Parable of the Sower And The Seed P1
Bible Facts Newspaper Article (Ian C. Kurylyk)
"Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow" (Mark 4:3).
The Lord used parables to teach. The events and scenes of everyday life served to highlight His messages about heavenly things. Our opening text begins the parable here by telling of a man sowing seed. This would not be like planting in fields today but by the time-honoured method of casting seed all about by hand (broadcasting). The parable goes on to relate the results in terms of four different kinds of soil the seed happens upon.
The lesson is that God's Word, like the seed, is sent out to all. It has the capacity to bring eternal life and blessing to any who will hear. However, not all hearts give the same reception to the seed. The four different soils in the parable are a challenge for us to take care for the condition of our own hearts. Notice the first soil.
"Some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up" (Mark 4:4b). As the seed was cast by the sower, some would fall by the pathway made hard by the feet of countless travelers. The seed would lie on the surface until the birds swooped down and devoured it.
The Lord also interprets this parable, explaining the way side seed first. "But when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts" (Mark 4:15b). There are some whose hearts have no place for the Word of God or the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ it tells of. The love of God and His provision of salvation should be of the greatest interest to every man. Satan has a part in this distraction.
We are being warned of having traffic-hardened hearts. There is a real threat of being too busy and caught up with matters that have no eternal consequences to care for the salvation of our own souls. We need to exercise our hearts unto sorrow and brokeness over our sin as another prophet challenged Israel. "break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD..." (Hosea 10:12b).
