Matthew 13 - The parable of the Sower and the Seeds - The Key To All Others

Verses 1-9: The Parable of the Sower

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

• Jesus gives the "interpretation" below... let's look at that for a moment.
  • Along the path (way side) - hard, compressed.
  • Rocky ground - shallow, cluttered.
  • Thorny ground - worldly, carnal.
  • Good ground - (it is not described) In many ways, the good soil is only good because it doesn't have the any of the problems of the 'bad' soils.
• Pick one soil, and give an illustration of what that soil might look like in our culture
• Can hard soil become soft? Can stony soil be cleared? Can weedy riddled soil be made clean? Can you come up with an example of how God plows, tends, softens and clears the soil of our heart?
• I would ask, what kind of special ears, do we need, to hear and understand this parable?

Verses 10-17: The Purpose of Parables

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: 

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’
    

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Verses 18-23: The Parable of the Sower (Four Soils) Explained

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 what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet 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. 22 As 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. 23 As 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.”

This parable is explained here by Jesus. Here, we can take what He gives us in terms of the symbolic representation of each element of the parable.

• Who (or what) would you say is the "main" character/focus of the parable of the Sower?
• What is the main differentiator between the four soils?
• What does Jesus say the "soil" represents?
• In this parable, the seed is the "word of the kingdom", I would offer that the word of the kingdom is equivalent to saying the Word of God. The kingdom is God's kingdom, and it's citizens are citizens of Heaven.

Verses 24-30: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Verses 31-33: The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 

• lots of instances where "birds of the air", has a negative connotation. Gen 15:11, Deut 28:26, 1 Sam 17:44,46, 1 Kings 14:11
• Let's read Daniel 4:10-28 as background and context for Jesus use of these elements...
• Note: Ezekiel 31:1-18 is another similar OT story to this.
• Is there a any consistency, thematically, between Daniel's and Ezekiel's stories and Jesus parable?

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

• Don't despise small beginnings (Zech 4:10).
• Exodus 12:15 Get the leaven out of your houses...
• Leviticus 2:11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
• Leviticus 6:17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
• (Curious in addition to the offering of unleavened bread) Leviticus 7:13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
• (Jesus words) Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
• 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
• Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Verses 34-35: Interlude

34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: 

“I will open my mouth in parables;
    I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Verses 36-42: The Explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

• Does this parable make you uncomfortable? If so, why?
• Is there anything in this parable that you find encouraging?

Verse 44: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Here's a hypothetical scenario, of how this might take place. A man was living in Israel, before the time of the exile to Babylon. He had a family and gained great wealth. Back then, they didn't have the concept of banks or even safe deposit boxes, so the man took a portion of his wealth (maybe some precious gems or gold coins) and wrapped them up and put them in a box, and went out to a field behind his house. He stepped off 20 paces to the west of a big oak tree, and buried the treasure. Then, all Israel, including this man and his family were carried off to Babylon. In Babylon, the man told his children about the buried treasure. After many years, the captivity ended and this man's children's, children returned to Israel, having been told the story and the directions to the buried treasure. They went there, but that home and field had a new owner. The children went to the new owner and tried to buy the land, and the new owner told them to go away. But they were persistent, and finally, made the man an offer he couldn't refuse, so he sold them the land. They went and dug up the treasure.

• Was what they did wrong?
• How does this relate to God redeeming us and paying for us?

Verses 45-46: The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

• What would you say is the main point of this parable?
• Is anything about this parable encouraging to you?
• Trivia about pearls, in the Jewish culture: a pearl is an 'unclean' or unkosher gem. Jew's did not usually own pearls. But, since they were precious, the Jews considered it ok to traffic in them as gems.
  Think about this:
  • Consider a pearl's home; quite often, the sea/ocean/waters is used in scripture to represent the 'nations'. Those in Noah's day were judged by the 'waters'.
  • How does a pearl get it's start? A grain of sand causes an irritation to the oyster.
  • What is the process called, by which a pearl grows? "accretion" - the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.

Verses 47-49: The Parable of the Net

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

• Our Christian faith is inter-national. In other words, God is gathering his elect out of all the nations of the world.
• We sing the song in Sunday School, Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world...
• We quote John 3:13 for God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• We ofthen forget that John 3:18-20 talks about that separating the evil from the righteous: 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Verses 51-52: New and Old Treasures

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

• Jesus infers here that his disciples will be given understanding as if, they had received the same training that the scribes had received. We have a teacher, he is the Holy Spirit
• But also, think about the very beginning of our faith. It is a fact that God reveals to us our need for the Saviour (that would be news to the Jewish scribes)
• But also think about the fact that the Jews received and still receive to this very day, the foundational revelation that the Law came through Moses, but that the new treasure is for those who have a heart to receive it; that Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. The foundation that the Jews receive is the Law itself; and it's purpose and function is to bring conviction of sin, which is meant to cause us to flee from the wrath to come, to the safety of the Saviour.

Verses 53-58: Jesus Rejected in Nazareth

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 7 - Judging Rightly

Overarching Principles of Parables

• What is a parable?   Parabolic story.
• What is the purpose of parables? Matt 13:10-17
• Some are a comparison, while others are a contrast.

Approach to Understanding Parables

Do’s

• Read them.
• Investigate and try to discern and understand the principles involved.
• Investigate and try to understand the characteristics of the elements of the parable.
• Draw out the meaning from them, don’t read into them your subjective meaning?  (Exegesis vs eisegesis)

Don’ts

• Allegorize them.   Why not?   Because allegory, unless the author tells us what each element represents, is completely subjective.

Questions to Ask

Are there any Old Testament texts, that are representative of the stories being told in the parables?   In other words is the story built on a foundation that was laid in the OT?

Can one parable contradict another?  In other words are the metaphors being used consistently?

What elements are crucial to the story, and what, if any are incidental.

Is this parable, a story being told as if from God’s perspective or man’s perspective.

What question was asked that the parable is answering?

Is this parable an affirmation of some positive truth, or a challenge against something negative (or both)?

Now let's look at Matthew Chapter 7

Verses 1-2

I'm aware I have no power or authority to condemn anyone to Hell.  Matthew 10:28

If I were to say to someone "Go to Hell" and poof, they disappeared and went to Hell, I'd be the most shocked person on the planet.   The big problem with me judging is that I'm not omniscient like God.   I don't know all things, so I don't know whether or not someone is so hard hearted they'll never receive God's forgiveness?   At some point in time, I was Christ rejecter.   The only criteria for someone to be eligible for salvation is that they be a sinner, so we all fall into that camp.

Let's talk about what are these verses NOT saying.   What about judging, in terms of being discerning?  Not necessarily being judgmental, but is it alright for me to be discerning? Should I be naive?    I certainly should be forgiving, like it says in the LORD's prayer.   "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." But what purpose is it to be discerning?   

(Galations 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

or

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.)

Verses 3-5

The heart of the matter here is simple, don't be a hypocrite (an 'Actor')   Don't wear a mask.   I do want to make a distinction, that there is such a thing as a Christian who commits the sin of hypocrisy, and then there's the person who thinks they're a Christian, but they haven't truly been converted to Christ.   That second person is complete through-and-through hypocrite, but they might even act like a Christian, talk like a Christian and attend a Christian church; they haven't been 'born again', they are a pure hypocrite.   Each one of us have to make that distinction in our own mind about where we stand.   Whether we're a Christian who is capable of committing the sin of hypocrisy or whether we have yet to really repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  

But we as Christians need to understand that hypocrisy creates a big old blind spot in our vision.   Hypocrisy keeps us busy with our eyes our on everyone else so we don't see our own failures and shortcomings. Who of us here can say, "I have this Christian life wired; follow me as your example."   Yikes, I don't know how many times I've said something like that to my wife, and she just looks up and takes a couple of steps back, expecting lightning to strike me at any second.   REALLY though, that's how serious it is, to be a hypocrite.   Let's live what we believe.   Remember, God sees our hearts.   He sees our motives.   He sees us from a different perspective than we see ourselves.

That reminds me of Fred Myers stores.   When I go to Fred Myers, and I walk through the first set of doors into the store building, they have an area where they keep all the shopping carts and some vending machines.   But as you walk into that area, hanging way up above near the ceiling are closed circuit monitors.   The picture showing on those monitors is the people walking into the store, including me or you.   The cameras are also mounted way up on the wall or ceiling somewhere, because the picture is looking down from way up high.   Every time I see those pictures, I get a little shocked.   I don't think of myself as being so bald.   But because I'm seeing myself from a different angle, it really makes it clear how folically challenged I am.   It's the same with hypocrisy keeps us from seeing ourselves the way we really are.
- See Romans 2:16-29
- See John 7:24

Verse 6

Don't forget the context here.   Who or what is a dog from a Jewish mindset?   Refer: Matthew 15:26, Jesus makes pretty much the same statement, but he clarifies a little. An outsider, one who has no natural connection to the things of God.   So it isn't just your average, run-of-the-mill, fense-sitting, non-committal person; it's one who is strongly opposed to the Gospel.   In our culture, there is a pretty strong and growing movement that I call militant Atheism.   My own personal opinion is that the only reason we should engage or dialog with these types is for the bystanders.   So others can see what they really believe while at the same time hearing what we believe.    What is the 'holy', spoken of here?   You could make a case that the 'holy' things are the 'deeper things' of God (the joys, blessings, promises and responsibilities that come with being a Christian.)   But the message of salvation, the Gospel message; that should be freely available to anyone who is willing to listen.

If this is saying, the Gospel is like precious pearls and the people of the world are just swine, then who would be worthy to receive the Gospel?   I sure wouldn't have while I was wallowing in the muck and mire of my sin. I can say, don't force the pearls of the Gospel around a pig's neck. What I mean by that, is if someone isn't  open to the things of God, don't try to force it.   Maybe it isn't that person's time, or you aren't the right person to give the pearls to that person.   That doesn't mean God is finished with that person.   Most likely it's just a timing thing.  God said, "He isn't willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  He also says, "For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son..."

Verses 7-8

This is a contrast with the previous two verses.   Here is a picture of someone who is interested in the things of God.    Jesus said, "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.   The previous verses were about someone who couldn't care less about the things of God.   We need to be like kids.   Kids can be very persistent when they want something, they ask and keep on asking, till you give them what they want.   God wants us to be like kids in the way we approach Him.   Just like an earthly dad, He won't spoil us, God won't give us something that would be bad for us.   So we don't need to be afraid to go to God and ask for things.   Just remember He does have the prerogative to say No.   Also remember, we don't hold any position over God; we don't order Him around, and we can't make Him do anything against His will.   Why pray then?   So that we can take part in His plan and His purpose.   We pray not to change God's mind, but to change our own, so He can bring our will into alignment with His will.

Verses 9-12

This is a comparison and contrast between an earthly father and our Heavenly Father.    Any decent earthly father will give some kind of decent gift to his son.   What kind of earthly father says, "here son, here's a lit stick of dynamite,  go take it outside and play with it."   God gives good gifts, so let's start asking, and I'm not talking about a Lamborghini.   Let's ask for gifts of the Spirit.   Then we'll be reflectors of the image of God.   We'll be true sons of God.   When it says, "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the Law and the Prophets", this is called the "Golden Rule".    The Law and the Prophets were given to show us God's true standards for "righteous" living.

Verses 13-14

Jesus contrasts these two 'ways' to get to heaven.    One way is wide, and doesn't really lead to heaven.   The other is narrow and leads to life. I've heard worldly people say, 'You Christians are narrow minded people, there are good people in all religions.'   I just tell them, their argument isn't with me, it's with Jesus.   He says, there's only one way in.   If there was another way for humanity to be collected into God's Kingdom of heaven, then Jesus death on the cross wouldn't have been necessary.   What if someone says, "all religions lead to God"  Or "it doesn't matter what you believe, just that you believe", should you smack 'em and say what are you thinking?   Or should you try to convince them that you're right and they're wrong? I don't think either of those would help.    But you can show that you care, you can tell them that isn't the way it is according to the Bible. You can agreeably disagree. You can pray for them.   You can look for opportunity to show the love of God to them in word and deed, but you can't convince anyone that they need Jesus.   If you could convince them,  someone else could come along with another perspective or some other argument that could change their mind and convince them of something else.   Salvation is a work of God, so we need to be led by the Spirit every time we step out in faith and share the messge of eternal life with someone.

Verses 15-20

For a moment, let's aim these scriptures at ourselves.   I sincerely doubt any of us in here is a false prophet, but you and I are told to bear fruit.   Let's look at these verses from that angle. The fruit of a tree or bush, just proves its nature.   In other words, what's on the inside (genetically) is made manifest by what it produces on the outside.   Okay, self exam time.   This is uncomfortable, it's embarrassing, but we need to determine what's on the inside by what's on the outside.   And I can't do this for you; you have to do this yourself.   Take some time later on and do a little self examination.   Look at the fruit of your life.   If you don't like what you see, take some corrective action.   I would say the first step ought to be confession and repentance.   Come clean with God, and let Him cleanse you from the inside out.   God isn't done with you.   It takes a lot of faith and trust to say, "okay God, here I am, I need you to change me in this area or that."

Now let's point these scriptures a some imagined or real target outside of this room; some false prophet out there.    What is it that defines a false prophet?   "False prophecies"    What are we supposed to do about them?   It says, "Beware", so we're supposed to Beware of them.   God has given us minds to think, compare what people say with what's in the Bible, and it it doesn't line up, ignore them.   Stay away from them.

Verses 21-23

Here again, this is talking about hypocrites.    These are people who think they're Christians but their false converts.   They've never really been born again.   There are so many in our country who have rejected Christianity because they know of some friend or even some prominent so-called Christian who was a hypocrite.   I would say to them, "are you going to reject Christ because of what some man says or does?"   If so, when you stand before God on Judgement Day, and say, "I didn't believe in Christ because there were so many false Christian hypocrites." Do you think that will fly with God?   Is God going to say,  "Oh, you poor dear, it's okay then, you're not responsible for your sins because of all those bad Christians."   Nope, when those so-called Christians who were really hypocrites die in their sins will be made to pay for those sins; just like someone who flat-out rejected Christ and never pretended to be a Christian.

Verses 24-27  THE PARABLE OF THE TWO FOUNDATIONS

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

I love this Sunday school story.   There's a song we sing to the little kids that comes from this story. It's so simple yet so profound. What does it look like, from the outside looking in, to be the man who builds his house on the rock?   What does the house represent? What does the rock represent?

Of Jesus it says in Psalms 118:22. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.    Matthew 21:44 "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

So I just want to circle back, and say a couple things about judging. Even here the Lord Jesus Himself is being judgemental; calling one person wise and another foolish. But, it is His Word that is authoritative, so in that same way we can just let God’s Word judge people and let the chips fall where they may; we too will be judged by God's word.  Lastly, if someone feels judged by something we say, that’s actually a good thing.   It means that their conscience is still alive and active and functional.   It hasn’t been seared like a steak on a hot iron, beyond all repair.   So if someone can still feel guilty and judged (call that conviction), that’s a good thing.  Enough said.

I want to tell you a story that my dad told about and I even remember reading about as a kid. My dad was a Los Angeles City fireman.    In California, they have brush fires in the summer, and rain in the winter.   Those brown hills that have been denuded of their trees and foliage, because of the brush fires, become saturated with water, then mudslides happen.   The problem is, they build homes in those very hills and its a dangerous situation.   Back in the late '60s or early '70s, my dad and his crew were in the L.A. hills during heavy rains, evacuating/rescuing people from their homes.    My dad's good buddy Bill was in a home helping a woman get out, when a mudslide came through the house, and picked him up and shoved him up into the ceiling so hard that his fireman's helmet punched a hole into the ceiling and stuck there.   Bill got injured pretty badly, I think he got some broken bones and was laid up for a while.   But my point is this.   Sometimes things happen that are just completely out of your control.  You might get slammed into the ceiling of life.   If your life is built on the Rock of Jesus Christ, your life won't crumble.   You won't fall away from Christ.   It will only strengthen your faith.   I just want to encourage  you to trust God, and He'll be with you through the trials.

Isaiah 43:2 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you..."   It doesn't say 'if', it says 'when'.

Verses 28-29

The people were astonished at His doctrine.   Literally "blown away", by what he said. How about you, does it astonish you the Jesus speaks so frankly, yet so compassionately?    Jesus is so different than all other 'religious' folks.   They tell you you need to change, but give you no power to do it.    They just give you a bunch of rules.   He gives you the Holy Spirit to live in you, and guide you.   He gives you that new nature with new desires.    Religion can't change your desires or your innermost motives.   So if our lives are built on the Rock, when the storms of life come you won't crumble and when the temptations of life come, you will have a way out.   You won't live as hypocrite, you live like a son of God.   Your life will be a reflector of His glory.