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The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
Christ and Secularism
Matthew 1:22-23
God's relevance to our lives is
the death to secularism.
The Bible Teaching Commentary
Paul J. Bucknell
22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."" (Matthew 1:22-23)
Christ triumphantly smashed secularism when He died on the cross. Secularism in essence believes that the spiritual is unimportant because it is not relevant.
Jesus Christ made God relevant to our lives by His life, teachings and by His very name, Immanuel, meaning 'God is with us.'
Man can no longer state that God is irrelevant to our lives. Christ proved it.
In the beginning, God had a close relationship with man. Everything that man could or did relate to was made from God and was good.
The Lord clearly shows that the relationship that He first established with man in the Garden of Eden would be restored through Jesus Christ. Isaiah's prophetic message (Isaiah 7:14) affirmed this purpose. Jesus Christ revealed it.
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A Biblical Explanation
Observing the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
18 Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When 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 the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matthew 13:18-21).22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matthew 13:22-23).
• Road: Exposed: Evil one snatches what has been sown in heart.
• Rocky: Vulnerable: Hears the word, receive with joy, no root, falls away in affliction.
• Thorns: Starved: Hears the word but worry and riches choke the word.
• Good soil: Responsive: Hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit.
We will now turn and apply this parable to the world’s situation.
A Global Interpretation
Applications of The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:18-23)
“For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.” Jeremiah 4:3, NASB.
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Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted:
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