Luke 8:11-15 - The Parable of the Sower - How Is Your Heart?
Luke 8:11-15 (NIV) "This is the meaning of
the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and
then the devil comes and takes away the word from
their hearts, so that they may not believe and be
saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who
receive the word with joy when they hear it, but
they have no root. They believe for a while, but
in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The
seed that fell among thorns stands for those who
hear, but as they go on their way they are choked
by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and
they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil
stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
hear the word, retain it, and by persevering
produce a crop.
Luke 8:11-15 (CWR) The meaning of the
parable of the sower is this: The seed being sown is
the word of God. 12 The road represents the
hearts of those people who listen, but the devil
comes and takes from their hearts what they heard.
13 The rocky places in the field are the hearts
of those people who listen and love what they
hear and instantly take hold of it. But then they
don't take what they heard deep into their hearts,
and when they're tempted or troubles come, they
give up. 14 The thorny places represent the
hearts of those people who gladly listen and put
down their roots, but soon their love for the
truth is choked out by the cares of this life, its
opportunities and pleasures. So what was sown dies out. 15
The good soil represents the hearts of those who
gladly listen, who sink their roots deep into the
word and hold on to it. These people endure and
produce a large harvest of spiritual fruit.
Luke 8:11-15 (MSG) "This story is about some
of those people. The seed is the Word of God.
12 The seeds on the road are those who hear the
Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil
snatches it from them so they won't believe and be
saved. 13 "The seeds in the gravel are those who
hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't
go very deep. It's only another fad, and the
moment there's trouble it's gone. 14 "And the seed
that fell in the weeds"well, these are the ones
who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and
nothing comes of it as they go about their lives
worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having
fun. 15 "But the seed in the good earth"these
are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold
on no matter what, sticking with it until
there's a harvest.
INTRODUCTION
The word hear is used nine times in
these verses, for it is by our hearing that we
take the Word into our hearts where it can create
faith (Rom. 10:17). The Word is like seed because
it has life in it and can produce fruit when it
is planted (received and understood). The human
heart is like soil and must be prepared if the
Word is to be planted and fruitful. [Wiersbe
Expository Outlines]
These different soils represent, of course,
different types of human beings. In one sense, it
might be more appropriate to call this the
parable of the soils rather than the parable
of the sower. Some people have called it
the Parable of Parables because it describes
how men will react to all of Jesus teachings.
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]
That some of the seed produced no crop was
not the fault of the faithful farmer or of the
seed. The yield depended on the condition of the
soil where the seed fell. Path people,
like many of the religious leaders, refused to
believe Gods message. Rock people, like
many in the crowds who followed Jesus, believed
his message but never got around to doing
anything about it. Thorn patch people, overcome
by worries and the lure of materialism, left no
room in their lives for God. Good soil
people, in contrast to all the other groups,
followed Jesus no matter what the cost. Which type of
soil are you? [Life Application SB]
The four types of soil represent different
responses to God's message. People respond differently
because they are in different states of readiness.
Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are
contaminated by distracting worries, and some are
receptive. How has God's Word taken root in your life?
What kind of soil are you? [Life Application SB]
The parable teaches that there would be four
different responses to the Word: no response,
emotional response, worldly response, and fruitful
response. [Ryrie SB]
OVERVIEW
Farmers scattering seed by hand were a
familiar sight in Jesus' time. The soil was rich for
the most part, but there were thornbushes and
fields full of stones. Travelers walked through the
fields, beating down the ground and disturbing the
seeds. Some seeds fell on thin soil that hid the
stones underneath. Other seeds were blown into
thornbushes. Neither were good environments for the new
plants.
Jesus knew this. He wanted them - and us
- to ask some probing questions: Are our
hearts hard, like the paths worn down by travelers,
so that it's easy for Satan to steal away God's
truth after we hear it? Is the soil of our hearts
thin and rocky so that the roots of God's Word
can't go very deep? Or are we thorny-ground folks
who are so worried and anxious about our lives
that the seed never produces good fruit or grows
into maturity? God's Spirit is always ready and
willing to make our hearts good soil so his Word can
grow strong in us. Ask him to do that today.
LORD, I want to receive the seed of your
message, apply it to my life, and be obedient to you.
If my heart is hard, soften it with your love.
If my roots aren't deep, enrich the soil.
Deliver me from being consumed with the cares,
riches, and pleasures of this world. Bring forth, by
your Spirit, a great harvest in my life! [Praying
Through The Bible By Fuller]
Jesus didn't always explain the meaning
of His parables, but this one comes with
defining details. After all, the "secrets of the
Kingdom" had been given to these followers (Matthew
13:11); they needed to know what the secrets meant.
In this case, Jesus gave them a powerful
picture of our responses to Kingdom truth. Some
people don't understand it; some accept it eagerly
but can't hold on to it through pain and
persecution; some receive it and get distracted by
this-world concerns, rendering their lives unfruitful;
and some receive it, understand it, and flourish
in it. Four responses: rejecting it, dropping
it, choking it, or growing in it. And four
outcomes: missing out; having but losing; having but
without power; and having and thriving. Everyone who
hears the Kingdom message falls into at least one
of these categories - sometimes several over
the course of his or her life.
We have to recognize the adversaries and
obstacles in the Kingdom life. There's an enemy that
snatches truth out of people's hearts. There are
normal trials and tribulations of life that seem to
contradict the Kingdom message. And there are anxieties
and concerns related to money, work,
relationships, health, and more, which deceive us about
what's important and draw our attention away from
Kingdom purposes. Everyone faces these adversaries
and obstacles, but not everyone responds to them
the same way. Only those who cling to Kingdom
truth above all else will flourish in the
Kingdom.
That's why it's vital to pay attention to
God's voice, persevere in following what He says,
and refuse to be distracted from it. Only people
with vision and resolve can do that. Others may
taste the Kingdom without ever flourishing in it,
but we want the full experience. Our goal is not
just to survive; it's to thrive. Cling to words
of life, and you'll receive whatever they
promise. [The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by
Chris Tiegreen]
At any time, the receptiveness of your
heart will determine your response to Gods word
(Lu 8:5"18). If your heart is like the
trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness
and unforgiveness, you will be unable to accept
a message from God. Though you hear the words
of the message, you will remain unchanged. If
your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a
rock, you will accept Gods word in your mind,
but the truth will not penetrate your heart to
make a difference in your actions. A heart like
thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the
cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly
pleasures prevents Gods word from taking hold and
producing righteousness. The heart that is like good
soil receives a word from God, applies it, and
brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart
that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a
Christlike life.
Any time you hear a word from God,
whether through Bible reading, prayer, or worship,
the way you respond will depend on how you have
cultivated your heart (Hos. 10:12). How do you develop
a heart that is like good soil? Repent of any
bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness that is hardening
your heart. Meditate on Gods word until it
enters deep into your heart and not just your mind.
When you read or hear a word from God, apply it
to your life and let God bring His word into
reality in your life (Ga 6:9). Protect your
lifestyle. See that you dont devote all of your
energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing
your relationship with God. The condition of your
heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate
it. If it was receptive to a word from God
yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive
today. Daily prepare your heart for the word God
has for you! [Experiencing God Day by Day by
Henry and Richard Blackaby re Luke 8:15]
COMMENTARY
HARD GROUND HEARTS " No Relationship
The seed sown by the wayside represents the
word of God as it falls upon the heart of an
inattentive hearer. Like the hard-beaten path, trodden
down by the feet of men and beasts, is the heart
that becomes a highway for the world's traffic,
its pleasures and sins. Absorbed in selfish aims
and sinful indulgences, the soul is "hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin." Heb. 3:13. The
spiritual faculties are paralyzed. Men hear the word,
but understand it not. They do not discern that
it applies to themselves. They do not realize
their need or their danger. They do not perceive
the love of Christ, and they pass by the message
of His grace as something that does not concern
them. [COL 44]
ROCKY GROUND " Shallow Relationship
The seed sown upon stony ground finds little
depth of soil. The plant springs up quickly, but
the root cannot penetrate the rock to find
nutriment to sustain its growth, and it soon perishes.
Many who make a profession of religion are
stony-ground hearers. Like the rock underlying the layer
of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart
underlies the soil of their good desires and
aspirations. The love of self is not subdued. They have
not seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and
the heart has not been humbled under a sense of
its guilt. This class may be easily convinced,
and appear to be bright converts, but they have
only a superficial religion [COL 46]
The gospel seed that falls into the hearts
of stony-ground hearers finds enough soil to
germinate, but the soil is shallow and the effect of
the gospel is at best superficial. The gospel
appeals to their emotions, and they are quick to
react to it, but the impression made by it passes
with the fickle tide of emotion. The rock of
selfishness (see COL 46) prevents the gospel from
effecting a reform in the life. Any effort to serve
Christ is so hindered by the fundamental purpose in
life to serve self (see COL 50) that the gospel
has little or no influence. Stony-ground hearers
habitually follow their inclinations. Any convictions
that such people may have are based on
inclination rather than on principle. It is evident that
the truth has a measure of appeal to them; they
admit that it is good; but they love themselves.
[SDA Bible Commentary]
In the parable of the sower, Jesus
described how "some [of the seed] fell on rocky
places, where it did not have much soil." The gospel
seed had nothing to root itself into, nothing in
which to anchor. The soil was simply too shallow.
And because Jesus taught that the soil
represents our hearts, could it be that our hearts are
too shallow? Is there enough soil? When fresh
truth falls into your heart, is it able to take
root? Does it find an anchor in your soul? The
Bible calls us to go deep in our life in Christ.
It starts with putting away a surface interest
in God and fertilizing the soil of your heart
through daily prayer and reading God's Word. As you
do, you will become more and more occupied with
spiritual reality and less and less distracted and
caught up in the shallow trivialities of this life.
The deeper your heart becomes, the more God's
truth will take root, blossom, and bear fruit.
Lord, I know Your truth sometimes skips
across the soil of my heart like a rock on a frozen
pond. That's not what I want, Lord. I want to
receive Your words, Your warnings, Your
encouragements, and Your guidance. Open my spiritual eyes
and ears, Lord. Deepen the capacity of my heart.
[A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada
and Larry Libby re Mat. 13:1-9]
WEEDY GROUND HEARTS " Compromised
Relationship
In thorny ground the tender plants did
not wither as rapidly as they did in the stony
ground. Similarly, the experience of thorny-ground
Christians progresses further than that of the
stony-ground hearers. They make what appears to be a real
start, and apparently they experience justification
and the new birth. But they soon become weary
in well doing (Gal. 6:9) and do not go on
unto perfection (Heb. 6:1). Absorbed by the
pleasures of this world and in the pursuit of its
attractions, they neglect to weed out from the life those
tendencies and traits of character that respond to
temptation. They are like the person who had been freed
from demon possession only to be repossessed by
seven evil spirits (see on Matt. 12:43"45). Many
of the things that attract the thorny-ground
hearers and absorb their attention may not, in and
of themselves, be harmful. But such persons
become so absorbed in this world that they have no
time to prepare for the next
Secular interests prevent the fruits of
the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) from reaching
maturity. Religion is relegated to the subordinate
position of being only one interest among many. For
lack of cultivation it withers and eventually
dies. That which the thorny-ground hearers lack is
a moral transformation (COL 50). To them,
justification is the sum and substance of religion, and
they fail to realize that the Christian life
consists essentially in the process known as
sanctification"the process by which evil traits and tendencies
are replaced by the perfect life-pattern of
Jesus Christ (see on Gal. 2:20). [SDA Bible
Commentary]
GOOD GROUND HEARTS " Healthy Relationship
In man there naturally dwelleth no good
thing (Rom. 7:18). The ground is good
simply because it yields to the plowshare of truth,
because it responds to the softening influence of
the Holy Spirit The fruit of the Spirit
manifested in the outward life is evidence of a healthy
Christian experience. In the hearts of the wayside
hearers the truth found no response. With the
stony-ground hearers truth produced nothing more than a
momentary impulse. With the thorny-ground hearers it
was a response that began well but withered
But in the hearts of the good-ground hearers the
response is permanent and effective. The result is a
life transformed according to the pattern of the
perfect life of Jesus Christ. [SDA Bible
Commentary]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Seeds are very interesting little things.
Did you know that seeds tell us a very important
story? Suppose you plant some seeds and you don't
know what they are. When they produce plants, you
can tell what kind of seeds they were. Seeds
come in all sizes. The Bible talks about the
mustard seed (see Mark 4:31, 32) as being the
smallest of the seeds, yet it grows into a big
plant.
I remember when I was a boy my
grandmother asked me to help her plant some seeds in our
garden. I said OK, so she gave me a package of
squash seeds and asked me to plant these seeds in
hills, three seeds in a hill. Then I was to cover
them lightly with soil. I started down the row. I
would mound up the dirt, then dig a hole in it,
put in three seeds, cover them up lightly, and
then go on to the next one. It was a long row. By
the time I reached the end of the row I was
tired of bending over. I still had quite a few
seeds and should have started another row, but
instead I just dumped the rest of the seeds into the
hole and covered them up, thinking, Grandma will
never know.
Days went by, and with Grandmother's
watering and the sunshine, the seeds began to sprout.
You can imagine my surprise when she asked me to
come to the garden and showed me that hill where
I dumped the last of the seeds. There were not
just three little plants but a whole bunch. She
scolded me and told me that these little plants told
her the whole story. She knew what I had done.
God's Word is like seeds. If we put only
a little of it into our lives people will be
able to tell because only a little will show. But
if we put a lot of God's Word into our lives
much will show, and people will know that we
spend time with God and His Word. God's promises
in His Word and other great truths and counsels
are to help us on the path toward heaven. We'll
know which path to take. Pray today that God's
Word will grow in your life, and you will know
which path to take - the one that leads to heaven.
[Talking Trees & Singing Whales by Charles C. Case]
PARALLEL PASSAGES
Matthew 13:19-23; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
