A Right Response to the Gospel

A Right Response to the Gospel - Luke 8:4-15

INTRO:

As we take a sort of big-picture view of Jesus’ earthly ministry, this passage marks a transition: Although Jesus’ popularity is increasing, his focus shifts toward those smaller numbers of people who by faith will be his true followers.

This is a good reminder to us in our modern movements that big numbers do not automatically equal true fruitfulness in ministry. To be sure, we ought not to be jealous or unnecessarily opposed to churches getting big, but we should certainly be alert to the fact that many might gather but few might be sincere followers of Jesus. Of course, this could be just as true of small gatherings, but we can be more assured that a small gathering that is careful to focus not just on the perceived benefits of a better life in Christ but also on the true cost and suffering in discipleship will be more likely to produce faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus. Even big churches that are also faithful in giving a real perspective on the call of the gospel will know (or should know) that then the great struggle as growth snowballs is that there will be many who have come simply because it’s the happening place. Said church has to work all the harder to find ways to impress on the lives of individuals what discipleship really is.

As we will see from his explanation of using parables in vv. 9-10, this shift is one of the reasons that he increasingly now will teach to the masses in parables:

Mark 4:33–34 ESV

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

“The crowds were thronging about Jesus. He was becoming a popular preacher. But he looked for more than a superficial adherence, so he intensified his use of parables, stories which yielded their meaning only to those prepared to search for it. The parables demand thought and spiritual earnestness. They separate the sincere seeker from the casual hearer.” -Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 170.

The Parable of the Soils (vv. 4-8)

A parable is an extended illustration or story to which people can readily relate that makes a spiritual point (or inter-related points).

So this parable pictures someone sowing seed:

As the seed is cast out onto the intended field by hand, some falls on the path surrounding or going through the field to be sown. The path is fully hardened from people constantly walking on it. The seeds that land on the path in Jesus’ illustration are rendered useless by either being trampled or by birds snatching them away.

Some falls on the soil that is super thin with a sheet of limestone rock underneath. (not like most of the simply rocky soil in the Ozarks [goodness gracious], but those places where we too might have shelf rock underneath) Here in the shallow soil the seed germinates, but with lack of depth and moisture, the sun quickly causes it to wither.

Some seed lands on an area where the thorny weeds also sprout and grow even faster than the intended plant, and thus it is choked out.

Finally, some of the seed lands in fertile soil that isn’t shallow or thorny, so it grows and yields a great crop. - Luke doesn’t have the the thirty- and sixty-fold crops that go along with the hundredfold crop, as do Matthew and Mark. But any of those numbers would have been an amazingly fruitful harvest.

Jesus says “he who has ears let him hear,” emphasizing that there is spiritual significance in the parable and that people do well to listen thoughtfully in order to understand and apply it. - Perhaps too this is evidence of the motif in scripture (especially in OT prophets… notably Isaiah and Ezekiel) that many remained deaf to God’s voice (due to hardness of heart).

*

The Two-Fold Purpose of Parables (vv. 9-10)

Before explaining the specific parable, Jesus answers the disciples’ question by first telling them why he is teaching using parables. - By the way, these disciples, though fewer in number, is certainly meant to include more than just the twelve chosen apostles. Mark 4:10 mentions that “those around him with the twelve” asked him about the parables. As we saw last week, this would have included the faithful women of Luke 8:2-3 and others who were sincere in their belief in him (even to whatever limited extent of understanding they yet had).

Jesus explains to his dedicated followers that these… “Parables serve two functions: They reveal truth to those who are spiritually responsive; and they conceal truth from those who are spiritually superficial or scoffing.” Steve Cole

Secrets or mysteries in the NT means that which would not be comprehended or known apart from revelation (clarity given by God).

Jesus’ quote comes from Isaiah 6:9, emphasizing hard hearts and subsequent judgment from God.

“Jesus’ words and the quote from Isaiah plunge us into one of the deep mysteries that we cannot fully grasp, the fact that God sovereignly grants salvation to His elect, but that sinners are fully responsible for their persistence in sin and their ultimate condemnation.” Cole

“In short, what the disciples get in parables is insight into the kingdom, but what is given to those who reject God’s offer of revelation is a story that prevents them from understanding what God is doing.” (Bock, 729)

Some by faith hear and understand, while others remain hardened in their hearts and blind to the depth of spiritual significance. - You can imagine this parable falling pretty short (on deaf ears) if one doesn’t gain the meaning behind it that Jesus will now explain.

The Meaning of This Parable (vv. 11-15)

The seed is the word of God. (the truth of God, what God says revealed, and in this case particularly in Jesus)

Jesus goes on to explain that the parable describes various responses and various obstacles to the word from God.

Like a bird snatching seed from the hardened soil, the devil aims to prevent the truth from ever taking root in people’s hearts, and those who remain hardened against God’s truth for their lives are easy targets. - “A spiritual battle ensues when the kingdom of God is preached.” (Bock, 734) What are some ways we can think of that the devil snatches away the seed of the word? … Twisted “gospels” and false religions … Intervening in human history and events to try to thwart the progress of the gospel. - But if God intends to someone to be saved, can the devil snatch that seed? NO!

The warning is clear about hardness of heart toward God and impending judgment.

As we continue, note that the point of the parable is not to ask “the minimum response required to receive blessing.” (Bock, 733) So focusing too much on trying to answer the question of whether soils 2 and 3 are indeed saved shortchanges the thrust of the parable, that only the response corresponding to the fourth seed is portrayed here in a favorable light. -A minor caution: Don’t fall so in love with emphasizing certain theological positions to the detriment of other valid theological emphases.

Again, what we have in these responses pictured here in less about momentary response and more overall and ultimate response to Jesus “throughout the totality of one’s life.” (Bock, 734)

What other responses are there, and what are the obstacles to right response that leads to fruitfulness in the kingdom?

The second soil hears and springs up quickly, but it has not depth, no root, and therefore does not withstand trial. - ***

Soil that is so full of thorny weeds that the seed is choked out, never bearing fruit. - worries… , riches…, pleasures…

-(choking of plants) Not a sudden, but a gradual process… - “Such a plant is useless” (Bock, 738)

Finally, fruitful seed grows in the fertile heart. - honest and good heart, holding fast, patience/perseverance (opposite of falling away)

What makes for a fertile heart?

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 3:18–19 ESV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

[Conclusion]

Is your heart fertile for the word of Christ to grow in you?

“Whatever the current state of our hearts, we can appeal to God to grant us a new heart so that we will hold fast to Him and bear fruit with perseverance.” Steve Cole

“A person should not delay responding to the word, for as time passes it may become harder to respond. If one waits, it may eventually become too late.” (Bock, 718)

Sowing the word of God among others…

Secondary application: Cultivating and pruning in our lives to submit to the spirit and starve the flesh