Jump Start # 431 

Luke 8:4-5 “And when a great multitude were coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: ‘The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road; and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the air ate it up.’”

  We begin this week a look at the parable of the sower.  What a fascinating and interesting story the Lord tells and very revealing as we look to ourselves and see where we are in this story. Matthew and Luke record this great lesson. Many commentators feel that this is the parable of parables and that it sets the tone for all that Jesus would say.

  The setting takes place outside. Matthew tells us that it was down by the sea. The crowds stood as Jesus sat—a common position for Jesus. It may well be that up on the hills were farmers sowing. The illustration was very natural and vivid to the audience. Even those that lived in the cities understood the concepts and principles of ‘sowing the seed.’

  This is one of the few parables that Jesus tells us the explanation. The word “parable” means to lay along side. They were intended to be comparisons. We compare things all the time—we generally call that shopping. Car shopping—you compare cars. Grocery shopping—you compare produce. House shopping—you compare homes. With a parable, an illustration is used to compare it to a spiritual principle. Also, and it’s a BIG also, in a parable, a comparison is made between the spiritual kingdom of God and our hearts. Parables were more than teaching spiritual truths, they were intended for the listening to look inside his heart and see where he was.

  Generally, a parable points to one specific spiritual principle. The components of the story often are filled with many details. It is easy to assume that every detail means something, when often they don’t. For instance, in the parable of the prodigal son, the prodigal, broke and friendless was looking at the pigs for food. What are the pigs? Gentiles? False friends? Dirty, low life people? That’s probably reading more into the story than Jesus intended. The pigs were pigs. In our story of the sower, we’ll read about birds and rocks. Who are they? What are they? I think, birds and rocks. Those are just some of the details of the story.

  The parable of the sower is often used to teach about personal evangelism. One can see that in this story, but the story is not about the sower. He did one thing, sowed the seed. The parable is about the soil—which are hearts. This story is about listening with our hearts. It is that thought that makes many see this as the first and most important of the parables. Unless one really heard Jesus, His mission and work would be misunderstood. Nothing has changed. The world doesn’t understand Jesus, His purpose, or His church. Folks think the church is a place you call when you have run out of money and have bills to pay. Just dial up a church and they should give you whatever you need, no questions asked. Really? Where did that idea come from? Listening to Jesus from the heart…it’s a lot harder to do than we think.

  Satan has a message he wants me to listen to. Then there is the message I feel like listening to, that’s usually called selfishness, doing what I feel like doing. There are always people telling you what you ought to do—from your parents, your mate, the boss, the preacher, the neighbor, friends, Satan and now Jesus. Everyone telling you what you ought to do. It’s enough to drive a person batty. Many throw their hands in the air, declaring that they are not going to listen to anyone—and so they do.

  Jesus wants you to listen to Him. What He says matters. What He says is important. It’s more than His opinion, it is the will of God. Jesus has two reasons why we should listen to Him. First, He has proven that He is the son of God (Acts 2:22). He comes with credentials. It is His word that will judge us. He is always right, every time. We need to listen to Him.

  Secondly, we ought to listen to Him, because He has a vested interest in you. He died for you. He gave up more than an afternoon for you. He gave up more than a few dollars for you. He gave up His live in a horrific and violent death, so we could go to Heaven. He came and traded places with us. He did what no one could possibly do, die for our sins.

  This is why we should listen to Him. He has something to say. We need to hear it.

  The rest of this week, we will explore this wonderful parable. I hope you’ll enjoy it, learn from it, but mostly, listen to Jesus in your heart.

Roger