The Soil: Luke 8:11-15
““11) Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12) Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13) Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14) The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15) But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” Luke 8:11-15
In the last two sections, we looked at the sower and the seed. In this section we are going to look at the soil. When you pull these three sections together you have a nice three point message for a sermon or a teaching.
Jesus pointed out that the seed of the word of God falls on four kinds of soil. The first soil is like hard packed clay by the roadside. As it falls, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word from their heart. Make no mistake, he is the first enemy against the word of God taking root in your life. As in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the god of this world runs interference with the gospel to prevent people from being saved.
The second soil is filled with rocks. When people hear the word, they receive it quickly, but it is only temporary. When temptation or ridicule comes from other people, they quickly turn away. According to Mark 4:17, the second enemy relates to other people.
The third soil is full of thorns and weeds. These choke out the word and prevent it from growing. These weeds are the worries and riches and pleasures of this life. By far biggest enemy for the word of God bearing fruit is self! Distraction in life or the desire to please others can quickly choke the word.
The final soil is the good soil. Through an honest and good heart, the hearer holds fast to the word of God. Over time and with perseverance, the word produces a bumper crop. Mark 4:20 records yields of thirty, sixty and a hundred fold. That’s huge!
Jesus did not say 30%, 60% or 100%. He said “a hundredfold.” That is a multiple of 30, 60 or 100. Modern farming techniques can produce much higher yields. Planting Gods word in your life can produce a harvest that far surpasses anything the world has to offer!
This parable can be applied to both the gospel for non-Christians and any theme of the word of God in the life of a believer. Whenever God’s word is heard, it must persevere through three enemies before it can produce an abundant yield.
So how does this apply to you and me? Gods word is full of promises, but they only bear fruit for those who claim and apply them. (2 Peter 1:2-11) Like farming, it takes work and diligence. Is it worth it? Payday comes with the harvest!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
““11) Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12) Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13) Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14) The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15) But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” Luke 8:11-15
In the last two sections, we looked at the sower and the seed. In this section we are going to look at the soil. When you pull these three sections together you have a nice three point message for a sermon or a teaching.
Jesus pointed out that the seed of the word of God falls on four kinds of soil. The first soil is like hard packed clay by the roadside. As it falls, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word from their heart. Make no mistake, he is the first enemy against the word of God taking root in your life. As in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the god of this world runs interference with the gospel to prevent people from being saved.
The second soil is filled with rocks. When people hear the word, they receive it quickly, but it is only temporary. When temptation or ridicule comes from other people, they quickly turn away. According to Mark 4:17, the second enemy relates to other people.
The third soil is full of thorns and weeds. These choke out the word and prevent it from growing. These weeds are the worries and riches and pleasures of this life. By far biggest enemy for the word of God bearing fruit is self! Distraction in life or the desire to please others can quickly choke the word.
The final soil is the good soil. Through an honest and good heart, the hearer holds fast to the word of God. Over time and with perseverance, the word produces a bumper crop. Mark 4:20 records yields of thirty, sixty and a hundred fold. That’s huge!
Jesus did not say 30%, 60% or 100%. He said “a hundredfold.” That is a multiple of 30, 60 or 100. Modern farming techniques can produce much higher yields. Planting Gods word in your life can produce a harvest that far surpasses anything the world has to offer!
This parable can be applied to both the gospel for non-Christians and any theme of the word of God in the life of a believer. Whenever God’s word is heard, it must persevere through three enemies before it can produce an abundant yield.
So how does this apply to you and me? Gods word is full of promises, but they only bear fruit for those who claim and apply them. (2 Peter 1:2-11) Like farming, it takes work and diligence. Is it worth it? Payday comes with the harvest!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
