Parable of the Sower- Luke 8:4-15

Parable of the Sower- Luke 8:4-15

As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:8b

Gospel Parallel Verses: Mark 4:9, Matthew 13:9

Cross References: 1 Corinthians 3:5-6, John 8:43-47

As we come together this morning to hear the words of our Lord, let us prepare our hearts in all humility. Our text for today will be from the words of Jesus himself, the Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8:4-15.

Jesus had the divine ability to convey exceedingly deep and profound messages without using a lot of words. Some might call this ability "Lucid Brevity." In other words, His words are exact and concise. His words have the ability to illuminate the hearts and minds of the hearers. Please remember, it was His words that brought all of creation into existence. Although he gives an explanation of this parable to his disciples, it was not until after his death, burial and resurrection that they could really grasp it's true implications.

In this one short parable Jesus reveals many timeless truths: including

the process by which people can be saved, the depravity of man, the specific conditions of the human heart, regeneration (the new birth), the power of God's Word, salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, God's sovereignty in election, dead faith, living faith and true and false conversion

But I don't believe that this is an exhaustive list. These are just some things that I've discovered during my studies.

The scope of this parable is incredible. Here He gives terrifying warnings and yet provides great hope! It is through parables such as this that wicked hearts can be further hardened. And through the same words, a dead man can be supernaturally made alive. His words can bring forth great conviction that can lead to humility, repentance and faith. His words can also provide the believer with unsurpassed comfort and assurance.

Although He spoke in parables, His message is not ambiguous. He sends a crystal clear

message, a message sharper than any two edge sword...able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

This parable reveals the condition of the heart. Let me bring this a little closer to home, this parable will reveal the condition of your heart, and the condition of my heart.

Every one of us is represented in this parable. No one is excluded. We all, at this moment, represent one of these four soils. So I am talking to you and I'm talking to me. Although everyone of us is one of these four soils, in all reality we are in only one of two categories: simply put, each one of us is either a child of God or a child of the devil.

Right now at this very moment you are either in Adam or in Christ, you are either a sheep or a goat, wheat or a tear. We are included in only one of two kingdoms: we are either of Heaven's kingdom or of this world's kingdom. We are all on one of two paths: the broad path that leads to destruction or the narrow path that leads to life. We are all slaves: either a slave to sin unto death or a slave to obedience unto righteousness...

The good news is that God has graciously made a way through His Son, so that even the vilest son or daughter of Satan can be forgiven of all sin and become an adopted child of God. God's chosen method of accomplishing this marvelous work, as we are about to see, is through His Word. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

For those of you who's names are written in the Lamb's book of life, this parable is meant to build you up, strengthen your faith and further illuminate the path that He has set before you. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

The condition of your heart determines what kind of a relationship you have with God. This message is not a message designed to manipulate you or to compel you to go about doing good works. However if the seed has landed on good soil, then you will be compelled from a right heart to do good works. This is not an attempt to convince you that you should no longer do evil. But if seed has found good soil, you will no longer want to do evil.

We are about to come together and read the very word of God as spoken by the eternal Word of God (the Logos) Who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them and Who, at this very moment, is holding all things together.

Let us prepare our hearts to receive from God the Father the gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by God the Son. That God the Holy Spirit might grace us and give us ears to hear and hearts to understand. To HIM be the glory.

Let us pray

Reading of the Text (2 minutes 30 seconds):

Please turn in your Bibles to The Gospel of Luke chapter 8. We will be reading the parable of the sower found in verses 4–15.

Luke 8:4-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower

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.”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.

Brief Historical Narrative (45 seconds):

At the time when Jesus told this parable, John the Baptist was in prison but had not yet been executed. The ministry of Jesus was in full force. His 12 disciples were with Him, He had already been contending with the Pharisees and claiming to be the Son of God, He had been going about doing many miracles (healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead). He is now going through the cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. As a result, great crowds were gathering around him and his disciples.

The Purpose of Parables:

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,

What is a parable?

This word parable literally means "a placing of one thing by the side of another." Jesus would use parables to illustrate unfamiliar truths about the kingdom of God through familiar earthly subjects. It is often said, that a parable is "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning."

8...As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 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.’

Cross References: John 8:43-47, 10:3- 27; 17:6, 9–11, 14, 20, 24, Matthew 13:36, 15:15,

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:9-17, Mark 4:9-13

Questions: Who were the people who had ears to hear? Were they the good people? The smart people? Were they those who loved Christ more than everybody else? Why did Jesus speak in parables?

Topics: God's sovereignty in election. The response of believers who hear the word: His disciples asked Him what the parable meant.

The question now rises, why does Jesus speak in parables? Here in the Gospel of Luke his disciples asked him what this parable meant. But in Matthew's gospel they asked Him the question: “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

Let's turn over to Matthew and see how he answers them.

Matthew 13:10-17

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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.”

15 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.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 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.

Fulfillment of prophecy

One reason Jesus gave for using parables was the fulfillment of prophecy. We know that when Messiah came many things that were spoken of old from the mouths of the prophets were fulfilled. All of history and the words of the prophets were pointing to the coming of Jesus. Jesus tells us "in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled."

So why were there some in the crowd who understood and others who did not?

John 8:43-47

English Standard Version (ESV)

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Let's examine these few verses together:

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,

Follow along with me in your Bibles as I read verses 5-9. These are the words the crowds would've heard. They would have just been left pondering what Christ had just said without any explanation. like you to stop and think about what Christ is saying here. I want you to listen to His words as they are being read, as if it is the first time you have ever heard them. As if you have never heard the explanation of this parable that Jesus gives later. Think of yourself as if you are in that crowd.

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.

Stop here briefly. Consider what Jesus has just said. "A sower went out to sow his seed." Who is the sower? What is the seed? How is the seed being spread? "Some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it." What is this path that people are walking on? Imagine these birds that are plucking up the seed. Jesus is giving an illustration. Picture what he is saying in your mind. I think you get the idea.

Let us continue:

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.”

How do you think you would have done figuring out this parable if this is all you had to work with? Do you believe that you would have been correctly tracking with Jesus? Correctly understanding the message he was conveying? What if He just left you there without any further explanation? Do you think you would have drawn the same conclusion that Jesus later explains to his disciples?

Let us now read the explanation beginning in verse 9:

8b"As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Question: Who are the people who have "ears to hear?"

Are they the good and righteous people? Those who are careful to obey all the rules and diligently go about doing good deeds?

Romans 3:10

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:12

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Jesus said in Luke 5:32

"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

We see that the keepers of the law and seemingly righteous men are not always excluded from having ears to hear. We have reason to believe that Nicodemus, a Pharisee, and Joseph of Arimathea, "a member of the council, a good and righteous man", both came to know the Lord. Saul of Tarsus a "Pharisee of Pharisees" later became Paul the Apostle. But the word of God tells us that it was not good works that justified them before the Lord.

Romans 3:20

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

And do not forget the Gentile, Cornelius.

Acts 10:1-5

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

The one thing these men had in common was not their righteous deeds, The one redeeming quality they all shared was humility when confronted with the word of God.

Were they smart people, who were clever enough to figure these things out? Were they those who loved Christ more than everybody else?

The true believers who heard this parable did not just hear it and go about their business. They kept it in mind and wanted to understand. They either went to the Lord personally and asked him to explain it to them or they came to God in prayer until they understood. They humbled themselves before the Lord so that they might understand what He was trying to tell him. We must approach God in a spirit of humility. It says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

The Sower:

5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed,

Cross References: Romans 10:14-15,

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:3-4, Mark 4:3-4 (Same)

Questions: By what means is the seed spread? How are they to hear without someone preaching?

Topics: evangelism

The Seed:

5 “A sower went out to sow his seed.

11 The seed is the word of God.

Cross References: Romans 1:16, 10:17, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23, James 1:18

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:4-8, 19-23, Mark 4:4-8, 14-20

Questions: What causes the seed to grow? The seed will die or grow depending on what soil it lands on.

Topics: The Word's power to save. It's eternality, it's ability to discern the intentions of our heart. The Word is Christ.

The Soils:

Four different soils are represented: the path, rocky ground, among the thorns and good soil. Luke 8:5-8, 12-15

Cross References: Matthew 5:8, 5:28, 6:21, 12:34, 22:37, Mark 7:6, 18-22

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:4-8, Mark 4:4-20

Questions: What does the soil represent? The one who hears the word and understands it. Matthew 13:23

The ones who hear the word and accept it. Mark 4:20

Those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart. Luke 8:15

The devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts (Luke 8:12)/ the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Matthew 13:19)... Heart = Soil

What is the natural condition of the heart? See Jeremiah 17:9, Genesis 8:21,Ecclesiastes 8:11, Romans 3:10-12, Genesis 6:5, Mark 7:18-22

What makes a heart good and understanding? See Genesis 1:1-5,

Topics: The condition of the soil (heart) determines whether or not the seed (the word) grows up and bears fruit. God prepares the soil. The Holy Spirit's work in regeneration: eternal life comes when the Word of God meets a heart that has been prepared by the Spirit of God.

Along the path

5 some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.

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.

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:4, 19, Mark 4:4, 15

Cross reference: Ephesians 4:17-20

Sermon excerpt:

This represents someone who has heard the word and it never really penetrated their heart at all. They briefly considered what was spoken and hastily deemed it as useless and unimportant. This seed that landed along the path and was trampled under foot and the birds of the air devoured it. The seed that was scattered produced no life at all. Imagine if you will, a wide, dry and dusty path devoid of moisture and life. The surface is hard and packed down because of the frequent traffic of the world. Think of these precious seeds lying on this hard impenetrable ground and the world walking on this broad path, everyone going about their own business, completely indifferent to the value of these life giving seeds. As the seeds are trampled underfoot they are ever so slightly pressed into the surface of the ground and before they can produce any life at all the birds come. The devil comes quickly, and before the person is able to understand the preciousness of what he has just received the enemy redirects his mind's gaze to some shiny worthless trinket that instantly becomes more valuable to that person than his own immortal soul. Then Satan quickly, with little effort steals away the words of eternal life from that person's hard and impenetrable heart.

There could be people listening to this message that may consider its content unimportant or boring. They, at this moment, may be distracted by other things. God's word and eternal life are trivial matters to them. They may consider the truths being proclaimed from God's word unimportant. The terrifying reality is if they do not repent and receive the words of life they will perish in their sins. If the Lord does not change their heart, and they remain this way, there is no hope for them. If you have determined that I am speaking to you, the Lord is being very gracious to you and possibly granting you repentance unto salvation. Humble yourself and turn to him in fear and in humility at this moment! Do not delay one second! Today is the day of salvation do not harden your hearts as they did in the wilderness. Do not allow Satan to come in and steal away God's precious word from your heart. Believe in God's word, in His son Jesus who alone is able to save your soul from hell.

Rocky ground

6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

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.

Cross References:

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21, Mark 4:5-6, 16-17

Mark 4:5-6...Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

Matthew 13:5-6...Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away

Topics:

Among thorns

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

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.

Cross References:

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:7, 22, Mark 4:7, 18-19

Topics:

Good soil

8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”

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.

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:8, 23, Mark 4:8, 20

Sermon Excerpt:

Let us now take a look at the good soil.

Matthew 13

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

Mark 4

20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Luke 8

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.

The seed is the word of God, the heart is the soil, it says in Luke that those hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

In this scenario, as best as I can tell, we have only two options.

First option: the word made the heart good.

Second option: the heart was already good when the word landed on it.

This is the only depiction out of the four examples given of a true believer. True believers will respond to the hearing of the word in the following ways:

They will understand it (Matthew 13:23). Although we may not understand the meaning of God's word immediately, this will be our desire. We see His disciples did not understand initially then we see In verse 9 of Luke 8 that they asked him what this parable meant.

They will accept it. Mark 4:20

They will hold it fast in an honest and good heart. Luke 8:15

Question: What makes the good soil good?

We see that the other 3 soils were unfruitful. What made this good soil good?

We see the seed (the word of God) landed on good soil or as Luke 8:15 says on "an honest and good heart." An honest and good heart? Wait a minute! Who has an honest and good heart?

Does not the prophet Jeremiah tell us that in 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Genesis 8:21

...the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth.

Ecclesiastes 8:11

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

The Apostle Paul quotes King David the Psalmist in Romans 3:10-12

"as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

And in Genesis 6:5 we read that

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

So we find that our hearts are "deceitful above all things, and desperately sick." That "every intention of the thoughts of our heart is only evil continually" and that “None is righteous, no one understands; no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

We know that God's Word never contradicts itself. So how is it possible for a wretched, wicked person to understand God's word, to accept God's word and to hold it fast with "an honest and good heart?"

What we have in the parable of the sower is the process of the new birth (regeneration). This is the beginning of the new birth. In this process a person is becoming a new creation. So let's go back to the beginning, back to the first day of creation.

Genesis 1:1-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Notice that "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep." This is similar to the condition of the unregenerate soul. The earth was cold, dark and dead and this is the very state of the unregenerate soul; cold, dark and dead. At this point there was no light, no life. But God was working. We see "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." The Spirit of God was at work in the midst of darkness. He was preparing the earth. Then the Word of the Lord went forth- And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

We see a similar set of circumstances with the incarnation of the Christ.

Luke 1:35

English Standard Version (ESV)

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

In the same way the Holy Spirit is also present prior to the new birth. It is the Holy Spirit that prepares the soil (our heart) so that it will receive the seed (the word of God) and bear fruit.

An interesting note is that in Genesis 8:1 just after it had stopped raining and the waters of the deep were shut off we see that

"...God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided."

This word for "wind" in the Hebrew is Ruwach and is the same word for Spirit found in Genesis 1:2 where it says "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." So we see the birth of creation in Genesis 1 was initiated by the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters and the rebirth of the new creation began just after God made a wind blow over the earth, which at that time was the face of the waters because there was no land.

Ezekiel 36:26

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

We see in Psalm 104:30 it is the Spirit that brings forth life.

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the ground.

The Fruit:

8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”

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.

Cross References:

Gospel Parallel Verses: Matthew 13:8, 23, Mark 4:8, 20

Topics:

Luke 8:4-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower

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.”

The Purpose of the Parables

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.

The ask yourself something, what has drawn you to and kept you here at Grace Life? Where you draw on here through the family integrated website? Where you draw me here through nine marks? Was it through the preaching of Paul washer or Bodie Baucom? Is it because you are reformed? Or because you're a Calvinist? Or because you're a homeschooler? Because it is a loving church that embraces people when they come in? All these things can be good.

First of all I'd like to bring to your attention Christ's emphasis: He speaks of four soils. Three of which represent lost people. Only the fourth represents genuine believers.

Before we go any further I would like to address something: most people will generally agree that the first two soils are unbelievers. But I've heard the argument made that the third soil may be a believer. There's a problem with that, scripture disagrees.

The third soil does not bear fruit:

Verse 14 says "their fruit does not mature." And in the parallel verses of the same parable Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:18-19 say that which was sown among the thorns " proved to be unfruitful." So the seed that was sown among the thorns did not bear fruit.

Believers always bear fruit:

Luke 8:15

"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."

Matthew 13:23

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Mark 4:20

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

John 15:5

"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit."

John 15:8

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John says by this my father is glorified… By what? What is it that glorifies the father? That you bear much fruit. Not only does it glorify the father but it the very thing that proves that you are truly a disciple of Jesus. It says that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:16

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.

If you were chosen and appointed, why were you chosen and appointed? Jesus says: I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.

Romans 7:4

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

It is clear from scripture that one of the primary purposes for the existence of the believer is to bear fruit.

What about those who do not bear fruit?

Matthew 3:10

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:19

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John 15:2 says "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away"

John 15:5-6

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

It is a shame that I have to take so much time to explain such a clear matter. But in a world of carnal Christianity (which is not Christianity), in a world where lukewarmness has permeated the church, in a world where materialism and greed are so commonly embraced I found it necessary to be clear on this matter. Understand this if you are a friend of the world you are at enmity with God. If you are lukewarm He will spew you from His mouth.

Question: in the heart of a true believer which one is going to prevail the cares of this world riches and pleasures or the seed that abides in the heart of the believer. The reason we don't continue in sin is because God's seed abides in us.

The argument go something like this:

"BELIEVERS WHO DO NOT PERSEVERE IN THEIR FAITH WILL LIVE UNFRUITFUL LIVES:

They go on to say that "the individual became a born again believer" and that the individual "had the potential of doing something fruitful with the word but failed on account of worldly concerns." They will say that "all true believers have the potential to bear fruit but do not always bear fruit."

So the argument is this: that which was so among the thorns is a believer who does not bear fruit. This is unbiblical.

The point of all this is to prove that the third soil does not bear fruit therefore that which is sown among the thorns is an unbeliever.

Three quarters of his emphasis is placed on those who are perishing. So if I spent three quarters of my time speaking to the lost and the perishing I would be right in line with Jesus in this parable.

Another thing I would like to point out is that there are two parallel texts found in Mark 4 and Matthew 13. And I will be drawing from those texts on occasion to help us better understand the meaning of this parable.