re-thinking some of the parables ... No.28
THE PARABLE OF THE ‘SOILS’
Matthew 13: 3-11 etc.
One needs to be in a special teachable mode as the Holy Spirit within will give the revelation of what is in Father’s heart for you. This parable is referred to as ‘The Parable of the Sower’. The parable must focus on the variable root systems in order to see the differing results relating to us in these days.
We note that the Sower is the same in every one of the six instances and He is obviously good. Then we have the seed of the Kingdom which is likewise obviously good. The account also declares that the ground is good. Summarizing, the Sower, the seed and the ground are all good and the same in every instance. So now we come to the differing soil conditions which produce varying degrees of reception ... it is all about how the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven is received or not by these different soil conditions.
The Seed is the word of the Kingdom and the Sower broadcasts or sows that seed and it fell on six types of ground depicting six responses to the word of the Kingdom which is different to the word of salvation that the Church shares. The harvest is the reproduction of the life of the Sower found in the Seed in each soil group of His people.
SEED THAT FELL BY THE WAYSIDE: The first situation was when the seed fell by the wayside which was like the seed was trying to penetrate the hard traditional way of thinking where ‘Mr. Average Christian’ walks. These folks who make up this scenario heard the word of the Kingdom of Heaven which was different to what they were used to and it didn’t really get through to their flint-like understanding. The wicked-one (the carnal natural reasoning sceptical mind) comes into play and snatches away this good seed — especially the parts which looked like making sense — before it could germinate and put down some roots. Such ones remain in ignorance of the Kingdom of Heaven ... this word then remains a mystery to them.
THE SEED THAT FELL ON STONY PLACES: The second situation was when the seed fell on stony places. These folks represented here are those who hear the new Kingdom-centred word and get all excited but there is lacking a genuine foundation in their lives so that they cannot judge this word for themselves. They will need to check it out with their traditional-minded pastor or their spiritually-dead friends who likewise do not think for themselves! They just might react by belittling those previously hungry believers creating a fear in them by suggesting that they might be led astray into deception. The rejoicing of these folks is short-lived and thus they equate with the seed of the Kingdom falling on stony places for these rocks do not have soil enough to produce anything worthwhile anyway. This good seed brought to this place by the good Sower had no way of gaining a root system for increase. These ones too remain oblivious to Kingdom truths ... present truth.
THE SEED THAT FELL AMONG THORNS: This third group of folks represented here come under the sound of the word of the Kingdom and they do not readily understand it yet it is openly received. The thorns of their circumstances bring forth the comment that “I just don’t have enough time to follow up or search out the details etc. I have to work to clear the overheads and the family is very demanding and by the evening I’m just too tired to want to do anything!” So the new word of the Kingdom gets squeezed out of their priorities. The lack of vision and dedication to growing in the Lord leaves these ones also in a state of not understanding the Kingdom of Heaven and its priorities.
PREPARED GROUND: Now there comes a contrast ... this good soil/ground has been prepared for the Spirit of God has caused these ones to be hungry for more of the Divine Life which makes them teachable. So these next three groups of ‘good ground’ believers hear this new word of the Kingdom and accordingly to just how much one is surrendered to Father’s will, they will let this Kingdom-word reach deep into their walk and talk. Whatever degree of yielding one walks in is OK.
HOW MUCH ONE YIELDS = HOW MUCH ONE PRODUCES: The seed, the word of the Kingdom of Heaven will draw the life that is in the good ground (us! Good, for the Lord God made us, Right?) up into itself changing it into divine life that will manifest Christ in progressive expressions all the way to completeness and perfection.
The ground’s willingness to open up to the seed is what allows that word to put down its roots into the prepared earth. The ground being good has sufficient nutrients in it and the root systems will draw that life up into itself resulting in growth, The Sower, of course, is looking for a harvest from His seed. As the underlying theme of the Kingdom word is to bring each one to a wonderful ongoing relationship with the King of the Kingdom ... all ‘self’ is one the line as it becomes the fertilizer for growth.
The roots will more readily be able to expand and go deep when the ground is good and prepared to yield up its goodness or nutrients to the roots that seek such.
THIRTY-FOLD, SIXTY-FOLD or HUNDRED-FOLD:
All degrees of yieldedness are great and the Sower (Who is also the Harvester) will be delighted with whatever crop or harvest He receives whether it be THIRTY-FOLD, SIXTY-FOLD or HUNDRED-FOLD. There will be no comparisons done one to the other for together we make up the desired harvest with each part supplying exactly what the Sower was looking for.
In the course of the growing seasons, there will come greater understanding of the Kingdom Word which, by the way, was just about the only subject Jesus shared on. He said at the time He shared this parable that we would be enabled to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Only revelation by the Holy Spirit brings the insight that solves the mysteries.
One can readily see that the Sower didn’t expect all His seed to produce a hundred-fold ... but He was happy with what came forth for He works all things together for good etc.
Jesus said that our seeing-eyes and hearing-ears made possible by one’s waiting upon the Lord whereby one can receive a revelation that supersedes what education can give. So be ye thankful for His work in you to prepare your ground and allow you to put down roots that draw forth what is needed for growing up into the full image and likeness of Christ.§