Sowing the Word

Obedient Listeners

Mark 4:1–9 NKJV

And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

James 1:22 NKJV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

A Parable is a metaphor comparing spiritual truth with something from the listeners everyday world.

Parables are spiritual tests. They hide the truth from those who do not seek truth, but they reveal truth to those who seek it.

In this parable Jesus describes the condition of the hearers.

Ask, where am I in this parable?

I. There are 4 Types of Soil

A. Word - the person of Jesus in the flesh. Jesus preaching the word of God quoting from Isa. 6:9-10 the message of John the Baptist - repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

The point here is how the people respond to Jesus. Do they receive him or not?

Jesus is sowing the word - describing soil - productive and non productive.

B. The shallow heart - Impact of the Word -

soil - represents - hard hearts, easy for Satan to snatch away. Hosea 10:12

Hosea 10:12 NKJV

Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Problem is hard heart is lack of understanding.

Rocky soil - doesn’t last - when following Christ becomes difficult see John 6:66

John 6:66 NKJV

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

II. The Crowded Heart

Weeds are the cares of this world. Choke off fruit.

Some never repent and turn from sin.

The riches are deceitful - values are always changing with no guarantee of security.

III. The Fruitful Heart

The Blessings of producing fruit for God’s glory.