He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’” Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [Mark 4.11-20]
What Are You Hearing And Seeing? discusses how idols make people deaf and blind to God. It should not surprise us that Jesus uses hearing and sight once again in the Parable of the Sower. Jesus' repeated discussions about hearing and seeing should be understood as indicators that idolatry is being discussed. Jesus is not on Gospel record of having used the word "idol" but He often spoke of hearing and seeing which are established idolatry factors:
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]
The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]
The essence of what Jesus is teaching in the Parable of the Sower is found in the first four of the Ten Commandments.
Compare the seed that fell on the footpath to the First Commandment:
You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]
If people are not established that God is God, then their hearts are indeed the footpath - hard and impenetrable.
The seed that fell among the rocks should be compared to the Second Commandment:
You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]
God will not share space with idols. Period.
The seed that fell among the thorns can be compared to the Third Commandment:
You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.7]
God and His name are final authority. It is misuse of His name to even consider "life" with all its worries, money and desires just like Jesus said in another part of today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:
So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” [Matthew 12.31-37]
If we can see it, it is blasphemy to give a moment's consideration to the cares of this life when the name of Jesus is on our lips - because what is on our lips is what is in our hearts.
Based on what we know about the first three commandments, if we are in violation of them, God will make us deaf and blind to anything else. That is why Jesus said, Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven. And, here is where the Fourth Commandment comes into focus:
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [Exodus 20.8]
Jesus is the Sabbath Rest prophesied in the Ten Commandments. That "rest" is not hard footpath soil where God is not even considered. That "rest" is not rocky soil where idols compete against God. That "rest" is not thorny ground where God's name is blasphemed by cares of this world that cause doubt and fear. That "rest" is in good soil where Jesus is enthroned as the Son of God in His full glory and holiness.
The Parable of the Sower is much more serious than it appears at first. The first three soil conditions are not just "negative marks" on a believer's scorecard, but, in fact, completely disqualifying marks, again, like Jesus said, Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.
The ONLY seed that produces fruit is that which is in the pure Sabbath Rest soil of a heart given fully to Jesus Christ.
Suddenly, church becomes a little more serious, huh?
Father help us to get it right with our hearts. It's all Jesus or nothing. May we understand the gravity of this fact and respond accordingly! So be it.
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