The Parable Explained 1

Scripture: Luke 8:9-18

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.  (Luke 8:9-12 NLT)

Jesus’ disciples, like us, had ears to hear and hearts to understand. So they leaned in, they ask Jesus to explain what the parable of the four soils (Path, Rocks, Weeds, and Good soil) meant for their own lives. Let’s listen to Jesus’ reply…

Some people, the hard footpath people, don’t really hear. Their hearts are hardened by a variety of factors. Some of them couldn’t hear because Jesus didn’t fit their “Messiah Profile”. They were looking for a political leader to negotiate their freedom and protect their rights. Or they were looking for a military leader to build an army and drive out the occupying Roman forces. Or they were heavily invested in the religious system and had positions and titles and salaries to protect. Or they were reasonably comfortable in the relative stability of Roman government, Herod’s pseudo Jewish court, and the Temple-Sanhedrin system and didn’t want to rock the boat. The latter two categories, the teachers of law and Pharisees, and the Sadducees and Sanhedrin/Temple system eventually joined forces to bring about Jesus’ crucifixion. And some people just didn’t care as long as they didn’t have to change!

The message is delivered, the good seed is scattered, and they just walk on. Their feet trample the seed on the path, after they’ve passed by birds come and pick up what’s left, and nothing happens. Nothing at all.

I don’t like to think that there’s anything of the hard footpath in me. But sometimes it’s “hard to stay soft”. I get into a comfortable routine, I learn to live with my pettiness and self-centeredness. When the Spirit of Jesus whispers about my critical, judgmental attitude, my demand for “my rights”, I deflect the focus to “Yeah, but have you seen what those other guys are doing?” Can you relate to what I’m saying here? Stay with me, friends! We are among those who have ears to hear and hearts to respond! We’ll think about rocks and weeds tomorrow!

Prayer:

Thank you for the message of hope you’ve given us. We’re leaning in. We’re hearing. We’re responding with repentance and faith. We will be good soil for the seed! Amen!