Parable of Soil

Introduction

Last week we witnessed Jesus being accused by the scribes and other religious leaders of being possessed by a demon named Beelzebul (lord of the flies) and that is how he was casting out unclean spirits and performing miracles. He was also accused by his own family of being a lunatic (out of his mind) He used a parable to explain how absurd or ridiculous the claim he was possessed by an unclean spirit. Then he introduced the unforgivable sin. I explained in more detail last week so if you missed it please get your bible and go review the sermon. Then His mother and brothers came on seen in verse 31 of chapter 3 and Jesus points out the new family of God being built on the 12 apostles were those who do the will of God. That is the mark of his family and followers. Now we will pick up starting Mark chapter 4, please stand with me for the reading of God’s word.

Jesus teaches on sowing

Here Jesus is seen teaching and there is again a large crowd gathered. He gets into a boat not for a means of escape but a platform to teach from. Verse two says he was teaching them many things in parables. A parable consists of a story and its corresponding intended message or principle. We have one of the parables here which we will review and study

(read the parable again)

Verse 9 says He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Verse 3 starts the Parable with a plea to LISTEN! BEHOLD, this is a call to pay careful attention to what he is saying.

Both starting the parable and ending the parable Jesus calls for careful hearing and attention.

Most of the parable Jesus would start by saying something like “the kingdom of God is like” This one does not start that way, and this is the only parable that comes with detailed explanation.

Also this parable is present in all three of the synoptic Gospels which shows the importance it had with the early church.

Some further back round regarding this parable

The New American Commentary: Mark (1) The Parable of the Soils and Its Interpretation (4:1–9, 13–20)

The parable is true to what is known about ancient Palestinian agriculture. Unlike the modern method, the seed was sown first and then plowed under. The sower held it in an apron with one hand and broadcast it with the other. It was inevitable that some would fall upon the hardened path through the field, some where the soil was too shallow, and some among thorns as well as on good ground. The stones and thistles that to this day infest Palestinian fields are legendary. Only one element in the parable is unusual, the superabundant harvest in v. 8. Because of the primitive agricultural methods, an average harvest in ancient Palestine was probably no more than seven or eight times the amount of seed sown, and a good harvest probably was about ten.

So while standing in a boat in front of a large crowd he opens up his mouth and preaches this parable. The next verse, starting in verse 10 says now Jesus was alone with his disciples, They ask him about the parables

Jesus responds

Jesus responds

To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God

but those who are on the outside everything is in parable

SO that “they may indeed see but not perceive and may indeed hear but no understand lest they should turn and be forgiven

So we have two separate groups of people here. One the secrets of the Kingdom are given and to everyone else, Jesus says they are on the outside and everything is in parables

Jesus here quotes from Isaiah chapter 6:9

The prophet Isaiah was told by the LORD

Isaiah 6:9–10 ESV

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Isaiah 6:

Isaiah went to preach Judgment on the people of Isaiah.

Because of their hard hearts, their unbelieving hearts, their wicked ways they would not see and hear nor believe and therefore be saved.

We see examples of this all throughout the bible

Deuteronomy 29:4 ESV

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

Deut

Jeremiah 5:21 ESV

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.

Ezekiel 12:2 ESV

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.

Romans 11:8 ESV

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

2 Corinthians 3:14 ESV

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

Now this parable cannot be interpreted separate from the explanation from JESUS. We will get into that next week.

Application

Begin wrapping it up explaining The word of God is spiritually discerned. It must be illuminated by the HS.