Limited Results – Mk 4:1-20
Jesus has preached the kingdom and miraculously demonstrated His authority to overwhelming crowds. Since speaking plainly has had little to no effect in bringing people to repentance, He turns to everyday illustrations to evoke a spiritual reaction. As Heinrich Heine put it, “Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.”
1He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,(NASB®)
How does Jesus react to the crowd?
No longer in the synagogue, we find Jesus teaching by the sea of Galilee. As has become common place, great multitudes have assembled to have their needs met. Jesus separates Himself on the water but remains in a position where He can still be easily heard. He assumes a teaching position and desiring to take them beyond their immediate concerns, opens their minds to spiritual truth using relatable illustrations.
Who dictates the terms of my meeting with Jesus?
3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”(NASB®)
What is the common understanding of this parable?
Jesus’ call to pay attention should give us pause to consider that what He is saying may have significance. In a farming culture, the outcome of sowing and reaping would be well known. If you want a plentiful crop, you need good soil. Crops the size Jesus was talking about possibly needed something more.
Am I willing to consider the teaching of Jesus?
9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (NASB®)
Who is this parable directed at?
While Jesus’ teaching is directed at everyone, only those who choose to listen and meditate on what has been said will be impacted.
Do I recognize that Jesus wants to speak to me?
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”(NASB®)
Why does Jesus speak in parables?
To those who were interested, He explained that parables are used to reveal great spiritual truth in an compelling way. Thus while some grow in their understanding, they also fulfill the prophecy that some will prefer to reject even that which was made plain.
Am I actively seeking the truth?
Am I willing to appreciate that faith may be simpler than I realize?
13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? (NASB®)
Are parables meant to be understood?
Jesus’ reaction to their inability to grasp the deeper significance of even this basic parable confirms that His goal is to make comprehension easier. These illustrations are designed to be easily grasped, but at the same time, to allow the spiritual truth to generate a personal conviction.
Am I willing to be convicted by God’s truth?
Do I consider deeply what Jesus has said?
14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” (NASB®)
What is the deeper significance of the parable?
Jesus explains: The seed is the word of God. The word is introduced with the intention to produce a harvest. The various soil conditions represent people and how they receive the word and the outcome that is produced. Thus, God has revealed Himself and the condition of your heart will define your relationship.
Perhaps you have no interest in God. His truth will be unable to penetrate you and have no lasting effect. Maybe you don’t mind the benefits of faith but are not willing to accept any difficulties so you quickly take a pass. It may just be the pressures of this life, the pursuit of success and keeping up with the Jones squeeze God out. But if you’re willing to receive Him, His truth will produce a love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control beyond anything you could imagine or have ever experienced.
What is the condition of my heart?
What prevents me from hearing God’s truth?