no naturalization process in God's kingdom. You have to be a born citizen!

And that is precisely our problem. Because of original sin, we were born into the devil's kingdom. We are NOT born into God's kingdom. We are not citizens by birth. We are foreigners; outsiders; barred from citizenship and barred from enjoying the privileges and benefits of citizenship in the kingdom of God. Because of sin we are separated from God; and do not have or deserve God's goodness, mercy, or eternal life. We are born citizens of the kingdom of darkness and death.

And because we are born citizens of the kingdom of darkness we do not bear the fruit of righteousness, but the fruit of sin that leads to unrighteousness and death. We lack love for God and his word. We don't want to worship God, hear his word, forgive those who offend us, or love our neighbor. We find ourselves too busy to worship God every week, too bored to stay awake during the sermons, too lukewarm to study his Word. We are poor at evangelism and stewardship and often prone to fighting and bickering among ourselves. All because we are sinners by nature and it is sin that fills our hearts and bars us from citizenship in God's kingdom.

Since there is no naturalization process in God's kingdom, the only way in is by birth. So Nicodemus asks, "Can someone who is already born be born again into God's kingdom?"

In the Lord's Prayer we pray for entrance into the kingdom: "Thy kingdom come" we pray. So then how does the kingdom come to us? How can a person already born be born again? In the parable which is before us today, Jesus answers these questions. The answer is, only by the Word of God. Only by hearing the Word of God and believing it. Apart from the Word of God it is impossible to be born into the kingdom of God. But when God's word is joined to the water in our baptism, we are born again as citizens of God's kingdom.

Only by the message that Christ died on the cross to atone for our sins are we born again. Only by his proclamation of forgiveness can we be born again as citizens of the kingdom of God. For just as God breathed the breath of life into Adam and he became a living being, so God breathes his Word into us, the Word of life, and we become living beings; born again as citizens of God's kingdom. Only through the Word of life that God breathes into us does the kingdom come. It doesn't come by good works. It doesn't come by meditation and the quest for spirituality. It doesn't come by feelings or emotions. It only comes by the Word. "The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16) "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word." (Romans 10:17) We are born again in the waters of Baptism as they are joined to the Word of God that promises forgiveness and new birth.

Jesus in our parable likens the Word of God to seed that a farmer sows. Not all the seeds fell on the same soil. Some fell on the sidewalk; some on rocky soil, some among the weeds and some on good, fertile soil. When we hear this parable we often think that we are the good soil, but the reality is, all the soils represent each one of us. In fact, it is not just an individualistic thing, all these soils are to be found in the church as well; in a single congregation.

The first thing we notice is we have an enemy. There is an enemy who can't bear for us to hear and believe God's word. He is constantly trying to keep us from God's Word in order to snatch our faith away from us. The seed that fell on the path was snatched away by the devil in order to destroy our faith and separate us from God. We see the activity of the devil in our individual lives on those days we just don't feel like coming to church. It is the devil's work that causes us to fall asleep in the church service, become bored when reading the Bible, or when we are too busy for Bible study. Here is what Luther said about this very parable, "Those fussy spirits are to be rebuked who, after they have heard a sermon or two, find hearing more sermons to be tedious and dull. They think that they know all that well enough and need no more instruction. ... This is a malignant, dangerous plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many so that he may surprise us and secretly take God's Word from us [Matthew 13:19]."

It not only happens to us as individuals; it happens to congregations as well. Too often the diligent and continual study of God's Word becomes a low priority for a congregation. Congregations today are busy with all sorts of other activities, programs, events, and social gatherings instead of the ministry of Word and Sacrament. Even some church planners and strategists today tell us that the study of God's Word is a waste of time for a congregation if it wants to grow. But if the kingdom of God comes only by the word of God, then the diligent study and proclamation of God's Word is the only way it will grow. The life of a believer revolves around Word and Sacrament. Any suggestion that we avoid it, minimize its importance, or make it a secondary or optional part of the Christian life is the voice of Satan!

Satan has many devices. Some seed fell on rocky soil. This represents the person who hears and believes the Word for a time, but then when sickness or suffering or tribulation or persecution comes into his life, he turns from God and loses their faith and their salvation. St. Peter tells us that fiery trials are tests to see if our faith is genuine. Those whose faith is not genuine reject God and fall into disbelief on account of their sufferings in this world.

Other seed fell among thorns. This is when a person hears the Word but then the cares and pleasures of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, the love of worldly things choke that word and it proves unfruitful. That is the person who stores us treasures in this world instead of treasures in heaven. This is the person or congregation who loves money, success, power or fame and doesn't have time for the Word.

But by the grace of God some seed falls on fertile soil and bears fruit. Those are the ones who hear God's word with gladness and to whom the Holy Spirit gives repentance and faith. They hear the message that we are sinners, separated from God and eternally lost and condemned, and this word of law drives them to repentance and contrition for their sins. They hear the gospel message that in spite of our sinful rebellion God still loves us and sent his Son to die for us, pouring out his blood on the cross as a sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.

These are the people who by the Word joined to water are born into the kingdom of God and become citizens by birth; the new birth that takes place in our baptism. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is faith in God's forgiveness; it is eternal life and salvation. The Holy Spirit through the Word produces the fruit of love for one another, a forgiving spirit, thanksgiving to God, and offering back to God a portion of what He has given us.

These are the ones who pray daily, "Thy kingdom come." Because daily they sin and daily need to be washed by the blood of Christ and strengthened by the Spirit in God's kingdom. These are the ones who are daily in the Scriptures and who, as Moses instructed God's people, "put these words on their heart, when they sit in their house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down and when the rise. They have the Word of God as a sign on their hand and as frontlets between their eyes. They write them on the doorposts of their house and on their gates and teach them to their children."

Or do you already know the Word of God and have no need for further instruction? "Let me tell you this," says Luther, "even though you know God's Word perfectly and are already a master in all things: you are daily in the devil's kingdom [Colossians 1:13–14]. He ceases neither day nor night to sneak up on you and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments and all the commandments. Therefore, you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle and the Word does not make a sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware [Matthew 13:24–30]. ¹⁰¹ On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to be without fruit [Isaiah 55:11; Mark 4:20]. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts [Philippians 4:8]. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living words [Hebrews 4:12]. ¹⁰² And even though no other interest or necessity moves us, this truth ought to urge everyone to the Word, because thereby the devil is put to flight and driven away [James 4:7]. Besides, this commandment is fulfilled and this exercise in the Word is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant."

We live in the devil's kingdom. We are weak and struggling in this world. We fight temptations and do battle with those who hate and despise God's word. But the kingdom comes only by the Word of God. Apart from his Word all our activity, busyness, programs, cajoling people and efforts to be "successful", to have more attendance, to have better stewardship and the like are in vain. God works all these things through his Word and apart from the Word they simply will not happen. Stop spinning your wheels in futile activity and start doing what the church does: trusting in and proclaiming God's word! Only then will God breath his word, the breath of life into our souls. Only then will our hearts be filled with joy, will our lives be fulfilled and satisfying and will the church be strong and vibrant.

As we sow the seed of God's word amid our families and our neighborhood, some will fall on hard ground. These people will refuse even to listen to us or hear the Word and if they do hear it they reject it because they rebel against God. That is the very reason we are trying to reach out to them with forgiveness and eternal life.

But by the grace of God the Holy Spirit works through the message of the Gospel, and some will hear and believe the message. The Holy Spirit will give them faith and He will produce fruit in their lives, faith, righteousness, love, eternal life and salvation, obedience, Christian vocation and stewardship, and praise and thanksgiving unto God now and forever.

Amen.