07-09-2007, 08:00 AM
Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, the one fell by the roadside and was trampled; and the birds of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6 And other fell on a rock, and sprouting, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And other fell amidst thorns, and springing up with the thorns, they choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Luk 8:9 And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10 And He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to others I speak in parables, so that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand.
Luk 8:11 And the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
First I think in understanding this parable we must throw out all preconcieved idea of what the seed, and soils mean.. I feel it is a mistake to assume that the soils stand for types of people. Let me explain why.
In verse 10 it is explained that the illustration is a mystery of the Kingdom of God. So we know this applies to our entering into his kingdom. Jesus show that we can recieve a taste and benefits of his kingdom now.
Eph 1:12 for us to be to the praise of His glory, who previously had trusted in Christ;
Eph 1:13 in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The seed is the Word of God, Jesus. Jesus gives us his promised token of our inheritance, the promised Holy Spirit. A seed in a sense of him. We can see how this would make sense in that in the New Covenant we partake of Christ body and blood. We replace our Flesh and Blood with his. We become his footstep followers, and are to pick up his torchure stake. Our obligation as christians is to allow Jesus to become manifest through us. To be a vessel for his fruitage through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gives us an illustration to help us understand how to let his seed grow in our hearts, This parable teaches a beautiful truth. How to let our hearts be fine soil. A mystery of the Kingdom. Growth and fruitage as a christain.
Luk 8:12 Those by the roadside are the ones who hear; then the Devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
So in the first instance the seed was sown in the heart but Satan comes in and removes the seed, like a devouring bird.. so that it cannot grow and produce salvation. Notice too that Jesus says the seed is trampled, unappreciated and discarded. So that Satan is sucessful in completely removing the seed.
2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.
No light was able to dawn on their minds because they were unbelievers, and Satan was able to keep them as his own, devouring them.
Luk 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
In the second instance, the heart turns into rock. He says it lacks moisture, it is not watered. Initally they accept the seed, the gift of Jesus in their hearts, but do not let it take root, to change them, to water their hearts with Jesus the living water. They only believe for a short time, loose faith and when temptation of the flesh comes, they loose the seedling.
Luk 8:14 And those which fell among thorns are the ones who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear to maturity.
In this instance the seed is not allowed growth. It is allowed to have thorns sprout up around it. Instead of letting the seed grow to fruitage, the heart is not weeded out of things that choke the seed. The works of the Flesh, anxieties of life, persuit of money, that cause the flesh and darkness in us to stop the growth of the seed.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with headaches and drinking and anxieties of this life; and that day should suddenly come on you;
The heart becomes weighed down with the shakles of the flesh, instead of enjoying the freedom in Christ. Faith exists, but is pushed out by our own self doubt and reasoning. Lack of submission, fleshly reasoning, to the instructions of the Holy Spirit. We must become as children. Trusting in our father to teach and train us in all things.
Luk 8:15 But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
And now, our Lord gives us a key to the kingdom. What our hearts need to be, so that we can have his seed grow in us.
Honest.
Joh 14:17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you.
We have to have that Spirit of Truth. Our father wants us to worship him in this way. It dwell in us through his Spirit. We must speak truth. For the Father hates a lie. We must seek the instruction of that that truth, and this can only come from us seeking The Father and the Word of Truth Jesus.
Second, we must have a good heart. There can be no fleshly influence of selfishness or deciet. The one who would produce fruitage would have heard the Word.. Listened to it's master's voice, and treasured the seed given to them. Then allow the seed to become fertile and grow. To nurture and fertalize the seed through faith and reliance of God. To be patient and taught by the Holy Sprit. To recieve the message with Joy, appreciation, and obedience.
Luk 8:16 And no one lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch; but he sets it on a lampstand so that those who enter in may see the light.
This verse describes how the seed in the good soil would produce fruitage. It MUST SHINE. There must be manifestation of the growth. Just as a seed pops forth from the soil after light, water, and patience, so does the fruitages of the Holy Spirit, the seed, that the Father and Jesus place in us.
For continued growth to occur, it is essential that this tender seedling be exposed to light. So That it can grow to maturity. If hidden under a basket, it will wither and die, never producing fruitage. We as followers of Jesus must be a lampstand. So that our hearts do not become unproductive and stagnet of growth.
Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret that shall not be revealed; nor secret which shall not be known and come to be revealed.
This scripture also ties in well with this one.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
Many times Jesus urges us to be refined. To purify our hearts and minds. To pull the weeds out of our hearts. If we expose ourselves to the light, than it will expose things about ourselves, tendecies of the flesh, that may cause the seed of the Holy Spirit, to not take come to fruitation. It is essesential to accept the disicipline of Jehovah. For to those whom he loves, he disiplines! We cannot produce any fruitage without him. We have to allow him to refine our heart. In gardening it is a least favorite thing to do, to weed. And the same can be true when it comes to weeding out our flesh, and replacing it with growth of the spirit. It can be painful, and uncomfortable. But in the end allows maturity.
Luk 8:18 Therefore be careful how you hear. For whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.
And now we have a warning. Listen to what he is saying! Be careful how you Hear! What are we listening too? Are we listening to the teacher, the seed he placed in us? Are we allowing Jesus to teach and cleanse us? Or are our hearts, hard and unresponsive. Full of fear and lacking faith? Without root, or full of weeds and thorns. If we do not allow our faith in the Jesus to fill our hearts, than he will remove what was given. How horrible this would be!
We would be like the unfaitful slave.
Mat 25:24 And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter,
Mat 25:27 then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest.
The slave did not do his masters will. Did not let his light shine, but instead hid it in the ground. Jesus says it would have been better for him, to have turned the talent over to a banker where it at least would have produced some fruitage, than to hide it, and not use it.
By the slave's lack of appreciation for the gift or talent given, and refusal to produce fruitage, he is called Evil! Oh how terrible this would be.
What is interesting too in this illustration, the seed is there. The sower had done his Job. How we prepare, recieve and nurture the seed given to us, is the key. A key to his Kingdom.
We must each examine our own self. What is the Soil of our Heart?
May we all be fine soil and recieve the praise from our Lord.
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Love
Lynn
Luk 8:6 And other fell on a rock, and sprouting, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And other fell amidst thorns, and springing up with the thorns, they choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He cried, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Luk 8:9 And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10 And He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to others I speak in parables, so that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand.
Luk 8:11 And the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
First I think in understanding this parable we must throw out all preconcieved idea of what the seed, and soils mean.. I feel it is a mistake to assume that the soils stand for types of people. Let me explain why.
In verse 10 it is explained that the illustration is a mystery of the Kingdom of God. So we know this applies to our entering into his kingdom. Jesus show that we can recieve a taste and benefits of his kingdom now.
Eph 1:12 for us to be to the praise of His glory, who previously had trusted in Christ;
Eph 1:13 in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The seed is the Word of God, Jesus. Jesus gives us his promised token of our inheritance, the promised Holy Spirit. A seed in a sense of him. We can see how this would make sense in that in the New Covenant we partake of Christ body and blood. We replace our Flesh and Blood with his. We become his footstep followers, and are to pick up his torchure stake. Our obligation as christians is to allow Jesus to become manifest through us. To be a vessel for his fruitage through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gives us an illustration to help us understand how to let his seed grow in our hearts, This parable teaches a beautiful truth. How to let our hearts be fine soil. A mystery of the Kingdom. Growth and fruitage as a christain.
Luk 8:12 Those by the roadside are the ones who hear; then the Devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
So in the first instance the seed was sown in the heart but Satan comes in and removes the seed, like a devouring bird.. so that it cannot grow and produce salvation. Notice too that Jesus says the seed is trampled, unappreciated and discarded. So that Satan is sucessful in completely removing the seed.
2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.
No light was able to dawn on their minds because they were unbelievers, and Satan was able to keep them as his own, devouring them.
Luk 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
In the second instance, the heart turns into rock. He says it lacks moisture, it is not watered. Initally they accept the seed, the gift of Jesus in their hearts, but do not let it take root, to change them, to water their hearts with Jesus the living water. They only believe for a short time, loose faith and when temptation of the flesh comes, they loose the seedling.
Luk 8:14 And those which fell among thorns are the ones who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear to maturity.
In this instance the seed is not allowed growth. It is allowed to have thorns sprout up around it. Instead of letting the seed grow to fruitage, the heart is not weeded out of things that choke the seed. The works of the Flesh, anxieties of life, persuit of money, that cause the flesh and darkness in us to stop the growth of the seed.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with headaches and drinking and anxieties of this life; and that day should suddenly come on you;
The heart becomes weighed down with the shakles of the flesh, instead of enjoying the freedom in Christ. Faith exists, but is pushed out by our own self doubt and reasoning. Lack of submission, fleshly reasoning, to the instructions of the Holy Spirit. We must become as children. Trusting in our father to teach and train us in all things.
Luk 8:15 But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
And now, our Lord gives us a key to the kingdom. What our hearts need to be, so that we can have his seed grow in us.
Honest.
Joh 14:17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you.
We have to have that Spirit of Truth. Our father wants us to worship him in this way. It dwell in us through his Spirit. We must speak truth. For the Father hates a lie. We must seek the instruction of that that truth, and this can only come from us seeking The Father and the Word of Truth Jesus.
Second, we must have a good heart. There can be no fleshly influence of selfishness or deciet. The one who would produce fruitage would have heard the Word.. Listened to it's master's voice, and treasured the seed given to them. Then allow the seed to become fertile and grow. To nurture and fertalize the seed through faith and reliance of God. To be patient and taught by the Holy Sprit. To recieve the message with Joy, appreciation, and obedience.
Luk 8:16 And no one lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch; but he sets it on a lampstand so that those who enter in may see the light.
This verse describes how the seed in the good soil would produce fruitage. It MUST SHINE. There must be manifestation of the growth. Just as a seed pops forth from the soil after light, water, and patience, so does the fruitages of the Holy Spirit, the seed, that the Father and Jesus place in us.
For continued growth to occur, it is essential that this tender seedling be exposed to light. So That it can grow to maturity. If hidden under a basket, it will wither and die, never producing fruitage. We as followers of Jesus must be a lampstand. So that our hearts do not become unproductive and stagnet of growth.
Luk 8:17 For nothing is secret that shall not be revealed; nor secret which shall not be known and come to be revealed.
This scripture also ties in well with this one.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
Many times Jesus urges us to be refined. To purify our hearts and minds. To pull the weeds out of our hearts. If we expose ourselves to the light, than it will expose things about ourselves, tendecies of the flesh, that may cause the seed of the Holy Spirit, to not take come to fruitation. It is essesential to accept the disicipline of Jehovah. For to those whom he loves, he disiplines! We cannot produce any fruitage without him. We have to allow him to refine our heart. In gardening it is a least favorite thing to do, to weed. And the same can be true when it comes to weeding out our flesh, and replacing it with growth of the spirit. It can be painful, and uncomfortable. But in the end allows maturity.
Luk 8:18 Therefore be careful how you hear. For whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.
And now we have a warning. Listen to what he is saying! Be careful how you Hear! What are we listening too? Are we listening to the teacher, the seed he placed in us? Are we allowing Jesus to teach and cleanse us? Or are our hearts, hard and unresponsive. Full of fear and lacking faith? Without root, or full of weeds and thorns. If we do not allow our faith in the Jesus to fill our hearts, than he will remove what was given. How horrible this would be!
We would be like the unfaitful slave.
Mat 25:24 And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter,
Mat 25:27 then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest.
The slave did not do his masters will. Did not let his light shine, but instead hid it in the ground. Jesus says it would have been better for him, to have turned the talent over to a banker where it at least would have produced some fruitage, than to hide it, and not use it.
By the slave's lack of appreciation for the gift or talent given, and refusal to produce fruitage, he is called Evil! Oh how terrible this would be.
What is interesting too in this illustration, the seed is there. The sower had done his Job. How we prepare, recieve and nurture the seed given to us, is the key. A key to his Kingdom.
We must each examine our own self. What is the Soil of our Heart?
May we all be fine soil and recieve the praise from our Lord.
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
Love
Lynn