1. The parable was taken from an everyday happening. It concerned a sower, a farmer, who went out to sow seed. How many do go out? Of those who do, how many really sow the seed of the word? It is so easy for the minister and believer.
• To sit in the comfort of the home or office and rest and work administratively instead of going out and sowing.
• To visit and care for the flock in their needs instead of going out into the fields to sow.
• To sit in the comfort of the home or office and rest and work administratively instead of going out and sowing.
• To visit and care for the flock in their needs instead of going out into the fields to sow.
2. Jesus wanted the open hearts, the persons who were really seeking God, to learn all they could about the secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Parables required much thought in order to grasp their meaning. A person who really sought after God would seek, strive, think and ask until he could find the meaning to the parable. And then he would chew upon the meaning, drawing all the meaning he could out of the parable so that he could learn everything possible about God.
3. The success of the seed depends upon one thing alone; the condition of the soil (heart) to receive the seed (Word). If the ground (heart) is soft and rich, being full of the right minerals (spiritual qualities) and cleared of all junk and brush, ploughed and turned over, then it is ready to receive the seed.
4. A brief look on the fate of the seed
• The seed by the path or wayside: the person is present, but he is off to the side, out of the way, not involved. He respects Christ and the preacher and would not miss a service, but he is on the outer circle, paying little attention to the warnings and promises of the Word.
• The seed on the rock: He receives the Word, professes belief in Christ, and makes profession of faith before the world. But he fails to count the cost, to consider the commitment, the self-denial, the sacrifice, the study, the learning, the hours and efforts required. He is only a superficial believer.
• The seed among the thorns: This is the person who receives the Word and honestly tries to live for Christ. But there is one problem, the thorns or worldliness. He is unwilling to cut completely loose from the world. He bears fruit, fruit does appear but it never ripens; it is never able to be plucked. The thorns choke the life out of it.
• The seed on the good ground: Their hearts are noble. They honestly seek to learn to know the truth, spiritually as well as physically. Once the truth is now they hold fast to it. They bear fruit with perseverance and patience.
5. Jesus wanted the truth concealed from closed minds. Closed minds are hardened and unwilling to consider the secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Sitting there in the audience, they heard and understood the words and the pictures which the words painted. But not all had the disposition to keep their hearts open.
• The seed by the path or wayside: the person is present, but he is off to the side, out of the way, not involved. He respects Christ and the preacher and would not miss a service, but he is on the outer circle, paying little attention to the warnings and promises of the Word.
• The seed on the rock: He receives the Word, professes belief in Christ, and makes profession of faith before the world. But he fails to count the cost, to consider the commitment, the self-denial, the sacrifice, the study, the learning, the hours and efforts required. He is only a superficial believer.
• The seed among the thorns: This is the person who receives the Word and honestly tries to live for Christ. But there is one problem, the thorns or worldliness. He is unwilling to cut completely loose from the world. He bears fruit, fruit does appear but it never ripens; it is never able to be plucked. The thorns choke the life out of it.
• The seed on the good ground: Their hearts are noble. They honestly seek to learn to know the truth, spiritually as well as physically. Once the truth is now they hold fast to it. They bear fruit with perseverance and patience.
5. Jesus wanted the truth concealed from closed minds. Closed minds are hardened and unwilling to consider the secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Sitting there in the audience, they heard and understood the words and the pictures which the words painted. But not all had the disposition to keep their hearts open.
I would like to see the parable from the perspective of the Sower. All of us Christians and in a concrete way the ministers of Christ are asked to do this great job of sowing the Word of God. During the several years of seminary formation and ongoing formation as priests some fail to learn to sow the seeds effectively. Some instead of learning the Scripture, concentrate too much on secular studies and stay wayside, while others learn the Scriptures well but fail to upgrade their knowledge by deeper studies and land up on the rocky areas, some others do their learning part well but fail to seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through prayer and contemplation and get choked by thorns of popularity. Only a few succeed to have the efficacy of word and land up in the good soil.
Courtesy
The Preachers Outline and the Sermon Bible
Courtesy
The Preachers Outline and the Sermon Bible
No comments:
Post a Comment