Mark 4:1-20
The Parable of the Sower
1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,
" 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Jesus drew large crowds...He taught around a lake...He got in a boat and sat it on the lake and taught people as they stood and sat along the edge of the water'...Many of His teachings were taught in parables...
In this teaching, He tells us a farmer went out to sow his seed...Some of the seed fell on the path and birds ate it up...Some of the seed fell on rocky places where there was not much soil...The seeds started growing quickly in the shallow soil, but when the sun came up the new plants were scorched and withered because the roots had not grown...Some of the seeds, by the farmer, fell among the thorns...The thorns grew among and around the seeds and choked off the new plants so the plants could not bear grain...Some of the farmer's planted seed, fell on good soil...The seed took root...These seeds grew and became plants and produced a crop, thirty, sixty, even a hundred times the original seed...
Jesus when He was alone with the Twelve and others, they ask Him about the parable...Jesus told them the secret of the Kingdom had been given to them...But those who do not believe see but never perceive, hear and never understand, other if people see, hear, and understand they can repent and be forgiven (by God)...The Twelve wanted to hear more about this parable and understand it better...Jesus told them that the farmer sows the word...Some people are like the seed along the path, where the word is sown...As soon as they hear the word, Satan comes and takes the word that was sown in them...The word has drifted away...Others hear the word, like on the rocky places and at once receive it with joy...But since it has no root...With no root the word does not stay...When trouble comes and you are persecuted for believing or following the word, they fall quickly...The word has drifted away...Still others are like the word sown among the thorns, people worry about life, their jobs, their families, wealth, and other desires and means of this world choke off the word, and it is made unfruitful...They don't have time for the word...There lives are too busy...The word drifts away...Other are like the seed sown on good soil, they hear the word, accept it, and the word takes root...The word does not drift, but grows...It produces a crop, thirty, sixty, or one hundred times what was originally sown...
Three things are talked about and can keep us from God and His word...Jesus talks about the evil one, Satan keeping us from the word...Satan does not allow the word to take root in some...Outside trouble and persecution makes us drift away from God...Also, worries and attractions of this world, choke off the word and we fail to follow it (the word)...
Many will hear the word of God, but not everyone will accept the gospel...Everyone will not receive the gospel with the same belief and fervor...We want and need God to make our hearts like the good soil..We need and want to take in the word, the good news, so it will take root...God's word with a solid foundation produces an abundant and fruitful life...
God wants us to hear and see Him and have a personal relationship with Him and His Son...The word is out there and the gospel does get spread to us...The world can be an unfair, terrible, suffering place...He knows we are not going to understand all the things in His word and in this world...That is why we need to nurture the word, let it take root and grow like the good soil...With this lack of understanding we need the Father, the Son, and faith to continue along the path of life and eternity toward Him...