Bible Study series: Mark 4:13-20. The parable is profound, and he explains it to us.
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Let’s begin.
Scripture: Mark 4:13-20
13 He said to them: “You don’t understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The one sowing sows the word. 15 These are the ones along the path, where the word was sown. When they heard, immediately Satan also takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 And these are the ones that were sown on the rocky ground, which are those when they heard the word immediately received it joyfully 17 and had no root in themselves; instead, they were transitory. Then trouble and persecution occurred because of the word, and they soon fell away. 18 The others were those sown into the thorn bushes. They heard the word 19 and the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the craving for other things came in and choked the word. And there was no crop. 20 Those are the ones who are sown in the good soil and hear the word and accept it and produce crops, some thirty, some sixty, and some hundred (Mark 4:13-20)
Comments
Once again, a short post to explain a parable:
Jesus Introduces the Parable of the Sower (Soils)
Quick summary of the kinds of soil:
A.. First soil / heart: Packed down as hard as a footpath.
B.. Second soil / heart: rocky ground so roots don’t go down deep.
C.. Third soil / heart: thorn bushes can grow there, which choke out good growth.
D.. Fourth soil / heart: Good heart so the word can grow and produce mature fruit.
Jesus expresses surprise and frustration that this clear parable was not entirely understood by his disciples and the twelve.
“word”: It is the noun logos (pronounced lo-goss), and it is rich in meaning. It is the same noun for word in all the verses in this section (vv. 11-15). It is used 330 times in the NT. We now know the seed is the word or message of the kingdom in the parable. This word explains the kingdom of God and its power to transform people’s hearts, if their hearts are receptive. There is no “done deal,” except for those who persevere (endure or hang in there).
It is the same word logos throughout these verses, which can be translated as “message.”
14-15:
So the sower sows the word. He (or she) is the proclaimer, the preacher. Right now, that’s Jesus in real terms. After Pentecost, that’s you and me.
First soil / heart: the packed-down path or road. The seeds never even got a chance to put down roots before people trampled on them and birds ate them.
“the evil one”: the devil is the (collective) birds. He can read people’s heart well enough that he can steal the word from it. No, his reading hearts does not make him omniscient; it just means he can read hearts! He can certainly read it well enough to snatch the word from your heart.
Don’t let the devil rob you of the good word planted in you. “Is this really real? Is the word true?” You can ask those questions but go to someone who is more mature than you to get answers.
See my posts about Satan in the area of systematic theology:
Bible Basics about Satan and Demons and Victory Over Them
Bible Basics about Deliverance
Magic, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Fortunetelling
16-17:
Second soil / heart: rocky ground. People can receive the word with joy when they hear it. But the rocky soil prevents the roots from going deep enough for them to soak up the moisture.
Scorching sunlight (= trials and temptations) is implied in this verse.
“temporary” it can be transitory. In the time of testing or temptation they fall away. “Fall away” could be translated more literally as a stumbling block. It is easy to imagine that the hearers, receivers and believers walk away or stand away from the word after they go through temptation or testing.
Be prepared for trials and temptations.
18-19:
Third soil / heart: the thorn plants grow there. The thorn bushes (another translation) grow with the seed and choke it. Here the thorn bushes are explained as the anxieties and deceitfulness of riches—and these things choke the word. No, money and certain pleasure are not bad in themselves, but too often they do choke out our relationship with God.
“no crop”: It could be translated as “fruitless” or “cropless.” The verb is in the present tense, implying that if the word had not been choked out, the fruit would have grown to maturity; one has to keep going to maturity. So the picture is that the hearer produces some fruit, but then the entire plant gets choked out by the anxieties and deceitfulness of riches.
20:
Fourth soil / heart: This person produces a lot of grain.
“produce crops”: it is one verb, and it is in the present tense—you keep producing fruit.
For the quarrel between professional theologians over “once save, always saved” and the possibility of walking away from salvation, see my posts:
Possible Apostasy or Eternal Security?
Remaining a Christian or Falling Away?
Also see how the parable might apply to this question:
Parable of the Sower: Eternal Security or Possible Apostasy?
GrowApp for Mark 4:13-20
1. Which soil and walk with God best describes your heart and commitment? Why?
2. How do you become good soil (if you are not already)? How did you become good soil, if you have remained saved for years and are still producing good fruit?
RELATED
10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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