"And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop."
--Mark 4:7 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on April 26, 2013 of Psalm 78:56-64; Mark 4:1-20; Judges 1-2.
Jesus often taught using parables: symbolic stories that illustrate a moral or spiritual truth with everyday objects and experiences. As He explained to His disciples (please see verse 11), while the mysteries of God were slowly being given to them to understand, this was all new to the majority of the people. They needed some way to relate things they knew with these new things they didn't know. Jesus used common items and daily occurrences that the people would be familiar with to teach them about the kingdom of God. This practice of using the known to relate to the unknown, comparing the familiar with that is to be learned, is employed by savvy instructors to this day.
In this parable, Jesus explains how the word of God is scattered about but may be received differently and may have a greater, more positive impact on some than on others (verse 14). Mark doesn't tell us whether the people in the general audience understood the lesson, implying the main throng left after hearing the parable (verse 10), but he does make it clear that the disciples and others with Jesus at that point did not quite get it (verse 10 again), so He had to explain.
Just as some of the seed fell by the wayside and was eaten by birds (verse 4), the word may be heard by some people but Satan interferes and takes away the power of the word before it can sink in (verse 15). Likewise, where some of the seed fell on rocky ground with little soil and sprang up quickly but withered in the sun just as quickly (verses 5 and 6), the word may be heard and quickly accepted by some but because they have little or no spiritual foundation the word soon dies within them when adversity strikes (verses 16 and 17). Of course the seed can fall on good, fertile ground and grow slowly, establishing a strong root system, sprouting into maturity and bearing much crop (verse 8). This is the word that falls on those who will hear it and accept it fully (verse 20). It enters their heart and takes root and grows. They nourish the word and it matures, bearing great and wondrous fruit.
But there is one other possibility Jesus gave where the seed may not survive. It may fall among the thorns when sown (verse 7). As it tries to grow, the thorny weeds are growing also, and we all know how hearty weeds are. They will choke out and kill the good plant if they are not plucked out of the ground by their roots. This seed is the word of God that falls on those who may hear it and want to accept it, but they become distracted by the world, lured by its riches, tempted by its desires (verses 18 and 19). The trappings of the world enter in and slowly choke the word, pushing it out of their heart.
This last example is what we must be especially careful to avoid, we who try to follow Christ. We have heard the word and accepted it just as we accepted Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Master. But Satan is a mighty tempter. He uses the world and all its pleasures, the flesh and all its desires, all the thorny plants of a carnal life, to choke off the word and lure us away from Christ our Savior. Just as weeds must be plucked from the garden if it is to prosper, we must consciously pull all the distractions, desires, and lusts from our lives so that the word can grow, mature, flourish, and bear great fruit. So let's get busy pulling weeds. Amen.
Great and gracious Jesus, thank You for being so patient with us and explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of God to us in a way we can understand, using both illustrations and plain words. When studying God's word, may we not fail to understand what we read. May we hear it, accept it, nourish it, and allow it to flourish within us so we can share it with others and expand Your kingdom. In Your glorious name, O Jesus we pray. Amen.
In this parable, Jesus explains how the word of God is scattered about but may be received differently and may have a greater, more positive impact on some than on others (verse 14). Mark doesn't tell us whether the people in the general audience understood the lesson, implying the main throng left after hearing the parable (verse 10), but he does make it clear that the disciples and others with Jesus at that point did not quite get it (verse 10 again), so He had to explain.
Just as some of the seed fell by the wayside and was eaten by birds (verse 4), the word may be heard by some people but Satan interferes and takes away the power of the word before it can sink in (verse 15). Likewise, where some of the seed fell on rocky ground with little soil and sprang up quickly but withered in the sun just as quickly (verses 5 and 6), the word may be heard and quickly accepted by some but because they have little or no spiritual foundation the word soon dies within them when adversity strikes (verses 16 and 17). Of course the seed can fall on good, fertile ground and grow slowly, establishing a strong root system, sprouting into maturity and bearing much crop (verse 8). This is the word that falls on those who will hear it and accept it fully (verse 20). It enters their heart and takes root and grows. They nourish the word and it matures, bearing great and wondrous fruit.
But there is one other possibility Jesus gave where the seed may not survive. It may fall among the thorns when sown (verse 7). As it tries to grow, the thorny weeds are growing also, and we all know how hearty weeds are. They will choke out and kill the good plant if they are not plucked out of the ground by their roots. This seed is the word of God that falls on those who may hear it and want to accept it, but they become distracted by the world, lured by its riches, tempted by its desires (verses 18 and 19). The trappings of the world enter in and slowly choke the word, pushing it out of their heart.
This last example is what we must be especially careful to avoid, we who try to follow Christ. We have heard the word and accepted it just as we accepted Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Master. But Satan is a mighty tempter. He uses the world and all its pleasures, the flesh and all its desires, all the thorny plants of a carnal life, to choke off the word and lure us away from Christ our Savior. Just as weeds must be plucked from the garden if it is to prosper, we must consciously pull all the distractions, desires, and lusts from our lives so that the word can grow, mature, flourish, and bear great fruit. So let's get busy pulling weeds. Amen.
Great and gracious Jesus, thank You for being so patient with us and explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of God to us in a way we can understand, using both illustrations and plain words. When studying God's word, may we not fail to understand what we read. May we hear it, accept it, nourish it, and allow it to flourish within us so we can share it with others and expand Your kingdom. In Your glorious name, O Jesus we pray. Amen.
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