One of my Christmas presents was a book written by several
from the Duck Dynasty family, centering around some of the parables of
Jesus. The book is called FAITH COMMANDER, and comes with a DVD and study
notes, making it an excellent resource for group study.
Probably, the number one parable Jesus spoke, and one of the
easiest to read and understand, is the parable of the sower. We know the story, how the seed was sown in
four conditions of soil. You can read
the entire parable in Matthew 13:1-23.
There were seeds that were sown in soil that was packed hard, like the
footpath around the property. Then Jesus mentioned the soil that was rocky,
followed by the soil that already had weeds growing in it. Then he talked about the soil that was good,
containing no hardness, no rocks and no weeds.
It was from these descriptions Jesus began to make the application of
truth for his audience.
The explanation of the parable begins with an understanding
that the seed in this story is the Word of God.
And the four different soil conditions represent the conditions of the
hearts of men who are receiving the word.
Do you think we have people today with hearts so hardened,
the Word cannot establish itself in them? Are there those who will allow the
Word to penetrate the surface of the heart, but live short-termed because those
hearts are like rocky soil? Are there
those who receive the seed, the Word of God, whose lives have remained
contaminated by the weeds of the world?
And have you personally met someone with a heart that is good and free
from everything that would impede growth and maturity.
Learning who and what is at play in the parable, we can come
to understand why Jesus would tell a story in this way. He is actually trying to get each hearer in
this multitude of people to see themselves.
That isn't always a fun thing to do.
And Jesus is calling on these people to examine their hearts, to take a
look at the person they are....their motivations, their priorities, their
wants, their attitudes......who they really are.
Jesus' audience that day had some people, no doubt, that could
be identified by the hardened soil. No
matter what Jesus was teaching, their hard hearts would not accept it. They were happy directing their own
lives. Also in that audience were those
with shallow hearts. They might receive
the Word, but it was never alive for them.
These shallow lives would never allow the fullness of God to establish
itself within them. The third group,
just didn't have room for Jesus and his ways.
Their lives were already occupied with other things and there was
literally no room for the seed-Word of God to produce.
That fourth soil, good and pure and free of hindrances,
brought an abundant crop and produced fruit. That's the heart that is prepared
for and receptive of godly things, and yields itself to be directed by the
Father. The receiving heart is always
open to God's presence and direction.
Jesus, in this parable is looking for faith from his
hearers. That takes a surrendered life, to
cultivate a constantly growing faith, to bring about the hearts in which Jesus
works. Even if your faith is as small as
a mustard seed, it can be powerful in the hands of Jesus. Perhaps our constant prayer should be,
"Lord, increase our faith."
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