The Sower

In the 4th chapter of Mark, Jesus told a parable about a farmer who sowed seed in a field.  The parable was so plain and simplistic, yet carried a hidden meaning; as did all of Jesus' parables.  Judging by the disciple’s reaction, the meaning of this parable was particularly difficult to understand (also recorded by Matthew and Luke).  And so, Jesus' disciples asked him to explain.  Jesus' answered by saying,  

"...this is (given to you) the mystery of the kingdom of God" Mark 4:10

This word "mystery" derives from the Greek word mysteries (usually as the plural).  In context, it simply means "secret" as in "secret doctrine".  Jesus was revealing to his disciples that some of what he tells them is not meant for others to comprehend.  

In other words, GOD KEEPS SECRETS!  Only those who belong to Him are meant to comprehend His mysteries; thus, this parable.  Jesus went on to tell his disciples that those who do not belong to God will be, 

"...ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding" Mark 4:11-12

Today, confirm that you belong to God with understanding.  Take time to decipher, even if for the first time, the mystery hidden in the parable of the sower. 

Before we decode the mystery, there are a few things to notice in this story which contributes to its meaning.  First, notice what happened at the beginning of this parable.  Before there could be any sowing of the seed, the farmer had to first "go out".   He left the comfort of his living area to work the field with the intension of creating produce.

Next, notice the farmer's diligence.  The fact that seed landed in a variety of "grounds" denotes the farmer's action in sowing.  Had the farmer stood in one spot, or perhaps spread only one handful of seed and then gone back in his house, all of the seed would be in one ground.  Instead, seed spread across what must have been a vast field.   As a result, his seed found its way into multiple locations.  

Lastly, notice the most consistent part of the story; the seed itself.  The seed is the same from the beginning of the story to the end. Notice that, with no change in the seed, the results varied from one type of ground to the next proving that the farmer's seed was good... but some areas of his field containing difficult and unmanageable ground.  This parable illustrates that fruit is not only determined by the seed; but also by the ground.  

So, now let’s decode the story.  First, what is the seed?  The seed is the word of God. 

"...the farmer sows the Word" Mark 4:14

How do we sow this seed?  We "go out".  We leave the comfort of our homes and sow with our mouths (or in my case, with a laptop computer).  The Word of God is GOOD seed.  God sowed His Word in the beginning of this world and it was GOOD.  His Word later became flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:2).  Today, we have the opportunity to sow His word in our fields.  Jesus Christ is God's GOOD seed which will not return to Him void.  

Now, understand that, once we sow God's Word; however, the bible assures us that the enemy of God will come to steal it (Matt. 13:19).  Why does God's enemy want to steal the seed? Because he knows it’s potential.  Satan knows that we have dominion on this earth given to us by God Himself.  He knows we have authority to grow from every "ground" in this earth and he does not.

By "ground", I'm referring to spiritual ground; which is your heart.   Satan steals God's seed; which is God's Word, from our "ground” in an attempt to replace it with his seed... which is fear and doubt.  But Satan's effectiveness in his attempt to steal seed is not determined by the seed; it is determined by the condition of your ground.

So now let’s look at the four types of ground.  In the story, seed fell in "Wayside" ground, “Stony" ground, “Thorny" ground and "Good" ground.  Each of the four relate to the condition of one's heart. 

"Wayside" ground is a heart that's far off of the right path.  Jesus said this type of ground provides nothing but food for birds.  "Stoney" ground is a heart that is too hard to receive seed; or at least, not receive seed deep enough to take root.  Any produce sprouting from a stony heart will have a short shelf-life.

"Thorny" ground is a heart that is too distracted and cluttered with worldly concerns to produce.  Distractions and clutter pull resources away from the seed which kills the seed via dehydration/starvation.   A heart that is cluttered with all the distractions of the world is literally trying to birth good fruit and bad fruit simultaneously; which is the equivalent of a heart trying to serve two masters.  In this condition, according to another parable Jesus told, this poor distracted heart will love one of its masters, but despise the other.  

But the last type of ground, "Good" ground, seems to be Jesus point of the parable. Good ground is a submitted heart; i.e., a heart that belongs to God.  This heart will produce the Fruits of the Spirit in varying quantities: 30, 60 or 100 times what was originally planted in it.

If you submit your "ground" to God (meaning, again, your heart), you will be more than a conquer in this world.  But, if you have not given your heart to Jesus, you cannot grow God's seed; in which case, Satan will gladly come in, take God's seed from you, and then plant his seed as a substitution.  God's seed is GOOD... you've just got to manage your "ground"!  

The mystery of the sower is that the choice is yours!  In the since of being evangelized, your heart is the ground that God is sowing GOOD seed (His word) into; even right now.   Then, in the since of evangelism, you are the sower spreading the Gospel throughout God's field allowing the Word of God to land where it may praying that it encounters GOOD ground so that it can produce 30, 60 or in some cases, 100 times over.   

So the questions are: 

#1). What kind of ground are you willing to be? Submitted or resistant?

And then, 

#2). What kind of ground will you place your seed into from now on? 

"In all your getting, get understanding" Proverbs 4:7