Scripture Reading:

Luke 8:4-15

 

Key Verse:

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Luke 8:24)

 

What does this passage teach us?

The parable of the sower which is contained in these verses—is reported more frequently than any parable in the Bible. It is a parable of universal application. The things it relates are continually going on in every congregation to which the Gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts it describes, are to be found in every assembly which hears the word. These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance. We should say to ourselves, as we read it, “This concerns me! My heart is to be seen in this parable. I, too, am here!”

The passage itself requires little explanation. In fact, the meaning of the whole picture is so fully explained by our Lord—that no exposition of man can throw much additional light on it.

The parable is preeminently a parable of—and caution about a most important subject—the way of hearing the word of God. It was meant to be a warning to the apostles—not to expect too much from hearers. It was meant to be a warning to all ministers of the Gospel—not to look for too great results from their sermons. It was meant, not least, to be a warning to hearers—to take heed how they hear.
Preaching is an ordinance of which the value can never be overrated in the Church of Christ. But it should never be forgotten, that there must not only be good preaching—but good hearing.

The first caution that we learn from the parable of the sower—is to beware of the devil when we hear the Word. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of some hearers are like “the wayside.” The seed of the Gospel is plucked away from them by the devil almost as soon as it is sown. It does not sink down into their consciences. It does not make the least impression on their minds.

 

That malicious devil is unwearied in his efforts to do us harm. He is ever watching for our halting—and seeking occasion to destroy our souls. But nowhere perhaps is the devil so active, as in a congregation of Gospel-hearers! Nowhere does he labor so hard to stop the progress of that which is good—and to prevent men and women being saved. From him, come wandering thoughts—and roving imaginations; listless minds—and dull memories; sleepy eyes—and fidgety nerves; weary ears—and distracted attention. In all these things, Satan has a great hand. People wonder where they come from, and marvel how it is that they find sermons so dull—and remember them so badly! They forget the parable of the sower. They forget the devil.

 

Let us take heed that we are not wayside hearers. Let us beware of the devil. We shall always find him at church! He never stays away from public ordinances. Let us remember this — and be upon our guard. Heat and cold, and rain and snow—are often dreaded by church-goers, and alleged as reasons for not going to church. But there is one enemy whom they ought to fear more than all these things together that enemy is the devil!

The second caution that we learn from the parable of the sower—is to beware of resting on mere temporary impressions when we have heard the word. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of some hearers are like rocky ground. The seed of the Word springs up immediately, as soon as they hear it, and bears a crop of joyful impressions, and pleasurable emotions. But these impressions, unhappily, are only on the surface—there is no deep and abiding work done in their souls. And hence, as soon as the scorching heat of temptation or persecution begins to be felt—the little bit of religion which they seemed to have attained, withers and vanishes away!

Feelings, no doubt, fill a most important office in our personal Christianity. Without them there can be no saving religion. Hope, and joy, and peace, and confidence, and resignation, and love, and fear—are things which must be felt, if they really exist.

But it must never be forgotten that there are religious affections which are spurious and false—and spring from nothing better than fleshly excitement. It is quite possible to feel great pleasure, or deep alarm, under the preaching of the Gospel—and yet to be utterly destitute of the grace of God. The tears of some hearers of sermons, and the extravagant delight of others—are no certain marks of conversion. We may be warm admirers of favorite preachers—and yet remain nothing better than stony-ground hearers.

Nothing should content us but a deep, humbling, self-mortifying work of the Holy Spirit—and a heart-union with Christ.

The third caution contained in the parable of the sower—is to beware of the cares of this world. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of many hearers of the Word are like thorny ground. The seed of the Word, when sown upon them—is choked by the multitude of other things, by which their affections are occupied. They have no objection to the doctrines and requirements of the Gospel. They even wish to believe and obey them. But they allow earthly things to get such hold upon their minds—that they leave no room for the Word of God to do its work. And hence it follows that however many sermons they hear—they seem nothing bettered by them. A weekly process of truth-stifling goes on within them. They bring no fruit to perfection.

The things of this world, form one of the greatest dangers which beset a Christian’s path. The money, the pleasures, the daily business of the world—are so many traps to catch souls! Thousands of things, which in themselves are innocent, become, when followed to excess—little better than soul-poisons, and helps to Hell.

Open sin is not the only thing that ruins souls. In the midst of our families, and in the pursuit of our lawful callings—we have need to be on our guard. Unless we watch and pray—these temporal things may rob us of Heaven, and smother every sermon we hear. We may live and die as thorny-ground hearers!

The last caution contained in the parable of the sower—is to beware of being content with any religion which does not bear fruit in our lives. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of those who hear the word aright, are like good ground. The seed of the Gospel sinks down deeply into their wills—and produces practical results in their faith and lives. They not only hear with pleasure—but act with decision. They repent. They believe. They obey.

Forever let us bear in mind, that this is the only religion that saves souls. Outward profession of Christianity—and the formal use of Church ordinances and sacraments, never yet gave man a solid hope in life, or peace in death, or rest in the world beyond the grave. There must be fruits of the Spirit in our hearts and lives—or else the Gospel is preached to us in vain. Only those who bear such fruits—shall be found at Christ’s right hand in the day of His appearing.

Let us leave the parable with a deep sense of the danger and responsibility of all hearers of the Gospel. There are four ways in which we may hear—and of these four, only one is right. There are three kinds of hearers whose souls are in imminent peril. How many of these three kinds are to be found in every congregation! There is only one class of hearers which is right in the sight of God. And what are we? Do we belong to that one?

Finally, let us leave the parable with a solemn recollection of the duty of every faithful preacher to separate his congregation—and give to each class his portion. The pastor who ascends his pulpit every Sunday, and addresses his congregation as if he thought that each one was going to Heaven—is surely not doing his duty to God or man. His preaching is flatly contradictory to the parable of the sower!

Questions:

1. What are the themes of chapters 1-8?
2. List the four soils and what each one represents.

Family Application Questions:

1. Among the three grounds that were not good soil, which of these presents the most significant temptation to us?
2. What does it mean to bring forth fruit as good soil? What are evidences that the soil of the heart is good?