Seeds

The parable of the sower is found in 3 places: Matt 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.

It’s been one of those passages that I’ve read over and over…until now of course.  🙂

There are 4 kinds of seeds that Jesus mentions: (“seed” meaning the word of God…the Gospel)

1. PATH Seeds: Seeds that fall on the path: these seeds fell out of the sowers’ hands or bag…obviously he didn’t want to plant seeds on the path, but they fell there.  Jesus explains:
   • When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. (Matthew 3:19)
   • And these are the ones along the path, whtere the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them (Mark 4:15)
   •  The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved (Luke 8:12)
2. ROCKY Soil seeds:
   • As for what was sown on rocky ground this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a little while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matt 13:20)
   • And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a little while; then when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  (Mark 4:16)
   • And the ones on the rock are those who when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing they fall away.
3. THORNY soil seeds:
   • As for what was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,and it proves unfruitful (Matt 13:22)
   • And others that are the ones sown amonth thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful (Mark 4:18-19)
   • And as for what fell among the thornds, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choled by the cares and riches and pleasures of life and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14)
4. GOOD soils seeds:
   • As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, on another sixty, and in another thirty. (Matt 13: 23)
   • But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word, and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. (Mark 4:20)
   • And as for the good soil,the are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)

Again, I read thru the whole thing, to be blown away at the end of the comparisons. 

And as for the good soil,the are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Where did THAT come from?  I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that before?  How do I “hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience?”

I’m not good at holding things fast…and especially not good at patience.

But yet that is what we are called to do, by Jesus himself no less.

We are called to maintain, as Cross Movement says “hold it down.”

It brings to mind another similar passage in Colossians 1:22-23:

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, IF indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…

That is a very active Christianity.

Not the “I-went-forward-and-prayed-‘The-Prayer’-at-VBS-when-I-was-6-so-I’m-good” Christianity.

Once again, the “Valley of Vision” daily read has crashed into my Bible reading.  I love it when that happens.

Check out “A Neophyte’s Devotion” and you’ll see what I mean.

“let me be what I profess, do as well as teach, live as well as hear religion”

I’m off to pray for ‘an honest and good heart and to bear fruith with patience’ – I’ll need lots of help and grace for that.

-M