The Master Key

Mark 4:13 NKJV

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

I want to talk to you about opening the door to revelation, blessing, and fruitfulness in your life.

It’s possible that you have experienced times where it doesn’t seem that the word of God “works”—that no matter what you do, you are not receiving fresh revelation from God or walking in the blessing and favor so clearly promised in Scripture.

Illustration: My desire to bless Derek. I told him to come with me and it was going to be good (I was going to take him to the store and buy him a game that he said he wanted). He didn’t feel like going; and we didn’t.

My promise was that if he came with me something good would happen. I had the intention, desire and the means to bless him. But because he didn’t want to go my intention, desire, and means meant nothing…they didn’t work for him.

In the Parable of the Soils, Jesus taught principles that serve as a Master Key—they unlock the rest of the parables and the blessing and fruitfulness of His teaching.

We need to understand these principles because if we don’t we will discover that superficial and social religion will leave us wanting more.

But when we can learn these principles His Word will open up to us in new ways. And when we apply these principles, we will get more out of the Word of God and experience greater blessing and fruitfulness in our lives.

This parable is captured by three of the gospel writers in Matthew 13.1-23, Mark 4.1-20, and Luke 8.4-15.

In their introduction of the teaching, Matthew and Mark explain that Jesus was teaching by the sea and there were so many people gathered there that Jesus had to get into a boat and teach the people (Mark 4.1). Luke adds that this great multitude came from every city (Luke 8.4).

These people were all interested in hearing what Jesus had to say. They pursued the Word of God and were likely looking for miracles. These weren’t random people or those who happened to be around while Jesus taught. They wanted to hear Him. They made the effort to hear Him. And this is the message He chose to give them.

Luke 8:5–8 NKJV

5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Despite them being there with Jesus, hearing His teaching, they did not understand what He was telling them.

What might have made things worse was that Jesus told them a story about an everyday occurrence. And on top of that, if they looked around them, it seemed as though Jesus was just pointing out the geography—they could see the pathways, or wayside. They could see the rocky ground where there were no crops growing. They could see the thorn bushes grown up in the hillside. And they could see the fields where the crops were flourishing.

Jesus describes this scene and says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” If you understand what I am telling you, go and do it!

And the disciples were like, “Wait, what?”

Luke 8:9 NKJV

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

Consider again Jesus response: if you don’t understand this, how will you understand all of the other parables?

In other words, this teaching is important. When you get this, the rest is opened to you (cf. Luke 11.10).

When we understand the teaching and principles in this parable then we will have what we need to interpret and understand Jesus’ teaching. And this will lead to increased blessing and fruitfulness in our lives.

The Parable and Our Problem

Jesus answers His disciples question by sharing with them (not the multitudes) the interpretation of the parable. Before we get to the main principles of this parable, we are going to examine Jesus’ explanation part by part.

We’ll draw from Luke and point out the additional facts from Matthew and Mark.

The Seed and the Soil

Luke 8:11 NKJV

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Right from the beginning we understand now that we are talking about the word of God. Matthew calls it the “word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13.19).

When we speak of the word of God we have to recognize that the word of God produces faith in those who truly hear and fruit when it accomplishes its purpose (Romans 10.17, Isaiah 55.11).

To help us understand the different soils that the seed encounters, we need to know what the soil represents. Jesus tells us that the soil represents our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 13.23 says “understanding,” Luke 8.15 points to a good and noble heart, and Mark 4.20 says those who accept favorable or receive the word. All three speak of acting upon that word. see also Matthew 22.37).

The Wayside

Luke 8:12 NKJV

Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

The birds are called three different things: the devil, the wicked one (Matthew ), and Satan (Mark 4.15). The enemy comes to take away or snatch the word from those who hear it. Matthew includes that if we don’t understand the word, that is when the enemy comes to snatch it (Matthew 13.19). Luke’s version also says that the seed on the wayside has been trampled (Luke 8.5).

Luke further reveals the enemy’s purpose—so that people won’t believe the word of God, have faith, and be saved by it.

We face an enemy who wants to prevent us from hearing and understanding and receiving by faith the word of God. If he can, he will snatch away that word. He will work to make the word confusing to us or he will work to make us reject the word and “trample it underfoot” like the pigs do with pearls to make it worthless or irrelevant (Matthew 7.6).

The Stony Ground

Luke 8:13 NKJV

But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Both Matthew and Mark tell us that the seeds sprouted quickly and with joy but were scorched by the Sun because there was “no depth of earth” (Matthew 13.5-6, Mark 4.5-6). Luke adds that there was not enough moisture in the root to sustain it (Luke 8. 6 - a medical term).

The seed in this soil doesn’t last. It endures for a while or a time and then immediately the person stumbles (Matthew 13.21, Mark 4.17, Luke 8.13).

When describing the scorching of the Sun, Luke shares that this was a “time of temptation” while the others say that it is “tribulation and persecution” that causes the hearer to stumble (Matthew 13.21, Mark 4.17).

Just like we have an adversary who is going about seeking who he might devour, we will face temptations, tribulation and persecution that will threaten to render the word of God ineffective in our lives.

Among the Thorns

Luke 8:14 NKJV

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

The next place that the seed was sown was among the thorns which sprang up with the seed.

The thorns choked the seed, robbing it of nutrients, and preventing it from fruitfulness. Matthew says that he, i.e. the hearer becomes unfruitful (Matthew 13.22). Mark also says that it, i.e. the seed becomes unfruitful (Mark 4.19).

These thorns are cares (of this world per Matthew and Mark), riches (or the deceitfulness of riches (per Matthew 13 and Mark), pleasures of life or the desires for other things (Mark).

Externally we have an enemy and persecutions, trials and tribulations. Internally we have the cares and concerns of this world, the deceitfulness and allure of riches, as well as the pull of our desires for things and pursuit of pleasure.

All of these things seek to prevent us from being able to cultivate the seed and for it to be effective and fruitful in our lives.

The springing up is important in the action item

Good Soil

Luke 8:15 NKJV

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

The final soil was that which was the only one that produced fruit. It was the good soil that produced thirty-, sixty-, or a hundred-fold harvest (Matthew 13.29, Mark 4.20, Luke 8.8).

This is what God wants for us. He wants us to bear fruit and walk in the abundant life (a hundred-fold harvest points to the supernatural blessing of God — see Genesis 26.12).

Using the Master Key

After examining the story and interpretation that Jesus offers, here are a few things that we can do in order to unlock more revelation, blessing, and fruitfulness in our lives.

Do a Soil Check

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

One major theme in this parable is that the quality of the soil determines the success of the seed. The effectiveness of God’s word is dependent on the condition of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Ask yourself, “How satisfied am I with the results of my faith in Jesus? Am I increasing in revelation, blessing and fruitfulness?”

Your answer will give you insight on whether or not you are creating an environment where God’s word will be effective in your life.

Remember that good soil:

Understands

Accepts or receives

Is noble and good (clean and right)

Bears fruit

Have an Open Ear

The answer to a hardened soil is an open ear.

Luke 12:11–15 NKJV

11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” 13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

This person gives us a perfect example of someone who heard Jesus teach but wasn’t listening.

Truly listening to the word is essential because it leads to faith (Romans 10.17). It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God (Hebrews 6.12).

Prepare to Persevere

Luke 9:57–58 NKJV

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

The person who is represented by stony ground is one who is like a “temporary Christian.” They get excited but do not change. They sing and shout and declare God’s promises but because they only engage on a surface level, the moment trouble comes, they wither.

We need prepare ourselves for the tests, temptations, and trials. Jesus told us that they are coming and that we will face them in this world (John 16.33).

The warning about these people falling away from the faith after a short time is important. Be careful of superficial spirituality—no cross, no crown.

But if you will dig deep and strengthen yourself then you will persevere on to maturity.

Avoid Distraction

Luke 9:59–60 NKJV

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

The thorns sprung up from underneath the surface, growing alongside the seed before choking it out.

The internal pressure that we face from the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the pursuit of pleasure and our desires for the things of this life is strong. And it tries to grow up next to the seed.

James called the double-minded person unstable (James 1.8). This person is worldly and religious, in the flesh and in the Spirit and struggles to truly breakthrough.

Jesus said that we should be single-minded and seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness and then all those things will be added to us (Matthew 6.33).

Do the Work

Luke 9:61–62 NKJV

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

After we have determined to listen and trust God’s word, prepared ourselves to persevere, and became focused, we need to do the work.

Essentially, our work is to tend and keep the garden of our hearts (like Adam was commanded in Genesis 2.15).

Keep applying those principles and both you and the word will be fruitful.

Conclusion

God offers us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1.3).

He declares them by His word and if we receive them by faith we will be blessed.

As you use the Master Key, these principles to prepare ourselves to receive God’s word, we will immediately begin to get more out of the Word and see evidences of grace all around.

Because you choose to listen, persevere, stay focused, and do the work you will become mature in your faith, bear much fruit, and glorify our Father in heaven (John 15.8).