Luke 8

Sower Soils Seed

Luke 8:4 -18

Jesus became a man to: a) Fulfill the Law b) Establish the New Covenant, the Kingdom of God

When Jesus taught about the Law, He was straight forward and presented the Law in its purest.

When He taught about the King and His Kingdom, He generally used parables.

This is so that: a) The Romans and religious teachers will not be

able to understand

b) He can introduce such truths that the Jews could hear it and think about it long before they fully understand.

After Pentecost, the disciples would come and tell them that Jesus was Messiah, God in the flesh and exalted King of the universe, then the parables would become lucid.

However the parables were like fishhooks attached into the memories of his listeners already.

Those open to the truth will understand them, while those not open to the truth didn‘t understand.

The Parable of the Sower 4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 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.”

The Purpose of Parables When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?” 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

Purpose of Parables

“To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables,…

The disciples have been given revelation of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The rest were given parables as they lack revelation.

Jesus’ 2 fold intention speaking in parables: a) To conceal truths about His coming kingdom

from Romans and religious leaders b) To reveal the truth to his disciples and later for

all people

Matt 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Purpose of Parables

Receiving the revelation of truth readily results in even greater receptivity of revelation. Rejection results in less and less revelation.

Matt 13:16,17 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Purpose of Parables

Revelation of New Covenant truths only begun with Jesus. We are blessed to be able to see and hear with understanding.

11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 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.

13 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

14 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. 15 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.

•seed = the word of God (v11) ground = heart of man (v12) •the hardened wayside = those who hear, then the devil (birds) takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. •the rocky ground = those who receive the word with joy but they have no root - in the time of testing fall away. •

Jesus interprets this parable :

the good ground = those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

the thorny ground = those who hear, but are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Context: Jesus presented Himself to Israel as her Messiah. Response (Matt 1-12) ranged from enthusiastic acceptance to outright rejection, even with intention to kill Him. Explaining the parable (Matt 13/Luke 8/ Mark 4) Jesus points out that different responses are determined by the hearers’ hearts condition.

Jesus: the seed is the word of God (v. 11)

The seed is given freely, a gift. It is freely sown onto the ground. - the ground does not earn the seed. God’s salvation is given freely, as an unmerited gift - we do not work for it.

The seed sowed = God’s message to the people, the good news of the kingdom.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

His word not just shows us the next few steps but also lights up our whole life.

V10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God,

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (Col 1:25,26)

…that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, …(Eph 6:19)

mystery – 27 Xs in the New Testament

mystery – that which has been concealed and is now revealed by God.

The gospel is a mystery because it is not known by human understanding but by divine revelation.

The gospel: His love, His taking human form, His death, His resurrection, His indwelling presence

The seed planted into the ground brings life. The word of God brings life to us.

…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1: 21b)

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,… (1Pet 1:23)

…of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, … ( Col 1:5,6)

A seed brings forth life by first dying in the soil.

Jesus brings forth life in the same way, by first dying.

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12:24)

The seed reproduces after its own kind.

Seed = word of God = light = mystery = life = Christ

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13)

…in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2,3 NIV)

… Jesus spoke …, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Gal 3:16)

Christ is the one Seed that receives the promises made to Abraham.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

v8 He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” (Luke 8:18)

2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb 4:2)

Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Mark 4:24)

17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Rom 10:17)

V8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold

V15 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.

When we hear His words with faith His life is multiplied a 100Xs in our lives!