As the Scribes and Pharisees begin to plot how they might destroy Jesus, He begins the new phase of His ministry - preparing His disciples for His departure. Matthew now transitions his account of the life and ministry of the Messiah to the instructional phase by sharing several of the parables which Jesus taught. However, before we can adequately study this chapter, we must first understand the concept of Parables; hence time is spent discussing the purpose and interpretation of parables. For this first parable - the Sower and the Seed, or the four soils - Jesus gives us the illustration AND the interpretation. However, we are still left to determine the impact ... the application! This message was presented on Sunday, December 30, 2018 by Bob Corbin.