Hello everyone.
Today's post is from my exegesis from Luke 8:4-15. Over the years, you have probably heard numerous Bible discussions or lessons on the topic, as it is Luke's telling of the Parable of the Sower (although you probably heard lessons on Matthew's version of it.) We know that Jesus drew big crowds wherever he went, and he often spoke to the crowds in parables. Most of his listeners did not get to hear the explanation of this parable. Jesus explained the meaning of the parable only to his disciples. We, however, are fortunate, as the parable and its meaning were written down for us.
Living in an agricultural society, Jesus listeners would immediately be able to picture the story of a farmer scattering seed, but for some in the crowd, this parable, without its explanation, is just a nice story about a farmer and some seeds. While the meaning of some Jesus' parables is obvious, the meaning of this one only becomes clear when you understand that the seed in the story represents the word of God.
Afterwards, the disciples ask Jesus the meaning of the parable and he tells them, informing them that they will be clued in the mysteries of the kingdom of God, secrets that most of the crowd would not be let in on. Here is what he says in verse 10: “it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them, I speak in parables, so that, They see without seeing, and hear without understanding.”
So why would Jesus say this? It seems that Jesus states that he was not sharing with the crowds the mysteries of the kingdom of God, so that they could see or understand. That doesn't seem very Jesus-like. So is going then?
This statement from Jesus alludes to Isaiah 6:9-11. It says, “Go and tell these people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused, make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” According to Darrell Bock, Jesus was speaking to an obstinate nation that was facing judgment, just as Isaiah had been. But, the opportunity for repentance and reconciliation was always there. Instead, his listeners should take what Jesus says and reflect on it, learn from it and put it into practice. (Bock, 727.)
- The path is the hard heart and the word of God is never received. Those hearts along the path hear the word, but it stops there. There is no response to it.
- The rocky soil is the heart that is shallow and the word of God cannot develop deep roots and quickly withers and dies. Luke, attributes the death of the plant to its inability to get moisture. This heart runs away from God when things become difficult.
- The thorny soil is the heart that is distracted by the worries of life and is rendered unfruitful.That person’s faith is still alive, it is choked however, and left unable to bear any real fruit.
- The good soil is free from the hardness, shallowness and distractedness of the other three and receives the word and bears much fruit.
The thorny soil is important to talk about, because it is likely the one that we can most easily identify with. Weeds can grow up and dominate a fruit-bearing plant, sucking the moisture and nutrients out of the soil, making it very difficult for the plant to get enough nutrients to produce fruit, even though the plant itself still lives. Likewise, it is very easy to get pulled into all of the concerns of this life. The good soil, the one we all want to be, is not focused on all of these distractions, but is focised on God and is intent on producing the Spirit’s fruit.
As for the good soil. It is described in the Greek with these two words. Καλῇ (kalay) and ἀγαθῇ (agathay). Both are words that are often translated as ‘good.’ Jesus uses both of these words to describe the hearts of the good soil. The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament offers these words in definition of Καλῇ: beautiful, handsome, fine, good, noble, praiseworthy. It offers these words for ἀγαθῇ: useful, beneficial, productive, good.
I translated Jesus' description of the good soil in verse 15, like this: "But the seeds that were in the good soil, those are the ones who have hearts that are beautiful and productive, who hear the word, hold on to it, and by perseverance, produce much fruit."
What does a person with a beautiful and productive heart do when they hear the word? They obey it and they persevere. Perseverance is key here. Fruit-bearing is not easy. Generally, when you plant a seed, you don't have fruit the next day. It takes time and work. So, for you beautiful-hearted people out there, Stay beautiful, and don't give up, because if you persevere, you will have an abundant harvest. Jesus said.
Tom
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