Who Do You Seek?

As I said in the last post, not many people came to Jesus to seek the meaning of the parable of the soils. To the crowds, Jesus probably sounded like a farmer, not understanding there was profound spiritual meaning behind an agricultural parable. But apparently, 15 people – disciples – came to Him afterwards and asked what it meant. Seek and you will find. Its not so much what you seek as who. When you come to the Lord and ask for understanding according to the Word He has spoken, and your heart is upright and sensitive, then you find. Seek Him.

When I think of the right way to come to the Lord, I think of Peter after the miracle Jesus performed that resulted in a boatload of fish when the fishermen were having a bad day. I don’t know what it was about that miracle, but it broke Peter.

The prophecy in Isaiah says that we must “understand with our hearts” and that if and when we did, we would turn and the Lord would heal us. This is a picture for repentance and salvation. I think Peter’s moment was in a boat full of fish after having caught nothing on his own. Have you had that moment in your own life? I don’t think you can really understand God’s Word until you have.

The parable of the soils gives insight into the operation of spiritual forces as it relates to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit provides understanding of the Word even as evil spiritual forces use various mechanisms to deceive people so that the Word is undermined and ultimately rejected. Evil forces are at work in each one of the “soils” of this parable. This is incredibly helpful insight for believers to have and churches to employ spiritual strategies to fight deception and equip people in the truth of God’s Word. I believe this parable ought to be part of training new believers in what to look out for in their own walk of faith as well as well as corporately in the the church. The truths of this parable are operating in our churches today. Because people are not properly equipped and aware, they are vulnerable.

The Seed

The most important truth of this parable is this: the seed represents the Word of God. The Word is out there. Its available most places around the world, particularly today with the internet. Its hard to get in countries that are run by tyrannical governments who oppress their own people, most particularly Christians.

There are 450 or so translations of the bible in English as well as translations into 724 languages. I like the New English Translation myself as my go-to bible but there are many other good translations such as the New American Standard Bible, the old stand-by King James Version which we all have to use for quoting in our blogs so we don’t violate copyrighted translations. Thank the Lord for a public domain version we can use.

We have lots of seed. Who are the sowers? Its you good Christians who faithfully blog the Word of God. Its pastors who faithfully preach and teach it. Its the bible studies and the internet sites and the day-to-day engagement of faithful followers of Jesus who carry the message of the gospel and defend the faith in this time of scoffers and deceivers. Keep scattering the seed.

The Seed Along the Path

Some commentaries say the seed along the path doesn’t grow because the ground is too hard. That is not what the parable says. The seed along the path never sprouts because it is snatched away – immediately – by the birds. The birds in the parable represent the evil one.

The word “snatches” is from the Greek word harpazo, the same word we use for rapture of the church. To take away by force, to seize. In the blink of an eye. So this happens quickly, suggesting that many of those who hear God’s word are already under the influence of the evil one having a dull, calloused heart. It’s rejected immediately or there is no understanding at all. I’ve encountered both in evangelism experiences.

Could it be that this is what Jesus meant when he said that even what little a person has will be taken from him?

And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Mark 4:24-25

This does dovetail nicely with the parable of the soils. I don’t think the Lord takes anything with regard to His Word away from anybody. He simply says: “Take care what you listen to”. Are you listening to the Word of God or the deceptions about the Word of God from the wicked culture? Perspectives about the Word from a wicked, deceived culture are only the birds along the path snatching up the Word before its understood. When you seek understanding with a right heart, you find it and more is given to you. Who stops digging when the rich vein of gold is discovered? Keep digging, there is more riches to be found.

Now maybe people you know are programmed by the culture into rejecting the Word of God. The birds are always right there ready to gobble up the seed as soon as its presented. It doesn’t have to stay that way. Pray for people. Pray against deception and for the understanding of the Word. Pray it would be the birds that are scattered away leaving the seed to find fertile soil.