While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 ESV
My favorite parable: The Sower. What a beautiful illustration of how God's Word is distributed throughout all humanity, and how different individuals receive it. Or not.
Four categories of hearers:
Category 1: Along the path--unbeliever; never understood the issue. Negative volition at God-consciousness. They hear the word, but it makes no impression. It sparks no interest in their soul. It just falls rejected and the "birds" (symbolic of demonic hordes) snatch it away before it can penetrate.
Category 2: Rocky ground--shallow, emotion-driven believer. The word briefly penetrated, but was not appreciated and cultivated in this bored, indifferent soul, so it soon withered away. No production. Seeking entertainment. Needs strokes. Falls apart at the first test.
Category 3: Among thorns--the "just-too-busy-for-this" believer. He heard. He believed. He was intrigued for a while, but details of life (politics, traditional religion, business, entertainment, family struggles, THORNS!) were just "too much on his plate." Are you tired of that phrase? I am. Something has to go. Doctrine goes, and there is no divine production.
Category 4: Good soil--positive, loyal, steadfast believers. The first time they heard the Word of God taught, they knew "this is it!" This is what they've been waiting their whole lives to learn. They cherish it, nurture it, savor it and share it with others who love it also, and with anyone who will listen. These solid, stable, loving believers recognize that same quality in others they encounter and they have a common bond with those like-minded brethren that is not shared with anyone else. They are the "jewels" of Malachi 3:17. They are the true disciples of John 8:31; abiding in His Word and knowing the truth.
They are the ministering, productive believers of the Church Age.
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 ESV
My favorite parable: The Sower. What a beautiful illustration of how God's Word is distributed throughout all humanity, and how different individuals receive it. Or not.
Four categories of hearers:
Category 1: Along the path--unbeliever; never understood the issue. Negative volition at God-consciousness. They hear the word, but it makes no impression. It sparks no interest in their soul. It just falls rejected and the "birds" (symbolic of demonic hordes) snatch it away before it can penetrate.
Category 2: Rocky ground--shallow, emotion-driven believer. The word briefly penetrated, but was not appreciated and cultivated in this bored, indifferent soul, so it soon withered away. No production. Seeking entertainment. Needs strokes. Falls apart at the first test.
Category 3: Among thorns--the "just-too-busy-for-this" believer. He heard. He believed. He was intrigued for a while, but details of life (politics, traditional religion, business, entertainment, family struggles, THORNS!) were just "too much on his plate." Are you tired of that phrase? I am. Something has to go. Doctrine goes, and there is no divine production.
Category 4: Good soil--positive, loyal, steadfast believers. The first time they heard the Word of God taught, they knew "this is it!" This is what they've been waiting their whole lives to learn. They cherish it, nurture it, savor it and share it with others who love it also, and with anyone who will listen. These solid, stable, loving believers recognize that same quality in others they encounter and they have a common bond with those like-minded brethren that is not shared with anyone else. They are the "jewels" of Malachi 3:17. They are the true disciples of John 8:31; abiding in His Word and knowing the truth.
They are the ministering, productive believers of the Church Age.
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