Mark 4 : 1-20 (Daily Bread of 27/10/2017)

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Key verse 4: 20

Jesus’ parables were always aimed at giving lessons on important spiritual truths. They were also used to separate those who accepted them from those who did not. Generally these parables have to do with thé Kingdom of God.

1. Listen carefully, the sower went out to plant a seed (1-9)

Once again everyone gathered around Jesus because they wanted to hear the Word of the Lord that he was proclaming. This Word always gave hope and meaning to their lives. Jesus taught them for a long while as their needs were very urgent. Jesus gave them the parable of the sower so that they could understand what the Kingdom of God looks like. Four types of soil receive the seeds that the sower plants. The first one was similar to a long pathway, as soon as the grains fell on it the birds came and ate them up. The following one was similar to a rocky place. The seeds grew but they soon withered as they had no roots. The third type of soil had thorns in it and they grew alongside the plant.  The fourth type good earth as the soil was fertile. It thus received the seeds which grew up and bore fruit. There you have the parable that Jesus said.

2. Jesus explained the parable (10-20)

When he was no longer amongst the crowd, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable. In fact, those who wanted to know the meaning of the parable asked him to give them this explanation. Therefore, only they who asked Jesus were able to understand it as he gave them the explanation that they asked for. Jesus said that the first type of soil refers to those who accept the Word but who lose it right after as Satan comes and takes it from them. The second type, the one one filled with rocks, refers to those who easily accept the Word and then quickly lose it as the Word has no roots in their hearts. For the third soil type the Word is accepted but it suffocates due to the problems and stress  that the person carries in their heart. The fourth soil type refers to the good heart, the one and only that receives the Word and produces up to one hundredfold fruit. Therefore, from this we learn that the ability to bear fruit depends on the condition of our heart when we hear God’s Word. We need to examine our hearts to ensure that they are pure, clean and humble enough before God’s Word because we want to bear fruit.