Presentation 11
Presentation 11
Introduction
Parables are more than commonplace stories used to
teach spiritual truths. They force the hearer to ask
questions. And in particular questions relating to the
kingdom of God. They acted like magnifying mirrors
causing the hearer to examine significant spiritual
truths and the state of their own heart.
Parables held the attention of ordinary men and
women providing them with teaching that were easily
remembered. Those who came to Jesus hungering and
thirsting after righteousness, wanting to get to know
God better, would find these stories spiritually
enriching.
Presentation 11
Introduction
Jesus taught in parables for two reasons, not
only to instruct one set of listeners in the truths
associated with the kingdom of God but also
in order to obscure those truths from another group
of listeners v11-12 ... Some were listening to Jesus
because they wanted to learn but others because
they wanted to find fault, undermine and criticise
his ministry. Such folk, while hearing exactly the
same as everyone else, failed to hear God's voice
speaking directly to their hearts.
They would go home with nothing more than
an interesting little story. And so the parable
did a work of judgement in men, it separated
the hungry heart from the critical heart.
Presentation 11
Introduction
In one sense the parable of the sower, provides a key to help
our understanding of all of Jesus’ parables. Whenever Jesus
spoke a variety of responses were created in men’s hearts.
Wherever God's word is preached, then are four soil
conditions, four responses are to be found.
Jesus explains the significance of this parable to his disciples
for a very important reason. They would soon stand on the
front-line proclaiming Gospel truths. It was vital that they
approach their task with biblical realism thus expecting a
variety of response. Failure to do so can discourage the
Christian worker. When some who seemed to listen with
interest, then cool in their interest, the deficiency lies not the
good seed of the gospel but in the hearts of the hearers.
Presentation 11
The Hard Ground
Let’s consider the heart conditions. First, there are
those whose hearts are as hard as the hard path
mentioned in the parable. There are no cracks in the
texture of this soil to receive the seed and so the birds
of the air quickly remove it. Jesus is describing the
unresponsive heart. Hard as concrete! The Word of
God finds nowhere to lodge. By a deliberate act of the
will, God's Word is neglected and left untouched.
Preachers talk about seeing the shutters come down
over men’s minds just as the sermon is about to begin.
The strain can be seen on people's faces as the run
garden roller over their hearts to prevent God's Word
from sinking in.
Presentation 11
The Hard Ground
This hard crust of insensibility is also something that can be
produced through carelessness. We can allow our minds to
be distracted when God's Word is preached. We start
thinking, of some difficulty at home, or think about what we
want to plant in the garden, or what we will wear to the
wedding. Or, perhaps we allow ourselves to be distracted
by the strange dress sense of the person sitting in front.
Ask? Who is behind these distracting thoughts? Jesus
makes it quite clear that Satan's objective is to rub a
duster across the black-board of our minds so that we
have nothing to take home, chew over or digest.
Satan is a kind of mental graffiti artist intent upon
spoiling all that might do us good.
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The Rocky Ground
The second response of the human heart is illustrated by
the rocky soil. In parts of the Mediterranean there is a
thin dressing of soil on top of a stratum of rock. It gives
the illusion of being fertile soil. Seed sown grows rapidly
under the hot sun but, because the hard rock prevents the
development of a root system, after its meteoric and
promising growth the plant soon withers and dies.
It is possible to respond positively, emotionally yet
superficially to the claims of Jesus. Such a person can
appear committed to Christ they are full of euphoria and
enthusiasm and they share their excitement with others.
But there is a difference between being charmed by the
gospel and being changed by it.
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The Rocky Ground
The superficiality of their response becomes apparent
when the cost of discipleship begins to sink in v17.... Did they
become objects of ridicule in their workplace or
neighbourhood. Were they exposed to the blasting scorn
of family members of their. Christian convictions pilloried
became convictions discarded.
A young girl confessed allegiance to Jesus. She was full of
bubbly enthusiasm. Then her mother began to scoff every
time she saw her reading her Bible. Her mother found all sorts
of reasons to prevent her from attending the prayer meeting.
The girl’s enthusiasm began visibly to wilt. She felt the hassle
of persecution and hardship just wasn't worth it. There
seemed so much potential but there was no root.
Presentation 11
The Rocky Ground
It is possible for our commitment to Christ to
have more to do with feelings and sentiment
than with a definite act of the will. Conscience
may be awakened by God's Word. We may be
persuaded of our sin and need of a Saviour but
where there is no real submission to Christ's
lordship we will not persevere. Religious
allegiance based on sentiment does not root
deeply enough to deal with life's trials and
temptations. At the first major set back we
thrown in the towel. If we still attend church
it is a token presence. Our lives remain
unfruitful and our response to God and his
Word is met with a growing sense of cynicism.
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The Thorny Ground
The third response is illustrated by the seed
which fell on thorny ground. The thorns
would not be immediately apparent but
their root system was there under the
ground. Again this ground gives the
appearance of being fruitful for the plant
begins to make progress. But all the time
something is happening under the surface.
The root system of the thorns is slowly
drawing all the goodness out of the soil and
at the same time strangling the seed which
has been sown and preventing it from
becoming established.
Presentation 11
The Thorny Ground
The thorn patch hearer receives God's word and responds positively to it.
There seems to be evidences of growth but there are other competitors in
his heart claiming the allegiance which belongs to Jesus.
If these competitors are not dealt with, uprooted
then their presence eventually strangles and
effect the God’s Word. These competitor
thorns are identified in v19…
Note, it is not the grosser forms of sinful indulgence
that Jesus highlights but things that are legitimate
and good in themselves; a concern to make ends
meet and get on top of all our domestic chores .
These can become a major distraction and
preoccupation in our lives.
Presentation 11
The Thorny Ground
A woman once unashamedly acknowledged
that she was more concerned about her pile of
ironing than with her relationship with God!
For others it is a determination to build up a
healthy bank balance. Jesus speaks of the
deceitfulness of wealth for in his day, as in our
own, people thought that wealthier a man was
the more satisfied he would be. Indeed, wealth
is able to breed in a person a sense of selfsufficiency and persuade them that money can
solve all their problems. They might even be
drawn to a prosperity gospel that promises to
make them rich. But in end their wealth
displaces God. That is a great deception
Presentation 11
The Thorny Ground
The ‘desire for other things’ which Jesus
mentions is described by Luke as the
‘pleasures of this life’. Jesus of course is not
against pleasure but even legitimate pleasure
can smother our spiritual life. Passion for
amusement, entertainment and hobbies can
so easily displace a person’s passion for God.
Their heart-love for God begins to cool and
disintegrate! How many people have been
side-tracked by their desire for a more
comfortable home or, a more successful
business career, resulting in the influence of
God and his Word has been squeezed out of
their lives.
Presentation 11
The Thorny Ground
The effect of these thorns is not necessarily to uproot
a man’s religious profession but to render it useless.
This person may continue to call himself a Christian
but the fruit of God's Spirit and the transforming
effect of his Word is not found in his life. No man can
serve two masters. Competitors need to be uprooted.
Do you allow the gospel to uproot sin from your heart.
The N.T. speaks of the necessity of rooting out those
things which are harmful to our spiritual lives. Yet
some people replace weed-killer with fertiliser. They
feed the appetites they should be starving. And in the
end their priorities are completely confused the
destructive thorns have won, draining away any
semblance of spiritual life.
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The Good Soil
Finally, Jesus describes the good soil pointing to the
heart which is responsive and well prepared. This heart
compensates the sower for his labour for the hearer
'accepts' the Word of God. A term that carries the idea
of 'receiving favourably', and, 'acknowledging to be
correct’. This person is prepared to study and apply
God's Word to his life no matter the cost. He refuses to
be distracted by other things. He constantly uproots all
that begins to compete for his heart loyalty that rightly
belongs to God. Whether God's Word cuts or comforts,
challenges or assures it is equally welcome. He does
not lose the sense of the wonder as God transforms his
life through his Word. This person will produce a rich
harvest to the glory of God.
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Conclusion
How would you describe the condition of your heart?
Which of these four soils most clearly resembles your
heart condition? That is the question this parable is
designed to make us ask. As you look at your heart
and using this parable as a mirror, what do you see?
“Most people are bothered by the passages of
scripture which they cannot understand; but as for
me, I always noticed that the passages in Scripture
which trouble me most are those that I do
understand”. Mark Twain
This is surely no where more true than in this
passage of scripture. It is designed to challenge
the religiously complacent and as we look in
the mirror give us a jolt.
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Conclusion
As the meaning of this parable becomes clear to you are
you troubled by what you understand? You may say,
'I know that at present my heart is not like the good soil but
what can I do?
Is there a way to change the soil type? Yes, with God’s help!
The hard hearted can ask God to plough up the hard soil of
their hearts creating openings for his Word. The shallow
listener can ask God to deal with the rocky substratum of
their lives so that the gospel will reach down laying hold of
their wills and bringing them to submit to his Lordship. And
those whose lives are choked by other things need God's
grace to apply the weed-killer which will starve off all his
competitors. In this way your life will become fruitful
enabling you to offer a rich harvest to the glory of God.
Presentation 11