"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Parable Of The Four Soils (4:1-20)
INTRODUCTION
1. As Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom He did not always find
a receptive audience...
a. Some listened only to find reasons to accuse Him - Mk 3:2
b. Jesus therefore began to teach publicly in parables - Mk 4:1-2
c. In private, He would explain the parables to His disciples - Mk 4:
10,33-34
d. The main reason: many had become "hard of hearing" - Mk 4:11-12;
cf. Mt 13:10-15
2. One of the most well-known parables illustrates the problem Jesus
faced...
a. Commonly known as "The Parable Of The Sower"
b. But probably more accurately described as "The Parable Of The Four
Soils"
c. Told by Jesus to illustrate different reactions to the gospel
message
[Mark's account of the parable is given in Mk 4:1-20 (please read). The
significance of this parable is stated in Mk 4:13. In this study, we
direct our attention to Jesus' explanation of the four soils...]
I. THE WAYSIDE GROUND
A. EXPLAINED BY JESUS...
1. Those who have the seed taken from their hearts by Satan
- Mk 4:15
2. Matthew's account says it is because they do not understand
- cf. Mt 13:19
3. Their condition is one of being "blinded" by Satan to the
gospel - 2Co 4:3-4
4. While Satan contributes to their blindness, it is precipitated
by their own hardness of heart! - cf. Mt 13:15
-- This soil represents those whose hard hearts are manipulated by
Satan to resist
B. APPLIED TODAY...
1. Many people have hardened their hearts to the gospel for
various reasons
a. Some because they love darkness more than light - Jn 3:19-20
b. Some because they love praise from men more than God
- Jn 12:42-43
2. Satan easily takes advantage of such people to blind them
a. Through appealing doctrines like hedonism, secularism,
materialism
b. Through popular doctrines like humanism, evolution,
post-modernism
-- This soil represents many today who have no interest in
spiritual things
[The next soil in the parable is...]
II. THE STONY GROUND
A. EXPLAINED BY JESUS...
1. Those who hear the word and immediately receive it with
gladness - Mk 4:16
2. Yet with no root, they do not endure - Mk 4:17a
3. They stumble when faced with tribulation, persecution,
temptation - Mk 4:17b; cf. Lk 8:13
-- This soil represents those who believe and obey, but do not
last long
B. APPLIED TODAY...
1. Many hear the Word and received it with great joy
a. They are quick to obey the gospel
b. They are enthusiastic, "on fire" for the Lord
2. But their faith is shallow, their joy the result of
emotionalism
a. They are not grounded in the Word
b. When troubles arise, there is no endurance and stumbling
occurs
-- This soil represents Christians ruled more by emotion than by
the Word of God
[The third soil in the parable is ...]
III. THE THORNY GROUND
A. EXPLAINED BY JESUS...
1. Those who hear the Word - Mk 4:18
2. Whose ability to bear fruit is choked - Mk 4:19
a. By the cares of this world
b. By the deceitfulness of riches
c. By the desires for other things - cf. Lk 8:14 (pleasures of
life)
-- This soil represents those who believe and obey, but then
stagnate
B. APPLIED TODAY...
1. Many become Christians, but never mature
a. They may attend church, even participate or lead in the
services
b. But spiritually they remain "babes" and "carnal" - e.g.,
1Co 3:1-3; He 5:12-14
2. Their spiritual growth is inhibited
a. By cares and anxieties that detract their minds - cf. Lk 12:
29-32
b. By riches that deceive them into self-sufficiency
- cf. 1 Ti 6:17-19
c. By pleasures that divert their minds from the things of the
Spirit - cf. Ga 5:17; 6:7-9
-- This soil represents Christians rendered fruitless by
materialism
[Finally, the fourth soil in the parable is...]
IV. THE GOOD GROUND
A. EXPLAINED BY JESUS...
1. Those who hear the word, accept it, and bear varying amounts of
fruit - Mk 4:20
2. Matthew says they "understand" the Word - Mt 13:23
3. Luke says they hear the Word "with a noble and good heart, keep
it and bear fruit with patience." - Lk 8:15
-- This soil represents those with good hearts who understand and
obey the Word
B. APPLIED TODAY...
1. Many become Christians who have this "noble and good heart"
a. They make the effort to understand the Word
b. They make the effort to keep it, and with patience produce
fruit in their lives!
2. They are like the Bereans, commended as "fair-minded",
manifested by:
a. How they "received the word will all readiness" - Ac 17:11a
b. "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these
things were so" - Ac 17:11b
3. Note the importance of understanding in relation to bearing
fruit...
a. Jesus made the connection between the two in this parable
- Mt 13:23
b. Paul connects the two when he writes of the gospel producing
fruit among the Colossians "since the day they heard (NASV
says "understood") the grace of God in truth" - Col 1:5-6
4. When one "understands", they will more likely "bear fruit"
a. But the key to understanding is having a "good and noble
heart"
b. One that is willing to listen and learn!
5. Note that Jesus said not all will bear the same amount...
a. "some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred" - Mk 4:20
b. Some may be given more according to their ability
- cf. Mt 25:14-15
c. Whatever our ability, we should exercise it accordingly
- cf. 1Pe 4:10-11
-- This soil represents Christians who are faithful and fruitful
in their service
CONCLUSION
1. "The Parable Of The Four Soils" is fairly easy to understand (with
Jesus' help)
2. To truly benefit from the parable, let me ask "What kind of soil are
you?"...
a. Are you like the wayside?
1) If you have heard the gospel of Christ, but have not obeyed
it...
2) You are in the process of hardening your heart the longer you
wait!
3) You are susceptible to Satan's deception, to blind you to God's
Word!
b. Are you like the stony ground?
1) If you responded to the gospel, but are not grounded in the
faith...
2) You will likely fall away when persecution or temptation comes
your way!
c. Are you like the thorny ground?
1) If you responded to the gospel, but are preoccupied with the
cares, riches, and pleasures of this world, you will not be
able to bear much fruit!
2) Remember what Jesus said about branches that don't bear fruit!
- Jn 15:1-6
d. Are you like the good ground?
1) If you have responded to the gospel, and are bearing fruit...
2) Then you have demonstrated several important things:
a) You have a good and noble heart!
b) You have come to understand the Word!
c) You have been keeping it with patience!
3) And the Word of God produced its intended effect in you!
May this parable and its explanation by Jesus stimulate our thinking and
examine our hearts and lives in relation to the gospel of Christ...!
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" - Mk 4:9
