Understanding Jesus

Jesus spoke to the multitudes using parables, but explained things in detail to His closest followers. In Mark 4:13 after He had spoken the parable of the sower, He asked them, “Do you not know this parable? How then will you know all parables?” The comment I want to focus on is Jesus’ indication that a proper interpretation of the parable of the sower somehow would open the understanding to the rest of His teachings.

I set out to find some hidden message in that parable looking for the key that unlocked the rest of the parables. After much digging I realized it really was not hidden at all, it was the most obvious lesson in the parable. Having good soil in the heart is necessary to properly receive and understand His words. But just knowing the importance of having good soil does not unlocked anything. It is actually having the good soil that makes the difference. Until I get rid of the thistles and thorns, remove the rocks and plow up the ground that has been trodden down by the treadmill of life, I will not be able to bring the seed of His word to fruitfulness in my life. Hearing and agreeing with His word and even receiving it with joy is not enough. It must reproduce Christ in me because He being formed in me is my hope of glory. The seed of God’s word is intended to produce fruit not just to be consumed by itching ears. I can not be a good hearer only, I must become a fruitful doer of the word.

I understand that most of our hearts have some good soil along with all the other conditions mentioned. That indicates parts of our hearts may be overtaken with other things than the purposes of God. Thorns and thistles refer to the cares of life choking out the growth that should come from receiving the word. The seed that falls by the wayside refers to a trodden down path where the seed is stolen away by the wicked one due to lack of understanding. Stony ground does not produce fruit because of persecution or offence that arises because of the word. We should not be satisfied to have 25% good soil but recognize these conditions and deal with them.

So the bottom line is, the true understanding of Jesus’ teaching requires a change of heart condition. In Mark 8:17-18 Jesus Asked His disciples why they did not understand what He was talking about. He asked if their ears were dull of hearing and if their hearts were still hardened. It was evident that they could not understand Him because of a heart condition. Understanding God and His word depends more upon the condition of the heart than having good disciplines or habits. So when Jesus said knowing the meaning of the parable of the sower is a prerequisite to knowing all parables, that means we must not only be able to explain it but to actually experience it in our own life. Just knowing about something is much different than actually experiencing it personally.

Let us take a quick look at these four soil conditions mentioned and do a self exam. What actually would cause soil to be compacted like a frequently used pathway? It could refer to a hardness of heart caused by the deceitfulness of sin. (See Hebrews 3:13) Sin is very deceitful because it presents itself as the solution to human desire but in reality is a counterfeit. Our heart can become increasingly hardened if we refuse to turn from sin after we have been convinced of the truth.

Ground that has been overtaken with weeds and other unproductive growth may actually be good soil but filled with the wrong crop. Unattended soil is like a garden that has not been cared for. Seeds that are carried about by the wind are allowed to take root and grow in it. Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life”. Imagine our heart to be like a plot of ground that was given to us by God to steward or care for. Like the garden that was entrusted to Adam and Eve we are to prevent ungodly seeds from drifting in and taking root.

Jesus said we are not defiled by what goes into our mouth but by what comes out of it. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So what comes from our mouth reveals what is growing in our hearts.

Ground that is rocky describes a heart that is offended by opposition or ridicule. Sometimes we can carry an offence due to former wounds and hurts. It becomes a huge stone in our heart that prevents the seed of God’s word from taking root. The Pharisees and religious people of Jesus day were repeatedly offended and stumbled at the words of Jesus. They were likely offended because they were the religious authority of that day yet Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. They used a religious facade to hide their true heart condition but it (the facade) only increased the blindness that prevented them from seeing, hearing and understanding the truth of Jesus.

Good soil in the heart is maintained by forgiving others their trespasses and guarding against further offence. It is remaining humble and transparent not allowing the seeds that blow in the wind to take root and not be tossed to and fro in our belief structure by the changing winds of man’s doctrines. Good soil is not overgrown with thorns and thistles, the cares of this natural life. It is reserved for the seed of God’s word. It will produce and increase in Kingdom proportions.