As we go thru the Gospel of Luke and look at the teachings of Jesus, I would like to look at two Parables that He told that were meant to teach an important lesson to those who were already His followers, which includes us as well.
Now these parables are some of His best known parables. And even though most of us have read them over and over and probably heard someone preach on them, I did not want to side step them because Jesus told these parables for a very, very important reason.
Read Luke 8:4-18 “ 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
These are familiar stories but teach many powerful lessons. But today I would just like to focus on the primary lesson that Jesus was trying to communicate. And that is, as a disciple of Christ we each have a responsibility to go forth and do our best to spread some seed or what He describes as the Word of God.
As a disciple of Jesus we are to be like that farmer spreading seed any and everywhere we go. I read this story which I would like to read to you
A Georgia farmer, ragged and barefooted, was standing on the steps of his tumbledown shack. A stranger stopped for a drink of water and just to pass the time of day he asked: “How is your cotton coming along?” he asked.
“Ain’t got none,” replied the farmer.
“Did you plant any?” asked the stranger.
“Nope,” was the reply, “afraid of bollweevils.”
“Well,” continued the stranger, “how is your corn?”
“Didn’t plant none,” came the answer, “’fraid there weren’t going to be no rain.”
The visitor persevered: “Well, how are your potatoes?”
“Ain’t got none. Scairt – of potato bugs.”
“Really, what did you plant?” pressed the stranger.
“Nothin’,” was the calm reply, “I jest played safe.”
Why didn’t that farmer plant his crops? He was afraid. He was afraid of failure. He was afraid of the unknown. And maybe he was even afraid that the work of planting would be too hard for him. SO, he just didn’t plant anything. There are many Christians who won’t talk to anyone else about their faith or God’s Word (the seed), because they are just as unsure or afraid as this guy. They’re afraid of failure & rejection. They’re afraid of the unknown. And maybe some are afraid it will be too hard for them to do. They’re unsure and afraid… AND SO they just don’t say anything and wind up living a poorer life spiritually. HOWEVER, from what Jesus tells us here in Luke 8, Christians really don’t need to be unsure and afraid. The task of casting the seed of the Gospel really isn’t that difficult.
Think about it. Unlike Georgia farmer in our illustration, the farmer in Jesus’ parable was not in the least bit troubled. Was Jesus’ farmer concerned about where his seeds landed? Noooo – he’s out there throwing the seed anywhere and everywhere he could. This farmer threw the seed on the weeds, on the foot-path beside his field, on shallow ground, and on the rich land. The seed landed everywhere. He wasn’t particular where the seed landed because farmland was expensive and the seed was cheap. The way farmers of that day figured – you put lot of good seed out you’d eventually get a good crop somewhere. ALSO this farmer knew that the power in farming lay in that tiny little seed – not in him.
A farmer didn’t have to be particularly skilled to throw seed on the dirt. A three old could do it. But SOMEBODY had to throw the seed out there so that some of it could take root in the soil. Paul wrote: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
What is Paul saying? He’s saying somebody has to throw the seed of the gospel out there in order for people to hear, believe, thus and be saved. If we don’t throw the seed out there, nobody will be saved. NOW remember – success in achieving a crop lays in the seed that we cast that is: in our witness, or what we tell people about Jesus, and His Word.
It does not necessarily depend in us nor on our abilities. Let me give you an ILLUS:
‘A man who was nonbeliever and a skeptic told the story of how he became a Christian. He said that the church he’d been occasionally attending had begun to stress the importance of witnessing to people about Christ. One particularly slow young man in the congregation took the idea to heart. When this boy approached him, the boy asked him if wanted to become a Christian. Almost rudely, he responded: “NO!”
The slow witted boy looked at him for a moment and then responded: “Well, then you can go to hell,” and he turned away and left. Because that “unskilled,” slow witted boy was willing to throw out the seed, the man eventually became a Christian.
The Hebrew writer wrote in 4:12, 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The power is in the message, and not so much in the person casting it out. But it still needs to be put out there. Something else that this parable tells us is: success in farming NOT ONLY depended on the seed… it has a lot to do with the soil it lands on.
Most farms have different kinds of soil on them. The farm I grew up on had areas that were very sandy and dry, and some areas that were mostly clay and very wet. But the best part of it consisted of nice sandy loam which produce the best crops. But my dad still planted all of it.
In Jesus’ parable He talked about the farmer casting seed on the hard path, in rocky terrain, in weedy patches and then on the good soil. Each produced different results for different reasons. I think people are a little different in that, even though they may look like a good candidate, and may initially seem like someone who would accept God’s Word and produce good fruit someday, you really can’t tell until you spread the seed and see what happens.
When I first saw the Wilson’s farm with all the rocks and clumps of clay I thought the ground looked terrible and could not imagine it producing very much. It wasn’t until I saw Guy spread the seed and watched it grow that I was surprised to see just how good and fruitful that ground actually was.
People are kind a like that. Those you don’t expect much from may take God’s Word and cherish it and produce all kinds of good fruit as a result of hearing it. We just need to be spreading it all over the place like the farmer in Jesus’ parable.
Really what it comes down to is… You don’t have to be good at throwing seed to get a crop. But if we go about and act like farmer in Georgia who didn’t even bother because he was afraid of this and that and the other thing then we should not expect any fruit, or more people coming to the Lord. Now will you have the joy of seeing someone grow and come to the Lord.
As a disciple of Jesus, all you have to do is throw the seed out there. The seed and the soil do the rest. I believe that’s what Jesus is saying here. AND when that seed finally hits pay dirt (the good ground or someone that ready for it) you will see some real fruit produced.
In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus told His closest disciples, ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I believe we all have our own field to sow and influence and I believe that Jesus would like to see us doing our best to spread the Good News about Him today.
In the second parable I read He said, 16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
In Matthew 5 He says something similar but concludes by saying, “16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What we say and do should be like this light that can give hope and sight to a lost world. But if all the of disciple of Jesus were to hide or withhold this light and this seed which we are meant to spread, how sad and hopeless this world would become. This is a powerful message for us.
I want to CLOSE by sharing this with you:
In the 13th Century, Nicolo Polo (father of Marco Polo) was visiting the court of the grandson of Ghengis Khan – Kublai Khan.
Kublai Khan was the Emperor of China and he had never met Europeans before. He was delighted to meet this visitor from Venice AND he was strongly impressed by the religious faith of this man; therefore, he sent a letter to Europe urging that some educated men should be dispatched to China to instruct his people in the teachings of Christ and Christianity.
But, because of the political upheaval and infighting that was taking place in Europe, there was a long delay in anybody coming. In the end, only 2 representatives of Christianity were sent. But because of fear they lost heart and soon and turned home.
Because of the failure of the church of that day, Kublai Khan turned instead to Buddhism and that has been the predominant religion in the area from that day to this.
Jesus said Go. In the last lesson we read where He said, Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not d go what I say?
My encouragement this day is: Don’t be afraid to share what you know and love about Jesus with everyone. We’ll never know who it will take root in. The power is in the seed, the word that goes forth from you and me. We just need to get it out and trust in its power.
Parts of this sermon are based on and from a sermon by Jeff Strite
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com
.png)
