Luke 8:1-21
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1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “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 rocky ground 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. 16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” 19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Pray
Quick Outline
vs. 1-3 introduced to three specific women as well as “many others” who are supporting Jesus in his ministry.
vs. 4-8 the telling of the parable of the sower: four soils… only one soil has plant the flourishes
vs. 9-10 Jesus gives a rationalization for the use of parables (parables bring to the surface those who really want to hear… the die hard fans… the ones who will pay to go to the convention)
vs. 11-15 the explanation of the parable of the sower
vs. 16-18 The light of a lamp is a picture of the disclosure of what is hidden and a warning to hold onto what is disclosed
vs. 19-21 Jesus says his closest relatives are those who hear his Word and put it into practice.
The Gospel:
Jesus has been going from town to town to “proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God”. By the time Jesus wraps up his ministry of 3 years we have a clear picture of that proclamation: Jesus is the rescue for humanity if they will just trust in him. Jesus came to give light and life. He had many things to say but at the center of it all was a call to believe in him and let him be the King.
These 21 verses put on display the extension of a theme: the divided response. Verses 1-3 show us a personal examples of the fourth soil — good soil — that bears fruit. Verse 19 - 21 has Jesus emphasizing that his true family are those who properly respond to the message of the kingdom: those who hear and listen. Between these bookends we have the parable of the four soils.
Let’s recall these themes from chapter 7 for just a minute...
The people who listened to John’s message and rejoiced when Jesus affirmed John’s ministry
The sinful women who is forgiven and wiping the feet of Jesus
In this chapter there is a very clear emphasis on the idea of hearing and listening. (8:8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21)
George Whitefield named his sermon on this text “How to hear a sermon”.
Tim Keller suggests that this parable gives us three tests to determine whether or not we have truly heard the gospel message.
Keller suggests that this parable gives us three tests to determine whether or not we have truly heard the gospel message.
Soil #1 - First test… beware of listening to the message of Jesus with a hard heart. It is possible to be in contact with the Word of God on a regular basis and yet it hasn’t penetrated the heart. A theoretical understanding of Jesus message isn’t enough. You and I need to have a personal experience with the truth.
Soil #2 - Second test… Beware of listening to Jesus message with a shallow heart. These people saw Jesus as a service provider. They listened to Jesus message out of self-interest. They viewed themselves as sufferers and not sinners. Your main problem is not that you are a sufferer. Your main problem is that you are a sinner.
Soil #3 - Third test… Beware of listening to the Word of God with a divided heart. They are committed to Christ, but they are also committed to other areas. Things are crowding Christ out. You agree with the message of Christ, but because of the duplicity in your life there is no room for fruit. The Psalmist prays “Lord unit my heart”.
We have to interpret this parable in the immediate context first and then identify universal principles that might apply to us. Jesus was note necessarily classifying people’s eternal state.
He is describing his immediate audience.
And there are those in the gospel narrative that fit into all four categories. And we know from the testimonies of those in the first century that there were some who were initially hard hearted and later converted.
This parable is also recounted in and . Each rendition has a slightly different emphasis.
emphasizes “The Kingdom of God cometh by hearing… Take head how you hear”
The rendition concludes with this statement “those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit"
In the version we are looking at from we read in verse 15 “hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience”.
Since we are in the book of Luke let’s look at the six qualities connected to the good soil from verse 15.
hearing the Word
holding it fast
in an honest heart
in a good heart
bearing fruit
patient
Hear the Word
Hear the Word
This word “hear” is the primary greek word for “hearing”. It is found 436 times in the NT and it is translated “hear” at least 160 times. It also is translated heard, listen, and understand.
“Describes the act of hearing or listening to a person with emphasis on the accurate understanding of that which is spoken.”
In Galatians and Hebrews there is a reference to the “hearing of faith”. This is the idea of responding with faith as soon the listener hears the message.
Has someone ever asked you “did you hear me?” What they really mean is “did you listen to what I said?”
The “Word” is the greek word Logos. This refers to the full expression of God. The full message…
What is necessary for this phrase to take place is?
The capacity to comprehend and understand something that is communicated The message must be delivered in a comprehensible way (same language as the listener) The message must be relatively complete, not missing large chunks
The capacity to comprehend and understand something that is communicated
The message must be delivered in a comprehensible way (same language as the listener)
The message must be relatively complete, not missing large chunks
This is the doctrine of special revelation vs. general revelation.
Hearing God’s Word includes reading the Bible, listening to the audio Bible, listening others read the Bible…
What is God’s Word? What is God’s special revelation?
Jesus is the special revelation of God. Our primary source for encountering Jesus Christ is the 66 books of the Bible.
the 66 books of the Bible.
Application Thoughts
I think of myself as good soil. But am I really giving time for the “hearing the Word” experience? If it is this dynamic power that can produce change in my life and I think of myself as good soil wouldn’t I want to be spending more and more time getting the seed into my life?
This is a single greek word “kateco”. It appears 19 times in the NT. It is translated: hold fast, keep, posses, seize, take and continue believing.
Example Uses
Predicator
Test all things
hold fast
what is good
me in all things and
keep
the traditions just as I
Object
then you begin with shame
to take
the lowest place
died to what
we were held by
so that we should
having nothing and yet
possessing
all things
Holding it fast or Keep It
Holding it fast or Keep It
This is a single greek word “kateco”. It appears 19 times in the NT. It is translated: hold fast, keep, posses, seize, take and continue believing.
So the object being held is the Word. The person who hears the Word takes what they heard and holds onto it for their own engagement with it.
Some pieces of knowledge we keep for the sake of others. We retain our awareness of those facts but we don’t keep them for ourselves.
Application
Reminds me of scripture memorization.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
What do you do in your life to remember important things?
We do not have to use our memories as much as previous generations because information is easy to store and easy to access.
But there are still a number of things that you exercise your mind to remember: phone numbers, addresses, requests from others,
In an Honest and Good Heart (Nobel, Excellent)
In an Honest and Good Heart (Nobel, Excellent)
The word honest is probably not the best word to translate this greek word.
Meaning fulling functional, excellent for its purpose.
The opposite of this would be “good-for-nothing”
That is applied to the heart: the core of our being… where our will power, desire, and affections reside.
Application:
Am I guarding my heart from evil and allowing God to keep my heart functional. That is where His Word needs to descend to. His Word needs to make it to the core of my being and when it gets there my heart needs to be functional and good not warped or divided.
Bear Fruit
Bear Fruit
This is of course the whole objective of the farmer. There are many joys in being a farmer, but he is failed if his crop does not bear fruit.
God’s Word is supposed to bring about fruit in our life. That fruit is first and foremost a greater love and trust in God. We hear God’s Word it inspires us to love and trust him more.
But his Word also changes how we view ourselves = humility.
The Word corrects us from missteps. …addresses our behavior.
The Word gives us guidance in life. It shows us the path just like a flashlight in the dark.
The Word gives us something to communicate to the people around us.
All of that is the fruit of God’s Word.
Patience
Patience
This is a necessary quality of any sower. And so we must participate in the Lord’s patience as he brings about the fruit.
“Let patience have it’s perfect work”
May we be a people who wait it out. Whatever it is. This isn’t an absent minded twiddling our thumbs. No! This patience is a diligent continuing in God’s Word until God brings about the fruit.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
What keeps people from hearing God’s Word?
A hard heart keeps the Word at a distance and Satan takes the Word away
A shallow heart doesn’t allow roots to grow and a time of testing kills the little plant
A divided heart allows life’s worries, riches and pleasures to choke out God’s Word
Jesus is proclaiming the good news about the Kingdom of God. He is telling people that they can enter into God’s Kingdom by believing in him. That message continues through scripture and encounters us this morning. What soil are you as you intersect with that message?