|
Good
News of the Kingdom of God
¶
"…Jesus traveled about from one town and village to
another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The
Twelve were with him, and also some women …" (8:1-2a,
NIV).
¶
"While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming
to Jesus from town to town, he told this parable…"
(8:4, NIV) - "the parable of the sower" (Matthew 13:18).
The
Parable Presented
*
Read Luke 8:5-8. In this parable, the sower's seed falls
on four different kinds of soil.
*
Along the path: This soil is a hard-packed path. The seed that
falls here is stepped on by people and/or eaten by birds (8:5).
*
On rocky soil: This soil is a shallow soil with underlying rock.
This soil easily dries out, and root depth is limited by the
rock. Thus the plants wither because of lack of water (8:6).
*
Among thorns: This soil contains thorny plants that grow up
quickly with the good plants. Gradually, the thorny plants choke
out the good plants so they do not grow and produce (8:7).
*
Into good soil: This soil is good for seed germination and plant
growth, resulting in a very good crop ("a hundred times
more than was sown"). (8:8)
¶
"When [Jesus] said this, he called out, "He who has
ears to hear, let him hear" (8:8b, NIV).
The
Parable Questioned
*
Read Luke 8:9-10. Jesus' disciples asked Jesus what this
parable meant (8:9). Jesus said, "The knowledge of the secrets
of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak
in parables" (8:10a). Jesus explained this statement by quoting
from Isaiah 6:9 (8:10b).
*
As many rejected Isaiah's message, many rejected Jesus' message.
The words of Isaiah 6:9-10 warned of the certainty of God's judgment
on people who were not responsive due to hardness of heart, but
they also challenged people to repent (turn to God) and respond
to the message.
*
Parables challenge the hearers. Those with responsive hearts will
seek and understand. Those without responsive hearts will not
be able to see and understand. "Where parables find a willing
response, further explanation is given. Where there is no response
the message is lost."
The Parable Explained
*
Read Luke 8:11-15. Jesus explains the parable. "The
seed is the word of God" (8:11b). The four different conditions
represent four different responses to the word of God.
*
Along the path: The ones who hear but do not receive (accept)
the word. The truths heard are taken away by the devil, so that
they may not believe and be saved (8:12).
*
On rocky soil: The ones who receive the word with joy, but have
a superficial or shallow "faith." When their faith
is tried and tested, they fall away (8:13).
*
Among thorns: The ones who receive the word, but allow the worries,
riches and pleasures of this world to choke their responsiveness,
so they do not mature and bear fruit (8:14).
*
Into good soil: The ones with a "good heart," who
receive the word, hold tightly to it, and persevere in the faith.
Their faith is deeply rooted, and they bear much fruit (8:15).
The
Parable Applied
1.
Why do people not receive the word? What kinds of obstacles
do people have?
2.
Name some examples of "testing" that might influence
some people to fall away. What can we do to have a deeper faith?
What can we do to endure times of testing?
3.
In what ways do the worries, riches, and pleasures of the world
choke a person's responsiveness to God's word? What are examples?
What can we do to prevent (or stop) these things from choking
our spiritual lives?
4.
What can we do to cultivate and maintain a "good heart?"
How can we bear much fruit?
Reflection/Application
†
Which one of the four soil conditions best describes you? Are
you happy with that? Humbly and carefully hear the word of God.
Ask questions, seek answers, pray, talk to mature Christians,
spend time in Christian fellowship, reflect on this lesson, including
the verses in the footnotes.
|
