The Sower, the Soils, and God’s Promise for His Phrase in Mark 4
In Mark 4, Jesus tells a parable by which a farmer sows seed in his subject. As he scatters, the seed falls on 4 sorts of soils: on the trail, on rocky floor, amongst thorns, after which on good soil (vv. 3–8). The sower within the story, as verse 14 makes clear, is the one who declares God’s Phrase, starting with Jesus and lengthening to trustworthy Bible academics in all ages. Jesus’ parable teaches that every time God’s Phrase is faithfully proclaimed, it’s met with totally different sorts of responses.
As we take into account every of the 4 soils and the way they’re instructive for us, we should always bear in mind God’s promise via the prophet Isaiah. The fabric in Isaiah 55:10–11 nearly definitely knowledgeable Jesus’ parable in Mark 4:
Because the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and don’t return there however water the earth,
making it convey forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my phrase be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
nevertheless it shall accomplish that which I function,
and shall succeed within the factor for which I despatched it.
In brief, irrespective of the response folks should the Phrase once they hear it, God all the time accomplishes His functions via it. His Phrase by no means returns empty.
The Parable Defined
In Mark 4:13–20, Jesus explains to the Twelve how the Phrase works from the vantage level of the sower after which when it comes to the soils.
The Sower
Within the fast context, “the phrase” refers back to the educating of Jesus in Galilee. Specifically, it’s His proclamation of the Gospel—the excellent news—as in Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the dominion of God is at hand; repent and imagine the gospel.”
The folks on the time had been thrilled in anticipation of the approaching kingdom. They anticipated one thing dramatic. And in the midst of Mark’s opening chapters, as Jesus was demonstrating the highly effective coming of the dominion, folks had responded in quite a few methods—some believing, others opposing. The parable of the seed and the soils summarizes these responses. Because the Gospel is sown, Jesus reminds us, the dominion inches nearer to its success.
At any time when the Bible is faithfully proclaimed, it’s met with totally different sorts of responses.
We are able to study rather a lot from how Jesus taught the truths of the dominion. Commenting on Jesus’ distinctive method, Archibald G. Brown says, “Jesus pitied sinners, pleaded with them, sighed over them, warned them, and wept over them; however by no means sought to amuse them.”
The appliance for Christians, and particularly those that preach and educate on varied ranges, is evident: Our job is to not entertain however to do the onerous work of a farmer, faithfully scattering the seed of the Gospel.
The Soils
The soils within the parable signify the varied responses folks should the Phrase.
First, Jesus describes the response of these seeds sown alongside the onerous, crushed path of an individual’s coronary heart (Mark 4:15). This group hears the Gospel and exhibits fleeting, superficial curiosity, however they in the end show impervious to it, Jesus’ phrases bouncing off of their hearts like rain on a tin roof.
Certainly, every time the Phrase of God is sown, the exercise of the Evil One is current. It’s Devil who—typically instantly, normally not directly—snatches the seed earlier than it will possibly ever take root in some folks’s hearts. And his work is normally delicate. It might be a voice in somebody’s head saying, “You don’t want this,” or “This could change an excessive amount of and be too onerous.” Being taken away, there’s no hope for the seed’s development.
The second form of soil is the “rocky floor,” the place there isn’t any depth (vv. 5, 16–17). Though the seed springs up shortly, it has no roots, ultimately withering within the warmth. That is the one that receives the Phrase with an apparently fast, joyful coronary heart. It might even be adopted by a fast baptism and ministry involvement. However one thing occurs alongside the way in which. Bother comes. Persecution comes, by the use of the Phrase, they usually fall away—instantaneous bloom, instantaneous fade.
Third, there’s the thorny soil in verses 18–19. On this occasion, inner pressures and divided loyalties frustrate the Phrase’s development in an individual, bearing no fruit. Jesus lists three components that choke out the Phrase: the concerns of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and needs for different issues. Importantly, it’s not solely issues which are inherently unhealthy which will preserve us from receiving the Gospel. It might be good issues—a love of sports activities, concern for our household’s well-being, and so forth—that steal our affections that belong to God and lead us away from zeal for Christ. These lesser items, if managed foolishly, can develop into thorns, imperceptibly and inevitably choking the life out of us.
Lastly, there may be the guts represented by the “good soil” (Mark 4:20). This group hears the Gospel, accepts it, and bears fruit. They’re these Jesus speaks of in John 15:5: “I’m the vine; you’re the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it’s that bears a lot fruit, for other than me you are able to do nothing.”
Make no mistake: The listening to of God’s Phrase in and of itself will do nothing till He allows us to simply accept it, bow down underneath it, and imagine it. However when God’s Phrase is obtained in humility, it makes an enduring influence. This particular person prospers in trial, holds up in storms, and endures to the tip.
The Parable Utilized
Once we replicate on the totally different sorts of soils Jesus describes within the parable, we will most likely consider people we all know who would match into every group. Some hear the Phrase and show disinterested; others appear to embrace the Gospel however ultimately reject it on account of hardship; and nonetheless others present preliminary zeal for Christ that’s later choked out by the thorns of life. Discouraged by these responses, we could surprise, “Why all this waste?”
Listening to God’s Phrase in and of itself does nothing till we settle for it, bow underneath it, and imagine it.
However on the coronary heart of Jesus’ parable is a lesson we will’t afford to overlook: God has pledged Himself to meet all the needs for His Phrase (Isa. 55:11). We could not see it instantly and even in our lifetimes, however the guarantees He’s made in regards to the Gospel and His kingdom will come to cross. God has watched over His Phrase all through historical past, seeing His folks via the Darkish Ages, the Cultural Revolution in China, the Covenanting instances in Scotland, and so forth. We might be assured that the identical God who completed His functions then is engaging in them at the moment.
Whereas we sow Gospel seed, we should additionally take note of the situation of our personal hearts. God’s persons are concurrently sowers and soil, sharing and listening to God’s Phrase. If we don’t humbly settle for the Phrase of God planted in us, it is not going to assist us. It is going to harden us. To sit down underneath God’s Phrase preached week after week with out responding in religion and obedience is a harmful prospect. We’ll ultimately lose curiosity, drifting away and bearing no fruit.
And so we heed the exhortations of Scripture: “Take note of what you hear: with the measure you utilize, it will likely be measured to you, and nonetheless extra will likely be added to you,” (Mark 4:24) and “At the moment, for those who hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:7–8; Heb. 3:7–8; 3:15; 4:7–8).
This text was tailored from the sermon “The Seed and the Soils” by Alistair Begg.
