The Key to Understanding The Parable of the Sower

The key to understanding this parable is to realize it's all about proper hearing. The way to know if someone has properly heard Jesus is if that person actually does what Jesus says. The way to know if someone has not heard Jesus is if that persons does NOT do what Jesus says.

Why doesn't everyone respond with obedience when he or she hears the Word of God? Jesus doesn't really explain why, but he does say (quoting from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah), that, though the Word of God might be right in front of some people, they can still totally miss it:

though seeing, they may not see;
    though hearing, they may not understand

Luke 8:10

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 8:1-15

---

***Sign Up to Receive My Weekday Updates***

Subscribe here to receive a weekday update as we read through the Gospel of Luke.

In addition to my weekday blogging on the Gospels, I also write occasionally about other topics. Subscribe here to be notified when I publish a new post.

P.S. All Subscribers Will Get My Free Whitepaper!

If you sign up for my Andrew Forrest newsletter, I’ll send you a white paper I’ve written called “The Simple Technique Anyone Can Immediately Use to Become a Better Communicator”.

Does Jesus *Want* to Confuse People?

Today's scripture passage is listed below, but I want to address something else from yesterday's reading: does Jesus tell parables for the purpose of confusing people? He certainly seems to imply it:

¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ¹² so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"

Mark 4:10-12

Jesus quotes from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, chapter 6:9-10. It's Isaiah's prophetic instructions from the Lord. Here's Isaiah's divine job description: "go to my people and preach to them, but be forewarned: they aren't going to listen. However, if they ever did listen, then things would change for them immediately." Basically, God sends Isaiah to the Israelites out of an abundance of forbearance and grace.

So, when Jesus quotes Isaiah, he is not saying that he wants to confuse people; rather, he is identifying himself with the prophetic mission: to preach to people who won't listen. The Parable of the Sower is about the many people who won't listen; but if only they would, then great things would happen: "Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).

Today’s Scripture

Mark 4:21-34

---

***Sign Up to Receive My Weekday Updates***

Subscribe here to receive a weekday update on that day’s Mark reading.

In addition to my weekday blogging on Mark’s Gospel, I also write occasionally about other topics. Subscribe here to be notified when I publish a new post.

P.S. All Subscribers Will Get My Free Whitepaper!

If you sign up for my Andrew Forrest newsletter, I’ll send you a white paper I’ve written called “The Simple Technique Anyone Can Immediately Use to Become a Better Communicator”.