Why did Jesus teach
in parables?
Parables require much thought in order to grasp their
meaning. A person who really sought after God would seek, strive, think, and
ask until he could find the meaning to the parable. And then he would chew upon
the meaning, drawing all the meaning he could out of the parable so that he
could learn everything possible about God…Jesus wanted the truth concealed from
closed minds… the carnal were not willing to take the time or effort required
to search out the meaning of the parable. Jesus actually said that He wanted
the meaning hidden from the closed minded.
If God has opened your mind to his word (Acts 16: 14), then
you will diligently seek him by thinking on the words of Scripture, and this is
the means by which God will grant you more spiritual understanding. As Paul
writes, "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight
into all this" (2 Timothy 2: 7). (Cheung, Vincent in The Parables of Jesus.)
Parable of the Sower:
(Found in Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:2-20, Luke 8:4-15)
Matthew 13:3-9 He told many stories in the form of parables,
such as this one:
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he
scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds
came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The
seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted
under the hot sun, and since they didn't
have deep roots, they died. Other
seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still
other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty,
sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears
to hear should listen and understand.”
Matthew 13:19-23” The seed that fell on the footpath
represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand
it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in
their hearts. 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 those
who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the
worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed
that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s
word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as
had been planted!”
The farmer/sower: The
person, who distributes, preaches, teaches the Word.
Types of soil: The
people who hear or receive the Word (four types).
1. Footpath: “As
he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the
birds came and ate them.”
2. Shallow soil: “Other
seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly
because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and
since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.”
3. Thorns: “Other
seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.”
4. Good soil: “Still
other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty,
sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
This parable is foundational in understanding the other
parables and in hearing the Word properly.
Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning
of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?”
The parable of the sower gives us the key to bearing fruit:
hearing the Word. However, it also gives
us four types of hearers and only the last one actually bears fruit.
The parable lists three things that could cause the hearers
to fail to be spiritually productive.
1. Lack of understanding:
verse 19 “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the
message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and
snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.”
When we hear the Word but do not understand it what we heard
cannot take root in our hearts. It is
like scattering seeds on the path where everyone walks. The seed gets eaten by the birds. In our spiritual life, when we don’t
understand the Word the enemy comes and snatches what we heard away from
us.
2. Shallow roots: verses
20-21 “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.”
If we don’t get rooted in the Word, we will hear it and even
get excited about what we hear, however, it will quickly fade from our
memory. Then when trails or persecution
come we will not have anything to cling to.
When we hear the Word, we must meditate on it and immediately
look for ways to apply it to our lives. In
this way we will hide it in our hearts so it is there to anchor our lives
during times of trouble. Psalm 119:11 “I
have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm
119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
3. Crowded out by the worries
of life: Verse 22 “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who
hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries
of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”
The Word admonishes us to keep our focus on heavenly
things. Colossians 3:1-3 “Since you have
been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of
heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think
about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life,
and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Matthew 6:19-27 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth,
where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and
steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and
thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of
your heart will also be. No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one
and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and money.”
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday
life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't
life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They
don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds
them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your
worries add a single moment to your life?”
When we allow the cares of life to fill our thoughts and our
heart, we will be unproductive spiritually because we can only focus on one
thing at a time. We cannot server the god
of this world and God both!
Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and
follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the
rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that
house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears
my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on
sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it
will collapse with a mighty crash.”
All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.
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