Matthew 13:24-41 Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field:… 1. Mercies not improved, but slighted and neglected, ripen the wicked apace for harvest. 2. When conscience is disregarded, men turning a deaf ear to those checks and. sharp rebukes they find in their own breasts, this tends to ripen them for ruin. 3. When the judgments of God, instead of softening, harden the sinner. 4. When the motions of the Spirit in His common operations (Genesis 6:3) are quenched. (Romans 9:22). 5. The tares, or wicked men, ripen for the harvest by letting lusts conceive in them. 6. Another gradation or progressive motion to ripening sinners is when lusts conceived break forth into acts, or the abominable commission thereof (James 1:15). 7. A third step is when sins, yea, great sins, are extenuated and rendered small. 8. When sin is delighted m; some men take pleasure in wickedness. 9. When they are told of their sins and hellish polution, and they plead excuses as if the fault was not theirs. 10. Such men are certainly ripe for harvest who are found glorying in their sin and shame (Philippians 3:19). Lastly, a hardened heart, a seared conscience, final unbelief and impenitence follows, and so they come to be fully ripe for the harvest. Parallel Verses KJV: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: |
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