November 22nd 2015
Are You Thankful For Knowing The Sower Of The Word?
Mark 4:26-28 (NIV)
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn—first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
It is amazing that with all of the scientific knowledge we claim to have developed over a few thousand years, we still do not really know how a seed sprouts and grows to produce food to feed the whole world! God’s Word tells us enough for us to know that God controls this amazing process, which could feed the whole world! However, mankind’s greed causes there to be people who are not fed, so that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer! When you eat do you give thanks for the food you are about to eat?
At the beginning of time God put mankind in charge of this earth, which He had created from nothing for us! So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (Genesis 1:27-29) Mankind was the only kind that was created with an immortal soul, because God declared mankind to be like Him, by imparting immortality on us.
Jesus once told a parable to the crowd of people who came to hear Him speak. After Jesus told this parable, His disciples asked Him to explain it to them. Following is the verses covering this description Jesus gave to His disciples (us). The verse numbers were left in place, so you can read them in place. 14 The farmer (God) sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns (nominal Christians), hear the word;19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:14-20)
In verse 14 “The farmer (God) sows the word.” In other words, God has made available to all of mankind His Word as contained in the Holy Bible. It is up to you to avail yourself of this knowledge by your diligence in studying it. Obviously most people in this world today do not believe that the Bible is God’s Word, so they never take it seriously enough to ever read it, let alone study it. Many of the people who do not avail themselves of this great treasure are professing Christians. Do you study God’s Word?
Now this commentary is going to attempt to breakdown this parable as Jesus did for His disciples. The idea here is to try and imply where you may fall on this description of where this Holy seed may have fallen when it was sowed!
In verse 15 the “seed along the path” describes someone who hears the Word, and is immediately impressed by what they heard, but they never attempt to study the Scriptures, and thus, never increase their knowledge of it. Went Satan tempts them they have trouble in their lives and they fall away, because they do not know the real story of the Good News! Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
In verses 16-17 “the seed sown on rocky places!” In this world there are those who try to influence us to hear another gospel that is no Gospel at all. We are influenced by the worldly religions, which are all around us. Because we do not take time to study God’s Word we do not even know that we have introduced other beliefs into our supposed Christian beliefs. This is expressed by Jesus here as “since they have no root, they last only a short time.” If you do not work on becoming more Christ-like, you lose what attracted you to becoming a Christian. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
In verses 18-19 “the seed sown among thorns” (nominal Christians). This description seems to fit most of us who profess to be Christians, as we live in a time of abundance and it makes us become self-reliant and thus, we see no need for God to provide. We have that “I’d rather do it myself” attitude, which is displayed by young children during the “terrible twos” attitude time. This seems to be true in the USA today, and I’m guessing it is also true in most other free countries today! In the USA we feel entitled to receive everything, just because we live here! While it is true some still do not have even the minimum living conditions, most of us are considered wealthy based the world standard. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Finally, in verse 20 the “seed sown on good soil,” we hear the word, and accept it. Most of us reading this today are likely hopeful that they fit into this category of Jesus’ description of what His followers are striving for in this life. If we are then, we should be producing a crop, which is made up of all those we have influenced to turn their lives over to The Christ. In some ways they (we) do this by working on becoming more Christ-like in our lives, which can then translate into you becoming an attraction to others around you to notice your Christ-like tendencies! Then they too will be drawn to “hear the word, and accept it!” Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
A lot more could be written about our Seed, but let us end here with a word about Thanksgiving! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Mark 4:26-28 (NIV)
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn—first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
It is amazing that with all of the scientific knowledge we claim to have developed over a few thousand years, we still do not really know how a seed sprouts and grows to produce food to feed the whole world! God’s Word tells us enough for us to know that God controls this amazing process, which could feed the whole world! However, mankind’s greed causes there to be people who are not fed, so that the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer! When you eat do you give thanks for the food you are about to eat?
At the beginning of time God put mankind in charge of this earth, which He had created from nothing for us! So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (Genesis 1:27-29) Mankind was the only kind that was created with an immortal soul, because God declared mankind to be like Him, by imparting immortality on us.
Jesus once told a parable to the crowd of people who came to hear Him speak. After Jesus told this parable, His disciples asked Him to explain it to them. Following is the verses covering this description Jesus gave to His disciples (us). The verse numbers were left in place, so you can read them in place. 14 The farmer (God) sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns (nominal Christians), hear the word;19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:14-20)
In verse 14 “The farmer (God) sows the word.” In other words, God has made available to all of mankind His Word as contained in the Holy Bible. It is up to you to avail yourself of this knowledge by your diligence in studying it. Obviously most people in this world today do not believe that the Bible is God’s Word, so they never take it seriously enough to ever read it, let alone study it. Many of the people who do not avail themselves of this great treasure are professing Christians. Do you study God’s Word?
Now this commentary is going to attempt to breakdown this parable as Jesus did for His disciples. The idea here is to try and imply where you may fall on this description of where this Holy seed may have fallen when it was sowed!
In verse 15 the “seed along the path” describes someone who hears the Word, and is immediately impressed by what they heard, but they never attempt to study the Scriptures, and thus, never increase their knowledge of it. Went Satan tempts them they have trouble in their lives and they fall away, because they do not know the real story of the Good News! Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
In verses 16-17 “the seed sown on rocky places!” In this world there are those who try to influence us to hear another gospel that is no Gospel at all. We are influenced by the worldly religions, which are all around us. Because we do not take time to study God’s Word we do not even know that we have introduced other beliefs into our supposed Christian beliefs. This is expressed by Jesus here as “since they have no root, they last only a short time.” If you do not work on becoming more Christ-like, you lose what attracted you to becoming a Christian. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
In verses 18-19 “the seed sown among thorns” (nominal Christians). This description seems to fit most of us who profess to be Christians, as we live in a time of abundance and it makes us become self-reliant and thus, we see no need for God to provide. We have that “I’d rather do it myself” attitude, which is displayed by young children during the “terrible twos” attitude time. This seems to be true in the USA today, and I’m guessing it is also true in most other free countries today! In the USA we feel entitled to receive everything, just because we live here! While it is true some still do not have even the minimum living conditions, most of us are considered wealthy based the world standard. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Finally, in verse 20 the “seed sown on good soil,” we hear the word, and accept it. Most of us reading this today are likely hopeful that they fit into this category of Jesus’ description of what His followers are striving for in this life. If we are then, we should be producing a crop, which is made up of all those we have influenced to turn their lives over to The Christ. In some ways they (we) do this by working on becoming more Christ-like in our lives, which can then translate into you becoming an attraction to others around you to notice your Christ-like tendencies! Then they too will be drawn to “hear the word, and accept it!” Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
A lot more could be written about our Seed, but let us end here with a word about Thanksgiving! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|