Apr 1991 - Editorial

Our principal writer this month takes up the parable of the sower, recorded by all the synoptic gospel writers. It was spoken to persons who were unregenerate, that is, they were not born again believers and consequently had no ears to hear in a spiritual sense (Mat. 13:13). When persons become disciples they are addressed as those who have ears to hear (v.16). In explanation of the parable Matthew records what is sown as "the Word of the kingdom" (v.19). Mark says the sower sows "the Word" (4:14) whereas Luke clearly states "the seed is the Word of God" (8:11). The Lord in Matthew does not speak of the seed as such. In the Revised Version "seeds" is put in to give the sense (13:4) but is not in the original. By way of explanation, the kingdom gospel identifies persons with the seed sown by the wayside (v.19); upon rocky places (v20); sown among thorns (v.22) and "he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the Word" (v.23). Matthew therefore is not so much concerned with what happens to the Word, which in the other gospels is called the seed, but rather what happens to the person.

We continue to trace in Focus the momentous events unfolding in the Middle East. Before the King returns to wash away the filth and purge the blood of Jerusalem by the blast of judgement and the blast of burning (Is. 4:4 RVM) much more suffering and hatred will be experienced by the Jews still scattered around the world. In 1990, more than 140,000 left the Soviet Union. Many more will shortly hear the great ram's horn trumpet gathering the children of Israel back to the land (Is. 27:12,13). Meantime we pray for the peace of Jerusalem as we wait to hear the sound of the trumpet of God (1 Thes. 4:16).

unknown | Apr 1991
Editorial