Results may vary. You see it on commercials for drugs. But have you noticed that results vary when someone shares the gospel?
On one end of the spectrum, people reject it outright. On the other end of the spectrum, people receive it with joy and follow Christ. In between those extremes, there are people who seem to receive the gospel. They make a profession of faith but over time, they fall away due to various factors.
In our text today, Jesus helps us to understand why people respond differently to the gospel.
Sermon text: Mark 4:1-20
This parable is usually called the parable of the sower, but I call it the parable of the soils. As we study the parable, you’ll see that there is no emphasis on the sower at all. Rather, the emphasis is on the condition of the soil that received the seed.
The text breaks down into three sections:
- Jesus speaks the parable of the soils/sower (1-9)
- Jesus explains his purpose for using parables (10-13)
- Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the sower to his disciples (14-20)
Jesus speaks the parable of the soils (1-9)
Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Jesus was teaching by the sea and a great crowd of people gathered around him. So, Jesus gets into a boat and proceeds to teach from the boat while the people line the seashore. The waves and wind would’ve amplified Jesus’ voice for his many listeners.
Verse 2 says that he was teaching them many things using parables.
What are parables?
- A parable uses a word picture to make a comparison between two things in order to teach a spiritual truth, usually with a twist.
- Parables are not allegories in which everything in the parable stands for something.
- Most parables have one main point, though this particular parable is a more complex one.
- In vv. 10-12, we see that Jesus taught in parables to hide the truth from the self-righteous and to reveal the truth to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Now let’s talk about the parable itself. A farmer, bag slung around his neck and shoulders, is sowing seed by throwing it into a field. The sower is trying to sow broadly and to completely cover the field. He does not want to waste seed or any part of the field.
As the sower sows, the seed falls on four different kinds of soil.
(1) The seed that fell along the path (v. 4)
In biblical times, fields were marked off and surrounded by footpaths. As he throws the seed, some of it falls onto the footpath. This soil, which would have been unplowed, when dry, would be as hard as concrete due to the hot Palestinian sun. This seed would have no chance to sprout and would be eaten by birds.
(2) The seed that fell on the rocky ground (5-6)
Jesus is not describing soil that has rocks in it but is referring to soil that has a rock bed a few inches under the surface. The underlying rock bed would be invisible to the farmer because the plowshare would’ve only penetrated 8-10 inches of soil. Because of this rock underneath the ground, the plants would not have enough moisture in the dry climate of Palestine.
In this kind of soil, the crops would germinate and look good at first, but when the sun came out and the water was gone, the crops would die as quickly as they came in the first place.
(3) The seed that fell amongst thorns (7)
The seed that fell on ground that contained thorns was okay for a while, but eventually it was choked out by thorns and thistles. These thorns and thistles soaked up water and nutrients and blocked out the sunlight that the seed needed to grow.
(4) The seed the fell on good soil (8)
This soil has been prepared and the seed is able to get down into it and take root. This soil, free from embedded rock, thorns, and thistles, produces an abundant crop. The expression of 30, 60, and 100-fold is the return on the farmer’s original investment. For instance, if the farmer had spent $1 on a seed, it had a return of $30, $60, or $100. Tenfold was considered a healthy return, so 30, 60, or 100-fold was a great profit.
Three Things to Note
- Nothing is said about the sower and his skill – the same sower sowed all the seeds.
- Nothing is said about the quality of the seed – the same seed is used during all the planting.
- The weather was the same for all the seeds in this field.
Clearly, the lesson that Jesus is teaching is about the four different kinds of soil.
Jesus explains his purpose for using parables (10-13)
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
10
After the crowds go home, the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable. This shows that they want to know and understand Jesus’s teachings. They are not hardened like the Pharisees (see Mark 2-3). They want to have a fuller understanding of the kingdom of God.
11-12
Jesus responds to the request of the disciples by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10. In that passage, Isaiah was instructed to go to the to the leaders of Judah and preach to them about the hardness of their hearts towards God. God told Isaiah that people would see but not perceive and hear but not understand (Isaiah 6:9); this was the same kind of experience that Jesus had with many of the Jews.
Jesus is telling his disciples that he is using parables to hide the truth from the hardened and self-righteous and to reveal the truth to those who are ready to receive it.
See, those that cherish the seed of the word will grow in their understanding of God, but those that refuse the seed of the Word will continue to grow hardened to it.
Those that cherish the seed of the word will grow in their understanding of God, but those that refuse the seed of the Word will continue to grow hardened to it.
13
Jesus uses a rhetorical question to rebuke his disciples. He goes on to explain that if they do not understand the parable of the soils, then they will not understand other parables.
Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the soils to his disciples (14-20)
14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 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. 20 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.”
The parable of the sower is a parable about the kingdom of God (v. 11). Many will be exposed to the gospel but only some truly receive it and bear fruit.
BIG IDEA: A person responds to the gospel based on the condition of his heart and his response to the gospel will be truly revealed in time.
The sower is whoever disperses the gospel message and the soils represent human hearts. We see this made clear in Luke 8:15.
Luke 8:15
As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
This passage teaches that the gospel and the unadulterated Word of God is to be sown broadly.
Sadly, in order to get people in the doors of the church building and increase attendance, many churches have tried other things rather than sowing the seeds of God’s Word. See, they are trying to alter the seed rather than seeing that the problem is not with the seed, but with the soil; that is the hearts of the people who reject God’s Word.
We see this in Jesus’ explanation of the four soils.
The Soil of Some People’s Hearts is Hard (14-15; cf. 4)
These people are resistant and unresponsive. They are not open to the gospel and dismiss it without giving it careful consideration. Their hearts are as hard as the footpath along the grain field.[1]Simon Kistemaker, The Parables, 38. As soon as they hear the gospel, Satan snatches it away. These are people who love their sin and do not want to have to surrender to King Jesus.
The Soil of Some People’s Hearts is Shallow (16-17; cf. 5-6)
These people hear the gospel and receive it with joy, but they are not truly rooted in their faith. They appear to be Christians and endure for a while, but when tribulation or persecution arises, they fall away. These are people who look like Christians for a time and perhaps even make a profession of faith. They are attracted to joyful Christians and the offer of salvation, but when trials arise in their lives, they fall away because they were never really born again.
My wife and I were involved in a campus ministry during college. Many appeared to be Christians, but when they got into the real world, they fell away. They endured for a while. They looked like Christians. They came to worship with others, but when trials and persecution came, they fell away.
When they got into the real world, they heard things like this:
- “You’re a bigot.”
- “I can’t believe you don’t think that these two people can’t be married.”
- “I can’t believe you’re against abortion.”
It’s easy to follow Jesus when you’re surrounded by others and having fun. It’s not easy when you’re being persecuted for Jesus’ sake. How many people look like Christians until they leave home?
Many people think that if they are going to make it in this world then they need to turn away from Jesus. For them, their career and being liked is more important.
Others leave the church because something bad happened to them. They come and make a profession of faith. Then, they lose a job, have a divorce, or get a bad diagnosis and they are out.
Scripture teaches that faithfully following Jesus means that we endure to the end.
The Soil of Some People’s Hearts is Strangled by the World (18-19; cf. 7)
These people hear the word, but the cares of the world and the desire for riches and worldly things choke out the word, and the seed proves unfruitful. For these people, this present life is more important than the life to come, and riches are more important than the Savior. Just as thorns and weeds gradually choke out fruit bearing plants, riches and worldly things gradually choke out a person’s desire for eternal things. These people are strangled by these worldly things.
I think about young families, many of which grew up in church. They have some desire for the things of God, but their focus is mostly on their education, their careers, building a house, and eventually a family. Once they have families, they are focused on their kids’ educations, athletic events, and more. Sure, they might come to church every once and a while, but if you really look at their lives, what is the center of their lives? Instead of loving their Savior, they are in love with the world. It has strangled them with its allure of pleasures.
We will not produce spiritual fruit if our hearts are strangled by the world.
The Soil of Some People’s Hearts is Fruitful (20; cf. 8)
The people who in the parable represent good soil hear the gospel, accept it, and bear fruit. They are not deterred by trials and persecution. They are not distracted by worldly riches and worldly things. They have been truly saved by the gospel and have a new heart where God’s word takes root and then bears fruit.
The spiritual fruit in our lives should be plentiful. Remember, Jesus said that good soil will bear fruit yielding a thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or hundredfold increase. If we are truly in Christ, spiritual fruit should be evident.
If we are truly in Christ, spiritual fruit should be evident.
Salvation is more than a one-time decision in response to the gospel. Someone who is truly saved will continue in their faith and continue to grow in obedience to Jesus the rest of their lives.
John 15:5-6
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
How is the soil of your heart this morning?
- Is your heart hardened like the footpath?
- Is your faith superficial? You like Jesus, but not trials or persecution.
- Is your heart in love with this world? Perhaps you have heard the word, but you love riches and worldly things more than Jesus.
Here is the question you need to answer:
What do you want more in life than anything?
Good health? Riches? A new house?
If your answer is something other than the advance of God’s kingdom and seeing people come to Christ, then you are likely one of the first three soils and you need to trust in Jesus today.
What do you want most for your children and grandchildren?
A big house and a successful career?
Your greatest desire for your children and grandchildren should be that they trust in Jesus and follow him no matter the cost.
Really, there are two ways to live.
If the soil of your heart is good soil, you joyfully hear the word, receive it, and obey it, producing lasting spiritual fruit for Christ (v. 20; John 15:8).
Alternatively, if you reject Christ, you will be thrown into the fire and burned (John 15:6).
This parable teaches us that as we proclaim the gospel or teach the Word of God to those around us, the results will vary. But take heart, success or failure does not depend on our skill as sowers. Rather, what is most important is the condition of the hearts of our hearers.
There is nothing wrong with the seed of the gospel! If we are faithful, eventually we will find good soil that will result in an abundant harvest.
May we pray that God would break up the soil of hardened hearts around us and that we will be faithful to the task of speaking the gospel to a lost and dying world.
References
| ↑1 | Simon Kistemaker, The Parables, 38. |
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