Luke 8:11-15
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience," Luke 8:11-15.
The last two messages we looked at the question, "Why did Christ speak in parables?" Christ gave us the answer in Luke 8:10, "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." We also looked at this parable in Mark 4 and Matthew 13. "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them," Mark 4:11-12. We also looked at the inability of man to see, hear, and come to Christ of his own power because man in his natural state is dead in trespasses and sins. This means that salvation is totally a work of God. Since these are hard truths, and our flesh fights hard against them, we also looked at II Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." We learned that our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. We will convince ourselves of things that are not true, and we will look at Scripture with presuppositions. This is one reason the explanation of this parable is so hard to agree with, and why it causes division. How will you receive this parable?
Without realizing it, many will change this parable to fit their testimony, instead of changing their testimony to fit Scripture. Pride is sneaky, blinding, and binding. Most of you have heard the testimonies of someone being saved at a young age, but then getting away from God for 15-20 years, sowing wild oats, and then coming back to the Lord once they get older. The problem is that you will not find that example any where in Scripture. We are known by the fruit that we continually produce. So, people come to this parable and in order to justify their lifestyle they pick a part and misinterpret this parable not realizing that only one of the grounds is good ground and only one ground produces fruit, only one did the seed penetrate and take root to produce fruit, and it continued to produce fruit. Again, we are known by the fruit we continue to produce. It is eternally important to keep Scripture in context. Please do not change the meaning of Scripture to justify your lifestyle or your testimony. Don't let your pride be your downfall. Are you ready to look at Christ's explanation of this parable? Let us dive in.
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God," Luke 8:11. The seed is being cast upon all four types of soils. The seed doesn't change for different types of ground. We proclaim the Scripture to all. We do not water it down and we do not compromise Scripture to ease people's consciences. No, we accurately, passionately, and with compassion proclaim the whole counsel of God to every one. This is our responsibility. God takes the Scripture and works in people as He wills, and on His timing. Let us look at I Corinthians 1:18-2:5, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek," Romans 1:16. Man proclaims the gospel, man pleads with men, man generally calls all men to repentance, but only those whose hearts are prepared by the Holy Spirit (effectually called, quickened) will receive and respond to the Gospel. To all others it is simply man's words.
When you examine yourself by the Scriptures, what do you find? Are there evidences of true conversion, or do the evidences in your life say you did not have a true conversion? This is an eternally important question to ask yourself. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth," I Timothy 2:3-4. Dear reader, the Lord will save you. Trust Christ alone to save you. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Lord willing, next time we will pick up in Luke 8:12. Soli Deo Gloria.
