September 15, 2001, Vol.1,
No.6.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Behold,
a Sower Went Out to Sow" (see below)
and "Lessons to Learn
from September 11, 2001"
Behold, a SOWER went
out to SOW
by Keith Sharp
A friend of mine recently asked why equally honest, intelligent
and diligent Bible scholars do not understand the Bible alike.
Before I allow the Master to answer this question, three observations
are in order: one's apparent honesty may be a deception (Matthew
7:15); intelligence is not important to an understanding of the
Bible and can be a hindrance (1 Corinthians 1:18-21); and diligence
in study without the desire to do what we learn is useless (John
7:17).
But Jesus answered this question in the Parable of the Sower.
Before you continue reading this article, please read the inspired
accounts of this story in Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:2-20; and Luke
8:4-15. This parable answers the question, Why do some understand
the gospel and some do not?
At the time Jesus taught this lesson in Galilee, He was followed
by such large crowds that he got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee
so he could address them all (Matthew 13:1-2; Mark 4:1; Luke
8:4). But trouble had already begun to develop, and it would
deepen. Though Jesus' words and works proved Him to be from God,
the Jewish leaders had already stubbornly rejected Him by foolishly
attributing His miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:22-24). Soon after
this even some of His disciples quit following Him (John 6:66).
Jesus' disciples needed to be prepared for the facts that many
would reject Him and His Word, that persecution would come upon
His disciples and that even some of them would turn back from
Him. We need to be prepared for the same realities.
The Master spoke of a sower going out to sow, a simple scene
with which His hearers were very familiar (Matthew 13:3; Mark
4:3; Luke 8:5). As the sower scattered the seeds of grain by
hand upon the ground some seeds were blown by the wind upon the
footpath between the fields. Here the soil was so hardened by
pounding feet that no seed could penetrate it. The sandals of
passers by crushed the grain, and hungry birds quickly gobbled
it up, so that it bore no fruit (Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:4; Luke
8:5).
Other grain fell upon thin soil over bedrock. This soil was
warmed quickly by the spring sun, so the grain quickly germinated
and sprouted. But the summer sun scorched the plants, which could
not send down roots for moisture because of the rock beneath,
and the plants withered and died without producing any grain
(Matthew 13:5-6; Mark 4:5-6; Luke 8:6).
Some seeds fell where the soil was encumbered with thorns.
As the good seed and the weeds grew together, the hardier weeds
used up the richness and moisture of the earth and blocked out
the sunlight, and the stalks of grain were choked out and died
(Matthew 13:7; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:7).
But some seed fell upon good earth and yielded abundantly
(Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 8:8).
The lesson of this parable is so important that all who are
capable of understanding must do so (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9;
Luke 8:8).
Later, when Jesus was alone with His disciples, they asked
Him two things: why He spoke in parables and the explanation
of this parable (Matthew 13:10; Mark 4:10; Luke 8:9). Jesus first
explained His purpose for speaking in parables.
He was teaching "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven"
(Matthew 13:11; "kingdom of God"; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10).
A "mystery" is simply a "hidden purpose or counsel."
(Thayer. 420). It is not necessarily difficult to understand.
It's simply secret from general knowledge until revealed, or
made known. The "kingdom of heaven" is God's rule,
particularly in the hearts of His people (cf. Daniel 4:3,25-26,34-35;
Luke 17:20-21). This parable makes known how God exercises His
rule among men so that some are lost and some are saved. For
those who heed, this profound concept will cease being a mystery
and become a revelation.
God in His eternal wisdom and rule has decreed that some will
understand and receive the gospel and some will not. To those
to whom it is given to understand, the parables of Jesus simplify
the truth and make it easier to remember. To those to whom it
is not, the parables obscure the truth. Those with receptive
hearts keep on learning. As with any body of knowledge, those
who fail to learn the first principles soon forget what little
they did learn. They have the ability to see, but they don't
see; they can hear, but they don't hear; they can understand,
but they don't understand. The problem is with their dullness
of heart. For whatever reason, they refuse to accept the truth.
Their refusal to comprehend prevents their turning to God and
receiving forgiveness of sins. Those who do see are blessed of
God. The prophets of old desired to know the precious truths
they accept (Matthew 13:11-17; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10; cf. Isaiah
6:9-10; 1 Peter 1:10-12).
According to the Lord, in God's sovereign will, the heart
of the hearer determines his salvation. God has not chosen in
eternity before time to save certain individuals. He has chosen
to save a certain kind of people, those who will receive the
Word of His Son.
Jesus then explained the Parable of the Sower, both to give
His disciples a key to understand all parables and to help them
understand this parable of paramount importance (Mark 4:13).
The seed represents the word of God (Luke 8:11). The seed
has the power to bring forth life (John 6:63), nor has that power
diminished with the centuries (1 Peter 1:24-25).
The sower is the preacher (Mark 4:14; cf. Romans 10:14-17).
His work is to faithfully proclaim the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
If he accurately presents the gospel, and hearers reject it,
it is their fault, not his.
The soils are four kinds of human heart. The wayside soil
is the heart so hardened that it refuses to understand the truth.
Satan quickly sends false teachers to convince him of the error
he wants to believe, so he never believes the truth and is not
saved (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).
The stony ground soil represents the hearer who, ruled by
his emotions, quickly and joyfully believes, but just as quickly
falls away when pressure, persecution, and temptation come. He
lacks depth of conviction (Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke
8:13).
The thorny ground is the hearer who receives the Word, but
he becomes "choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of
life" and thus "becomes unfruitful." The things
of this world crowd the kingdom out of his heart and life (Matthew
13:22; Mark 4:18-19; Luke 8:14).
Your attitude toward the Word of God will determine the destiny
of your soul. The good ground is the hearer with a good and honest
heart. He understands the Word, accepts it, keeps it, and bears
"fruit with patience." (Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke
8:15).
So, why do some understand the gospel and some do not? God
in His sovereignty has determined that those with good and honest
hearts will understand, accept, and keep His Word and bear fruit
with patience. It is all a matter of the attitude of your heart.
In fact, your attitude toward the Word of God will determine
the destiny of your soul. "Therefore take heed how you hear."
(Luke 8:18)
__________
Work Cited
J.H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
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