| The Parable of the Sower, Part 1 |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, August 17 2009 00:00 |
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One of our church elders is currently teaching a class on the parables, and the sower parable was the subject of a recent class. The presentation of the material as well as comments generated suggested to me that there are some thoughts to be shared with our Engedi subscribers. First, this lengthy parable is found in all three synoptics: Matt. 13:1-12, Mark 4:1-25, and Luke 8:4-18. In spite of some variations, the lesson is essentially the same in all: a sower sows seed in four different soil conditions: hard dirt that formed a trodden-on path, shallow and rocky soil, ground filled with thorns (a symbol of the curse), and well-cultivated ground. Birds came and picked up the seed from the path before it could ever germinate, the shallow ground allowed initial germination but because of lack of plant root, the seedlings withered under the hot sun, in the third the thorns choked out the seedlings, but in the fourth the seeds grew to produce a bountiful crop. The parable, which Matthew and Mark set along the lake with Jesus preaching to people on shore from a boat and Luke sets along a road coming from a town, in all cases of delivery was addressed to “the crowd,” which would suggest a general audience. We know the disciples were present, and there may have been Jewish religious leaders, but probably most were just people who wanted, for whatever reason, to hear this teacher. It is one of only two parables that Jesus explained later to his disciples; or, at least, for which we have his explanation. We are left entirely to our own interpretation on the others. However, as our teacher mentioned at the close of the class, even with the interpretation, it is a long and complex teaching. We shall examine these four categories of soil (hearts of people) in the next few weeks. |
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