Mark: The Sower & The Seed

Main Point

Clearly stated in verse 14, The sower sows the word.

The sower is both representative of God himself and we his servants.

The seed is his word (logos).

The Importance of Understanding

If we are those whom Christ has called to himself, we will understand his words.

Cross reference verses 10-12 with Matthew 13:10-17

Matthew 13:10–17 ESV

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “ ‘ “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

”The one who has” is one whom has already tasted and entered into the kingdom.

Jesus questions “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?”

Are you seeking to truly understand, are you mining scripture?

App: Scripture as a whole, not just the parables, is meant to be studied.

Psalm 111:2 ESV

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

I encourage you to break out your pickax and mine through the things in scripture, because there is gold to be found everywhere.

Do not give up when something is difficult to understand when it comes to knowing God.

The Seed

The seed is the word, but what does that specifically mean?

This is the greek “Logos”

This is the proclamation of the law and gospel, the Christian message.

The seed does not change or ever cease to be seed (the word)

Some people hate the seed.

Some would love to change somethings about it and give it a few tweaks to make it more tolerable to a modern audience.

But unlike soybeans and corn, you cannot genetically modify the seed of the word.

If that is attempted, then it ceases to be the word.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Sower

The first sower is God himself, and his work is seen way back to Genesis.

When we read “God said”

In John 1 we see that Jesus is this very word

God’s ambassadors are also the sower in this parable

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 ESV

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

The sowers’ job is to scatter seed liberally

The Work (practical application)

Scattering seed is not limited to “events” of evangelistic outreach, but it is what living the Christian life actually looks like. A life that loves Christ, and reflects his glory to those around it.

App: The scattering of the seed is liberal and indiscriminate. The scattering of the seed naturally comes out of the sower liberally because that is the definition of what a sower is. What is in a person will come out of a person (Mark 7:20).

This word of the gospel is the most precious and valuable message God has ever given to mankind, and he earnestly desire for it to be scattered broadly. Freely given and offered to all.

App: It seems like the seed is wasted by being scattered in place that it will not flourish.

Mention possible farming method in Jesus’ time

We affirm the sovereignty of God, and that no one is saved unless God draws them (John 6)

But the offer of the gospel is to be freely distributed without prejudice

App: Well what about the soil? The ground that does not receive the word?

We cannot know whom God is drawing

If we try and judge what “good soil” looks like to us, and only scatter seed there, we are playing at being God and we should repent.

A person who looks like stony ground to us may be exactly who God is calling to himself.

Closing

App: The sower is effective by scattering seed, not something else

Again, the main point of todays text is clear, “The sower sows the word” (Verse 14)

This is why it is important for us to know God and his word

What we put out there should not be “good vibes” or even really convincing things that sugar coat the truth.

We must make sure that the seed we are scattering is the Word. The truth.

If it gets rejected, its not on you. We must refuse to change the message to make it more palatable to people.

They are lost, their nature is contrary to God, and the worst thing we can do is make them feel really good on their way to hell.

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” -C.H. Spurgeon