Author : Keith Sharp
Once a friend asked me why equally honest, intelligent and diligent Bible scholars do not understand the Bible alike. Before I allow the Master to answer this question, three observations are in order: one’s apparent honesty may be a deception (Matthew 7:15); superior intelligence is not important to an understanding of the Bible and can be a hindrance (1 Corinthians 1:18-21); and diligence in study without the desire to do what we learn is a useless academic exercise (John 7:17).
But Jesus answered this question in the Parable of the Sower. Before you read on, please carefully read the inspired accounts of this story in Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:2-20; and Luke 8:4-15. This parable answers the question, Why do some understand the gospel and some do not?
At the time Jesus taught this lesson in Galilee, He was followed by such large crowds that he got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee so he could address them all (Matthew 13:1-2; Mark 4:1; Luke 8:4). But trouble had already begun to develop, and it would deepen. Though Jesus’ words and works proved Him to be from God, the Jewish leaders had already stubbornly rejected Him by foolishly attributing His miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:22-24). Soon after this even some of His disciples quit following Him (John 6:66). Jesus’ disciples needed to be prepared for the facts that many would reject Him and His Word, that persecution would come upon His disciples, and that even some of them would turn back from Him. We need to be prepared for the same realities.
The Master spoke of a sower going out to sow, a simple scene with which His hearers were very familiar (Matthew 13:3; Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5). As the sower scattered the seeds of grain by hand upon the ground some seeds were blown by the wind upon the footpath between the fields. Here the soil was so hardened by pounding feet that no seed could penetrate it. The sandals of passers by crushed the grain, and hungry birds quickly gobbled it up, so that it bore no fruit (Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:4; Luke 8:5).
Other grain fell upon thin soil over bedrock. This soil was warmed quickly by the spring sun, so the grain quickly germinated and sprouted. But the summer sun scorched the plants, which could not send down roots for moisture because of the rock beneath, and the plants withered and died without producing any grain (Matthew 13:5-6; Mark 4:5-6; Luke 8:6).
Some seeds fell where the soil was encumbered with thorns. As the good seed and the weeds grew together, the hardier weeds used up the richness and moisture of the earth and blocked out the sunlight, and the stalks of grain were choked out and died (Matthew 13:7; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:7).
But some seed fell upon good earth and yielded abundantly (Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 8:8).
The lesson of this parable is so important that all who are capable of understanding must do so (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8).
Later, when Jesus was alone with His disciples, they asked Him two things: why He spoke in parables and the explanation of this parable (Matthew 13:10; Mark 4:10; Luke 8:9). Jesus first explained His purpose for speaking in parables.
He was teaching “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11; “kingdom of God”; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10). A “mystery” is simply a “hidden purpose or counsel.” (Thayer. 420). It is not necessarily difficult to understand. It’s simply secret from general knowledge until revealed, or made known. The “kingdom of heaven” is God’s rule, particularly in the hearts of His people (cf. Daniel 4:3,25-26,34-35; Luke 17:20-21). The heart is one’s intellect, with which he understands, and will, with which he submits (Matthew 13:15). This parable makes known how God exercises His rule among men so that some are lost and some are saved. For those who heed, this profound concept will cease being a mystery and become a revelation.
God in His eternal wisdom and rule has decreed that some will understand and receive the gospel and some will not. To those to whom it is given to understand, the parables of Jesus simplify the truth and make it easier to remember. To those to whom it is not, the parables obscure the truth. Those with receptive hearts keep on learning. As with any body of knowledge, those who fail to learn the first principles soon forget what little they did learn. They have the intellectual ability to see, but they don’t see; they can hear, but they don’t hear; they can understand, but they don’t understand. The problem is with their dullness of heart. For whatever reason, they refuse to accept the truth. Their refusal to comprehend prevents their turning to God and receiving forgiveness of sins. Those who do see are blessed of God. The prophets of old desired to know the precious truths these believers accept (Matthew 13:11-17; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10; cf. Isaiah 6:9-10; 1 Peter 1:10-12).
According to the Lord, in God’s sovereign will, the heart of the hearer determines his salvation. God has not chosen in eternity before time to save certain individuals. He has chosen to save a certain kind of people, those who will receive the Word of His Son.
Jesus then explained the Parable of the Sower, both to give His disciples a key to understand all parables and to help them understand this parable of paramount importance (Mark 4:13).
The seed represents the word of God (Luke 8:11). The seed has the power to bring forth life (John 6:63), nor has that power diminished with the centuries (1 Peter 1:24-25).
The sower is the preacher (Mark 4:14; cf. Romans 10:14-17). His work is to faithfully proclaim the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). If he accurately presents the gospel, and hearers reject it, it is their fault, not his.
The soils are four kinds of human heart. The wayside soil is the heart so hardened that it refuses to understand the truth. Satan quickly sends false teachers to convince the hearer of the error he wants to believe, so he never believes the truth and is not saved (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12).
The stony ground soil represents the hearer who, ruled by his emotions, quickly and joyfully believes, but just as quickly falls away when pressure, persecution, and temptation come. He lacks depth of conviction (Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:16-17; Luke 8:13).
The thorny ground is the hearer who receives the Word, but he becomes “choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life” and thus “becomes unfruitful.” The things of this world crowd the kingdom out of his heart and life (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:18-19; Luke 8:14).
The good ground is the hearer with a good and honest heart. He understands the Word, accepts it, keeps it, and bears “fruit with patience” (Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15).
So, why do some understand the gospel and some do not? God in His sovereignty has determined that those with good and honest hearts will understand, accept, and keep His Word and bear fruit with patience. It is all a matter of the attitude of your heart. In fact, your attitude toward the Word of God will determine the destiny of your soul. “Therefore take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18).
Work Cited
J.H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
