Lesson 23 Luke 8:1- 15 The Parable of the Sower

Women Added to the Ministry 8:1- 3

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

8 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

We are not told yet about what time the disciples actually did ministry other than provide assistance to the master. After all, The teaching of Jesus was new for most people,even disciples. On a regular basis, He drew from the Old Testament as He explained His kingdom. The disciples were getting discipled as they went along and wandered from city to city.

This trip women accompanied the disciples and Jesus. Some of them were women of renown, such as Joanna, and Susanna. Mary Magdalene was notable for the demons that had been cast out of her. She was from Magdala. Hence Magdalene. She had multiple personalities called demons and all seven demons had left her. (Interesting that they could pinpoint all seven. Each demon had a name and a role. This information is with held from Scripture, so as not to draw attention to them today.)

Joanna was notable because her husband was King Herod’s household manager( he was a steward in Herod’s house. It is also possible that at this time she was a widow and could travel freely with the proper resources.) Susanna was notable because she was one who helped provide for the traveling ministries financial needs. I believe this would be a beginning of the need of fundraising in ministry. Ministry moves forward because of people giving financially to God’s work. The accelerator of ministry is large gifts. Every ministry needs both: the daily one time or weekly/monthly gifts plus the large donations. Donations can easily fit the nature and ability of the believer to bless. The ministry can stand and move because of the varied nature of those who support it along the way.

Women were not a part of the Jewish plan of ministry so the rabbi’s would have ignored them. They probably would have been horrified to hear that the wife of some official had been with the traveling troop of Christ’s followers. Here they are moving in an itinerant fashion with the male disciples. Ministry to women, in those days, had to come from a husband or Father. Who would have thought they had potential? Well, now they do in the eyes of the Most High God: Jesus Christ.

This we know, that at this time in Jesus life, He may have had to avoid the synagogues because of violence or hostility on many fronts towards His message. His ministry was really intense as it regularly did radical healing of people from evil spirits, infirmities, demon possession, and involved ministry to Gentiles. There was never a lack of an audience for Jesus, but there was such a thing as negative feedback from His priestly, Pharisee listeners. It was easy to see, Jesus could have put some of the religious crew out of work. Jesus was a threat to their livelihood.

Parable of the Sower 8:4- 8

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

We are not told here how many people came to this but it was not unusual for Jesus to have four or five thousand in attendance. We learn that from his feeding and caring from the New Testament gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The likely scenario each time he tells a parable, it is then explained to the disciples separately. That is what happened here. We have to ask ourselves, “Would Jesus have said more than a couple of sentences to the people who came? He probably did. This was the most important thing He said. If he did not, He would have ministered to the people one-on-one. That takes time. One-on-one was His specialty and it still is today. That is why we can go boldly to the throne pf grace to find mercy and grace to help in a time of need. Jesus wants to you come near.

vs. 4- The sower is a farmer. The traditional method was that they sowed seed first and then cultivated or plowed. It is kind of backwards from today, but if it worked, then that is what counts. The sower goes forth to sow, and some of the seeds fell among the pathway. That seed got trampled or eaten by birds. vs.5. It seems almost careless doesn’t it? Some fell on rocks, but grew and quickly withered from no care, or moisture. Some fell among then thorns, which would have been the hedgerow thorn bushes. The thorns choked the seeds and they died. The seed that fell onto tillable soil did the job. It brought forth a hundredfold! So, when it says he who has ears to hear, it’s not talking about corn on the cob. It’s talking to us sowers of the seed, to take heed to where you are sowing. There are places to sow that are not great kingdom business. There is not going to be any yield. If there is no yield, the farmer or the true sower will not plant. the plea to listen is not just to the sower, but to anyone with ears who can hear the message. Listen up. Now comes the private explanation.

Parable Purpose- 8:9- 15

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

This would have been everyday knowledge to the disciples, but they needed the spiritual explanation. We get what Jesus is saying. He told them they would get to know the secrets of the kingdom. These secrets are binding their hearts to their master and Savior. To the people, they are just stories or parables. They can see and hear but cannot perceive and understand just quite yet. The key time of understanding will be after the cross and tomb.

The seed stands for the Word of God! vs. 11.The seed sown on the path are those who have heard but the devil comes and takes away the seed so that they cannot be saved and believe. The seed on the rocks is those who have caught the Word of God with joy, but there is no root and after testing, they fall away. The seed sown among thorns is the crop that fell into a place where their faith is choked by the cares, riches, pleasures, and troubles of this life and the fruit never matures.

The good soil is the Word of God sown in an honest and good heart. Vs.15. This soil produces growth, fruit, and patience. Today, first you must saw to yourself, am I going to be sowing. The next thing you should think about is, “Where would be the best place for me to sow the seed of the Word of God.” Thirdly, who are you going to let me tell the Word of God to today, Dear Lord, so that your seed will not fall into the place of least effect. Today, let your Word be sown on fertile ground of the hearts of men, women and children.