Six ways to encounter God here
A passage is not only to be understood; it is to be lived with. Choose how you want to meet God in Matthew 13:21, and Living Bread opens it right there.
The passage in its setting
Meeting God in a verse begins with hearing it where it lives, in the flow of Matthew 13. Read it slowly, and let the focal verse settle into its own context.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The web of Scripture around it
Where this passage echoes across the Bible, from the cross-reference graph, 14 connected Scriptures. Each one is a door to meet God there too.
- Matthew 11:6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
- 2 Peter 1:8
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
- Hosea 6:4
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
- Proverbs 12:3
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
- Job 19:28
But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
- John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
- Job 27:8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
- Mark 13:12
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
- John 12:25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
- Psalms 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
- Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
- Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- 2 Timothy 1:15
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
More to meet God in Matthew
How it points to Christ
Every Scripture ultimately leads to Jesus. See how the whole Bible points to Him in Christ in all Scripture, then meet Him for yourself.
