Sermon Brief
Date Written: July 23, 2008
Date Preached: July 9, 2008
Where Preached: OPBC (Wed PM)
Sermon Details:
Sermon Series: A Study of the Parables
Sermon Title: The Parable of the Soils
Sermon Text: Mark 4:1-20
Introduction:
1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 and it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.¨ 9 And He said to them, He who has ears to hear, let him hear!¨
v. 1-2 are setting the scene for what is happening here. First we can see that it was Jesus’ desire to teach the people, but that it was a large crowd so large a crowd that Jesus had to get some perspective and the crowd had to be able to hear him. Jesus uses a boat as a platform and goes out a little ways from the shore so that all could see him.
We also learn that not only did Jesus choose the format from which to speak, but Jesus chose the format in which to teach we find in v.2 that Jesus spoke to this group thru the use of parables or teaching stories!
Remember, we learned that the English word parable is derived from the Greek word ‘parabolay’ which means to cast along side of or to compare with or to
v. 3 Jesus begins His teaching, with a command to listen, which carries with it what we may better understand as “Pay attention!” why do we say pay attention to those we may not think are listening? We say that because it lets who we are speaking with know how important it is that they hear and understand what we are about to say! Jesus knew how important this was and He wanted those He was teaching to understand its importance as well!
v. 3 Behold a sower went out to sow! Here Jesus sets the parable to a setting where most, if not all, of those there listening would understand and comprehend. Many of these people were farmers and lived off the land and Jesus spoke this parable to them in this manner so that they could comprehend what He was saying about the kingdom of God.
v. 4 = 1st example of sowing seed - seed is sown on the well worn path ‘the wayside’ which could represent a path that leads to the garden plot or a parcel OUTSIDE of the garden spot where the soil had not been prepared. Either way we can see that the soil is NOT prepared to accept the seed and the seed is quickly eaten by birds.
v. 5-6 = 2nd example of sowing seed - seed is sown on the stony ground. More than likely this was the shallow stony exterior boundaries of the garden plot where the soil and stones were meeting. It was possibly on the shallow edge of the garden where the ground was disturbed but not properly prepared for seed the seed could take root in this soil, but because of the lack of preparation, the root could not survive and thus the plant would die!
v. 7 = 3rd example of sowing seed - seed is sown on thorny ground. More than likely the soil had been prepared but the owner of the plot has not cleared all the weeds and thorns this may have been just inside the slightly disturbed stony ground where the soil had been tilled and prepared but the weeds had not been removed. This seed would take root and would sprout, but would be competing with the weeds and thorns for nourishment and sunlight and eventually the seedling would die off, choked out by the more mature weeds and thorns!
v.8 = 4th example of sowing seed - seed is sown on good ground and in the prepared and cleared soil the seed flourishes and matures and yields fruit. One seed can yield as much as 30, 60 or 100 actual fruit, depending on the plant, the soil, and the weather.
v. 9 = yet another command from Jesus to take heed and listen to what He had just said for those listening to Him to pay attention to what He had just taught. In other words, remember this teaching it is IMPORTANT!
Now Jesus taught this parable and the people had left and the disciples had gathered around Him to ask Him questions about what He had just taught let’s read what the Bible says happened after all were gone and it was just Jesus and His disciples read verses here!
The Parable of the Sower Explained
10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable... 13 And He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.’
v.10 = The disciples were not sure of what they had just heard they wanted to know what Jesus was speaking about. So they asked Jesus. This verse relates the humanity and frailty of the disciples and their current lack of faith and spiritual immaturity.
I can almost hear Peter saying something like, Jesus, we think I know what You were saying to those people out there, but could you clarify things for us? What did you really mean?
Now we have to understand who the disciples thought Jesus was at this time. They were already beginning to see Him as the Messiah, the one chosen of God to restore Israel’s kingdom. They saw Jesus as the one to lead them back to a physical kingdom and throw off the chains of Roman oppression.
You may be asking yourself, if the disciples did not understand, what about the other people? Well the other people were not with Jesus 24/7 like the disciples and their perception of Jesus was as a teacher or rabbi one who taught about God and godly things. They did not see Jesus as the Messiah at this time.
So Jesus answers them in a way that they really don’t expect. First in v.11-12 we find Jesus telling them that the mysteries of God are given to them, and that they are not for everyone! Not that God desires to hold back His truth, but that God is not going to reveal truth to those who would deny it, destroy it or disbelieve it!
Second, we find Jesus answering their question with a question look at v.13 where Jesus says, 13 And He said to them, Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? Basically what Jesus is saying here is what do you mean you don’t understand? If you cannot understand this simple parable how are you going to understand all else I am going to teach. You have to be able to understand this parable, so let me share it with you!
Jesus then in v.14-20 reveals the meaning of the parable to the disciples and it is something they never expected!
v. 14 - The sower sows the word. Jesus reveals the identity of the sower. He tells them that the sower is the one sowing the seed. Now as simplistic as that sounds, it is intellectually honest and straight forward. The sower is sowing the seeds of God’s word is what Jesus tells the disciples the meaning of this verse is that the sower is the one who tells others about the Word of God and seeks to spread the word in the garden of this life. The sower is one who is telling others about Jesus Christ! Are you one of the sowers tonight?
