What Does This Parable Mean?

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. ... The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" - Mark 4:10, 14-20 NLT

Have you ever considered God's Words like seeds? I see God as the farmer--the main owner of the farm--who gives his hired hands the seeds to plant. Those workers--Christians like you and me--are sprinkling--sowing--God's Words in people's hearts.

Some is carelessly thrown onto a busy path--where people are too busy with earthly things and activities to let God's Word really grow in their hearts and lives. Satan keeps them distracted from really living their lives for Christ. There is no place for the word of God to take root and grow in their hearts.

                                  Cobblestone street - Charleston, SC

Rocky soil--The people hearing God's Word during those times see hope--and are even joyful--but they aren't grounded in faith--they aren't seeking God with their whole heart. When they have problems they don't keep trusting God for very long.

Thorns--times of termoil and traumatic situations and worldly desires keep the hearts of these people from growing in the Lord--fruitless.

Good soil--the hearts of those who listen and obey God's Word. They grow in God's love and grace--and share the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Many people come to know, love and grow in the Lord because of the encouragement of these people who listen and obey God. 

                            The key in each case is the hearts of the people.

In the Old Testament Hosea prophesied about the harvest in relation to the hearts of the people.

I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'  Hosea 10:12

How is your heart? Have seeds of righteousness been planted there and are you planting good seeds from God's word--His righteousness--in the hearts of others?

Prayer – Jesus--The time will come for the harvest as John wrote about in Revelation.

 - Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe." Revelation 14:15

                      May the harvest be great and give glory to the Lord God almighty.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍