July 15th, 2017

On this Sunday, the gospel text is the famous 'Parable of the Sower' from the Gospel according to Matthew. It is very well known. 

At the heart of the issue is the wide variety of results in the seeds that were sown. Some multiplied a hundredfold. Others did not grow at all. At the heart of THAT issue is the person responsible for throwing all those seeds around. One could say that the sower is pretty careless with his seeds. He lets them fall along the path, along rocky ground, and near some thorns. 

These seeds are the words of the kingdom, not words connected to God's power, but words connected to his love. Jesus is described as proclaiming the gospel (the good news) of the kingdom at two different times within this account (Matthew 4:23, 9:35).

How those wonderful seeds grow is an interesting topic to see synoptically, as you compare it with the other, similar gospel accounts.

This is so special a story that this parable is in the Gospel according to Matthew, the Gospel according to Mark, and the Gospel according to Luke. In each account, the growing seed is explained as one who hears the word, but then something else happens.

In Matthew 13:23, a person hears the word and understands it. In Mark 4:20, a person hears the word and accepts it. In Luke 8:15, a person hears the word and holds it fast in an honest and good heart.

If you are asking what ACTUALLY happened regarding Jesus and this parable and these differences, I cannot answer that question. The Bible does not answer that question. It looks like Jesus said all three differences at one time or another. The important thing to remember is that each account is designed to give a divine perspective of Jesus as God's authoritative messenger on earth. All three are from Jesus, God's ultimate messenger, and all three are most certainly true.

In Matthew, Jesus has authority as a man, a prophet. And a man is someone who hears God's word and understands it. In Mark, Jesus has authority like a lion, and a lion has a significant amount of authority in the animal kingdom. As a king has to 'accept' someone into his presence, someone who hears God's word has to accept it. In Luke, Jesus has authority like on ox, and an ox is a hard-working creature. You could say that an ox has to have an honest and good heart to be so helpful around the farm. And a person needs an honest and good heart for God's word to bear fruit.

I hope you can see that these characteristics of those who bear fruit are shown to have been given by God throughout the New Testament--and sometimes even in the Old! We need God's help to understand his words, we need help to accept his words, and we definitely need his help to have an honest and good heart.

This parable is a good reminder that we needed a Savior. And we have one who likes to overflow with the gospel, the good news!