In Mark 4, Jesus tells a parable wherein a farmer sows seed in his subject. As he scatters, the seed falls on 4 sorts of soils: on the trail, on rocky floor, amongst thorns, after which on good soil (vv. 3–8). The sower within the story, as verse 14 makes clear, is the one who declares God’s Phrase, starting with Jesus and lengthening to trustworthy Bible lecturers in all ages. Jesus’ parable teaches that at any time when God’s Phrase is faithfully proclaimed, it’s met with totally different sorts of responses.
As we think about every of the 4 soils and the way they’re instructive for us, we should always bear in mind God’s promise by means of the prophet Isaiah. The fabric in Isaiah 55:10–11 nearly actually knowledgeable Jesus’ parable in Mark 4:
Because the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and don’t return there however water the earth,
making it convey forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my phrase be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
however it shall accomplish that which I goal,
and shall succeed within the factor for which I despatched it.
In brief, regardless of the response individuals need to the Phrase once they hear it, God all the time accomplishes His functions by means of it. His Phrase by no means returns empty.
The Parable Defined
In Mark 4:13–20, Jesus explains to the Twelve how the Phrase works from the vantage level of the sower after which by way of the soils.
The Sower
Within the fast context, “the phrase” refers back to the educating of Jesus in Galilee. Specifically, it’s His proclamation of the Gospel—the excellent news—as in Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the dominion of God is at hand; repent and imagine the gospel.”
The individuals on the time had been thrilled in anticipation of the approaching kingdom. They anticipated one thing dramatic. And in the middle of Mark’s opening chapters, as Jesus was demonstrating the highly effective coming of the dominion, individuals had responded in quite a few methods—some believing, others opposing. The parable of the seed and the soils summarizes these responses. Because the Gospel is sown, Jesus reminds us, the dominion inches nearer to its success.
At any time when the Bible is faithfully proclaimed, it’s met with totally different sorts of responses.
We are able to study quite a bit from how Jesus taught the truths of the dominion. Commenting on Jesus’ distinctive method, Archibald G. Brown says, “Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them, sighed over them, warned them, and wept over them; however by no means sought to amuse them.”
The applying for Christians, and particularly those that preach and educate on varied ranges, is evident: Our job is to not entertain however to do the onerous work of a farmer, faithfully scattering the seed of the Gospel.
The Soils
The soils within the parable characterize the varied responses individuals need to the Phrase.
First, Jesus describes the response of these seeds sown alongside the onerous, overwhelmed path of an individual’s coronary heart (Mark 4:15). This group hears the Gospel and exhibits fleeting, superficial curiosity, however they finally show impervious to it, Jesus’ phrases bouncing off of their hearts like rain on a tin roof.
Certainly, at any time when the Phrase of God is sown, the exercise of the Evil One is current. It’s Devil who—generally instantly, normally not directly—snatches the seed earlier than it might probably ever take root in some individuals’s hearts. And his work is normally refined. It might be a voice in somebody’s head saying, “You don’t want this,” or “This may change an excessive amount of and be too onerous.” Being taken away, there’s no hope for the seed’s development.
The second form of soil is the “rocky floor,” the place there isn’t a depth (vv. 5, 16–17). Though the seed springs up shortly, it has no roots, ultimately withering within the warmth. That is the one who receives the Phrase with an apparently fast, joyful coronary heart. It might even be adopted by a fast baptism and ministry involvement. However one thing occurs alongside the way in which. Hassle comes. Persecution comes, by the use of the Phrase, they usually fall away—immediate bloom, immediate fade.
Third, there’s the thorny soil in verses 18–19. On this occasion, inside pressures and divided loyalties frustrate the Phrase’s development in an individual, bearing no fruit. Jesus lists three elements that choke out the Phrase: the troubles of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and needs for different issues. Importantly, it’s not solely issues which might be inherently unhealthy that will hold us from receiving the Gospel. It might be good issues—a love of sports activities, concern for our household’s well-being, and so forth—that steal our affections that belong to God and lead us away from zeal for Christ. These lesser items, if managed foolishly, can turn into thorns, imperceptibly and inevitably choking the life out of us.
Lastly, there may be the center represented by the “good soil” (Mark 4:20). This group hears the Gospel, accepts it, and bears fruit. They’re these Jesus speaks of in John 15:5: “I’m the vine; you’re the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it’s that bears a lot fruit, for other than me you are able to do nothing.”
Make no mistake: The listening to of God’s Phrase in and of itself will do nothing till He allows us to simply accept it, bow down underneath it, and imagine it. However when God’s Phrase is obtained in humility, it makes an enduring affect. This particular person prospers in trial, holds up in storms, and endures to the top.
The Parable Utilized
After we mirror on the totally different sorts of soils Jesus describes within the parable, we are able to most likely consider people we all know who would match into every group. Some hear the Phrase and show disinterested; others appear to embrace the Gospel however ultimately reject it on account of hardship; and nonetheless others present preliminary zeal for Christ that’s later choked out by the thorns of life. Discouraged by these responses, we could marvel, “Why all this waste?”
Listening to God’s Phrase in and of itself does nothing till we settle for it, bow underneath it, and imagine it.
However on the coronary heart of Jesus’ parable is a lesson we are able to’t afford to overlook: God has pledged Himself to satisfy all the needs for His Phrase (Isa. 55:11). We could not see it instantly and even in our lifetimes, however the guarantees He’s made regarding the Gospel and His kingdom will come to go. God has watched over His Phrase all through historical past, seeing His individuals by means of the Darkish Ages, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Covenanting instances in Scotland, and so forth. We might be assured that the identical God who achieved His functions then is undertaking them right this moment.
Whereas we sow Gospel seed, we should additionally take note of the situation of our personal hearts. God’s persons are concurrently sowers and soil, sharing and listening to God’s Phrase. If we don’t humbly settle for the Phrase of God planted in us, it won’t assist us. It should harden us. To take a seat underneath God’s Phrase preached week after week with out responding in religion and obedience is a harmful prospect. We’ll ultimately lose curiosity, drifting away and bearing no fruit.
And so we heed the exhortations of Scripture: “Take note of what you hear: with the measure you utilize, it will likely be measured to you, and nonetheless extra will probably be added to you,” (Mark 4:24) and “As we speak, in the event you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:7–8; Heb. 3:7–8; 3:15; 4:7–8).
This text was tailored from the sermon “The Seed and the Soils” by Alistair Begg.
