The Parable Explained 3
Scripture: Luke 8:9-18
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. 16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. 18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” (Luke 8:11,13-18 NLT)
Thorns and Weeds. Because Jesus’ disciples, like us, had ears to hear and were willing to listen, they came to him and asked for understanding on what the parable meant for them. He told them that when the farmer is sowing the good seed of God’s Message, the seed falls on different kinds of soil: hard footpath soil, rocky soil, thorny and weed-infested soil, and good soil. The seeds that fell among weeds had hardly sprouted when the weeds crowded them out. The cares and riches and pleasures of this life are the busy, noisy, demanding thorns and weeds.
Jean and I have learned from gardening that if we want the garden to grow and produce carrots and lettuce and beans and okra, we have to identify the weeds as they sprout and carefully pull them out so our garden can flourish and produce the good stuff.
Our lives are like that. We must identify the things that crowd out the good seed in our hearts and minds. That involves asking important questions like “What really matters?” and “How much is enough?” and “If I do this, what is it going to produce?”
We do the things that grow and mature our souls, that keep our spirits strong, and that help us value what Jesus values. We’re not motivated by fear, because we know God loves and accepts us as we are. We’re motivated by a strong sense of God’s desire for us to flourish and be fruitful.
Prayer:
Father, Thank you for the Good Seed that has been sown in our hearts. We want to be fruitful and produce a harvest of grace in our lives. Help us keep our hearts soft, to gather out the rocks and weeds, and to be good stewards of our heart-soil!