Good evening, everyone. It's lovely to be with you. I think I know most of you here,
but for anyone who doesn't know me, I'm Aaron, as was introduced, and I'm a member here in
the church, and I have the privilege tonight of opening God's Word with you. And especially
tonight, as this is the first in a new series that we're going to be going through in the
evenings, a new series in Luke, specifically looking at the parables as we go through the
book. The passage today is in chapter 8 and verses 4 to 15. Thanks, Johnny, for reading
that. I hope no one here has ever been in a situation where they've had to use a duress
code, as they're typically only used in dangerous and hostage-type situations. So if you do know
what they are, I do hope it's only from films you've seen or books you've read. If you're
not sure what a duress code is, it's when you need to get a message to somebody, an important
message to tell them something, but you don't want anybody listening in to know what the
true meaning is. For example, during the war, the World War II, when British agents were
undercover in Europe, if they were going to visit another safe house, they would call ahead,
and if it was okay on the other end, the agent on the other end of the phone would say,
no, I'm busy. And that was the signal that it was all clear. Whereas if they were actually
in danger or they were held at gunpoint, they would say something like, yes, come on over.
So that was the sign that actually things weren't okay, but anybody listening in, for example,
the enemy, they would think that that was an innocuous, a normal response, but in fact,
it was actually a distress signal. I also believe that airline pilots have a verbal hijack
code so that they can let anybody in ground control know what's going on without actually
having to alert any of the hijackers what's going on and that they're calling it in.
Anyway, these are just examples of being able to say something to someone, and yet to anybody
listening in, it means something quite different, which is something that we're going to see happen
in the passage today, as the Lord Jesus does. As he begins to speak in parables, he's speaking
to everyone, but the truth in his words are only being revealed to some. He who has ears to hear,
let him hear. And it's really all about our response to hearing the gospel. So just for a bit of
scene setting and context, this is an important passage in the Lord's ministry, an important moment,
as it really marks a change. Jesus had begun his ministry by preaching on the mount first,
and he preached very practically about life and how to live what he was teaching. And then after that,
he went and demonstrated his power in the form of miracles, where he cleansed a paralytic, a leper,
he calmed a storm in the sea, and he even removed the demons from a possessed man. He was able to show
them that he had power not only over people and illnesses, but over the natural elements as well.
And what he was doing is he was showing that there is power in his words, particularly to the doubters
of the day, who thought he was, particularly those who felt he was falsely claiming to be who he said
he was. But now he very deliberately begins to speak and teach in parables. And this one in particular
is the first parable. It's recorded in all of the first three gospels, and he uses this one also
to then explain to the disciples afterwards why he's doing that. I would split up the passage like
this. I think the first section is from verses 4 to 8, and that's really the parable of the sower.
That is him telling the story. Then in verses 9 and 10, he explains the purpose of parables.
And then in verses 11 to 15, the Lord gives his interpretation of the parable.
So that was the parable of the sower, verses 4 to 8. And he gives the purpose of parables in verses 9 to 10.
And then in 11 to 15, he gives his interpretation of the parable.
So from verse 4, or really from verse 5, we have his explaining of the parable of the sower,
which at first reads fairly simply about what would have been a common occurrence in these days,
particularly in these parts. I'm not sure about today. I don't know if there's any farmers in.
I myself is not a farmer. But the story is fairly simple to understand what's going on here.
So the sower is sowing his seed. It would have been by hand, I imagine.
And there are four different ground types that are described.
And as the seed lands on each kind, there is a very different result,
which at first seems simple enough, and it makes sense on a surface read.
So the first seed we have here in verse 5, it lands on the path.
The path wouldn't have been necessarily a paved path,
but it would have been the area that you walk along beside the fields.
It's likely they wouldn't have had sort of built up fences to separate different fields,
but everybody would have known where one person's patch ended and started.
And when everybody walked along, it would have formed a kind of,
the constant footpath would have formed a hard packed pathway.
So obviously any seed that found its way onto that pathway would have had no soft soil.
And it couldn't bed, and it would have just lay there.
And so it says the birds came and ate them, or devoured them, it even says.
And then the next group of seeds in verse 6, it lands on the rocky ground,
where there was some soil, but only a thin layer.
So the seed sprouted up quickly, but because it was only a thin layer of soil,
it wasn't able to grow deep roots, had no solid foundation,
and so when the sun came up, it scorched it, and the seed withered away.
And then in verse 7, there were the seeds that landed on the thorny ground.
Here the seed itself started growing well, but the real growth was impossible,
because it was intertwined in the presence of thorns.
And as the seed grew, the thorns choked it and killed it off.
And then finally in verse 8, we have the seed that landed on good ground,
fertile ground, unaffected by any of the adversities that obstructed the others,
and so it was able to sprout and yield a good crop a hundredfold,
or a hundred times more than what was originally sown.
And then the Lord says this interesting and important statement,
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Which even the disciples didn't actually understand initially,
and so they ask him, and he explains why, why he said that,
and why he is now speaking in parables.
So this is this key verse here in verse, it's really in verse 10.
After the disciples ask him what's going on, he said,
He says in verse 10,
The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you,
but to others I speak in parables,
so that though seeing they may not see,
and though hearing they may not understand.
There's quite a lot in just those few verses,
but I want to unpack it just a little bit.
And I think it's interesting how Luke explains this compared to the other Gospels.
Luke is very brief and to the point,
as is his orderly account of the whole Gospel.
But I think what he's saying here is that he's speaking in parables
to conceal what he's saying from some,
while also revealing it to others.
He's calling it the secrets of the kingdom.
So he's revealing them to some,
but keeping the secrets concealed at the same time.
This includes to the disciples,
who didn't actually understand it either,
until he explained it to them afterwards.
You'll also maybe note,
depending on what kind of Bible you're looking at,
the end of verse 10 is in quotations.
So this part here is actually a direct quote from Isaiah.
And I think by using that direct quote,
what he's doing is,
he's showing that he is now fulfilling that prophecy
that Isaiah gave hundreds of years before.
And it also shows that what he is now teaching and saying
is consistent with what Isaiah said hundreds of years before,
as it sort of confirming that there's consistency
all the way through the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament.
It's also showing that parables are complex.
Like there are many layers deep.
In fact, so that even children can understand
and get learning and benefit from them.
I mean, they're very often used as Sunday school stories.
But what he's also saying is,
they do conceal much deeper truths.
So that for anybody who wants to understand,
across the ages,
he's not saying something that they aren't able to.
This is an encouragement also for Christians,
in case they feel disheartened after sharing
what they believe to be true with someone
and not necessarily seeing the response
or the results that they're looking for.
And even for those of us who do understand the gospel,
it reminds us that there is always more to learn.
We must just continue to seek the knowledge
and then the Spirit can reveal it to us.
The people here, including the disciples,
they had to ask questions
if they wanted to understand more.
And so do we.
That's the same for us today.
There is so much about God
that we will never know or understand
while on this earth.
But with the desire to learn more,
he will reveal himself more to us.
This is why things like hearing,
coming to church is important,
but also discipleship and fellowship with each other.
Smaller Bible studies,
the one-to-ones, home groups.
These opportunities to really study the Word
and ask questions together are really important.
And yet, despite all that,
the seed can be sown within our hearts
so that even a child can understand their position before God.
A hopeless sinner in need of a Savior.
And the way to rectify it, it's not complicated.
Simply accepting your position as a sinner in God's eyes
and accepting and believing that Jesus' sacrifice
is enough to forgive you in God's sight,
that is enough to be saved.
We recognize that even though once planted,
before there can be growth,
a seed that is so needs to be looked after,
fed, watered, cared for spiritually, open to prep.
Although placing your faith in Jesus is a simple step,
it's a hugely significant one,
one for your life,
and it is not to be taken blind
or as an uninformed decision.
And then, from verse 11 to the end of the passage in verse 15,
is the Lord giving His interpretation of the parable.
It explains the different responses
that people have towards the Gospel,
specifically four very different responses
from four different causes,
giving four different results.
But just before we get into those,
there are three key elements in this parable
that I think are important to know first
as they're really essential
to understanding the application of this to us today.
And so there in verse 11,
we have the first key aspect
in explaining this parable,
and that is what the seed itself is symbolizing,
which was the word.
The word of the kingdom,
which might also be called the Gospel,
or we often call it just the Good News.
But I would suggest it goes further
and is applicable to all of the expanded teaching
and spoken word of the Lord Jesus.
A seed, depending on what you have in your imagination,
is probably something similar.
It's something very small and innocuous on its own
and in isolation, just like words are.
Except when that seed is planted and cared for,
then a seed is actually in possession of great power,
as it can sprout and grow
and transform into something amazing
and unrecognizable from what it was before.
This is the word of God.
The work that it can do in the human heart
when it is planted and accepted
is mighty and wonderful
and completely transformative.
Like a seed,
which can end up growing into a huge tree
and bear fruit and sustain life
and then produce more trees and more fruit,
so does the word of God in human lives.
But it can only happen
when we really get to know him and his word.
The gospel truth cannot be fully understood
or appreciated
unless we really know who Jesus is,
which we find out about as is revealed in his word.
And for anyone who is a Christian,
then it's on them to be the ones sharing the seed
and showing others who this man Jesus is
and why his word can transform them.
Which brings us to this next element,
which is in the parable,
which is who is the sower?
So the sower is the person
who's proclaiming the gospel
and sharing God's word.
So in this particular context,
the Lord was obviously speaking about himself as a sower,
but it can be any one of his followers.
The sower,
any one of his followers then or now.
And so anybody who faithfully shares the gospel
to those who do not yet know the Lord for themselves
can see themselves as the sower
and recognize the duty that we have to sow,
to share,
to tell others.
And there's also,
I think,
important to say
there's nothing particularly special about the sower.
There's no qualifications required
other than being saved.
It's about the seed that they're sharing.
It's about the truth.
The truth of the word of God,
that is where the power is.
And we are merely the messenger trying to share.
I think some people can often feel unqualified,
like you need to be a pastor
or have some degree to share the gospel,
but that's not true.
It's often the newest converts,
the newest Christians,
who actually have some of the strongest witness,
because people who know them
can see the immediate change in our lives.
I've often found myself,
sometimes it can feel like
you don't know all the answers,
so you're almost scared to get into the conversation.
You're not sure what to say,
but if you can really just articulate
what God means to you
and how he's changed your life,
then that is enough to share with others.
I think it's also important here to say
that the seed has not changed through time.
We don't now proclaim and preach a different message
than what's in the Bible
or than what Jesus taught.
It's as true and applicable now as it was then.
And that's also why we can't get too disheartened
by a seemingly disappointing response
when we share it.
It doesn't mean that there's an issue
with the sower, with you,
or with a lack,
or it doesn't mean that there's
a lack of effectiveness of power in the seed,
but it's with the soil itself.
And we're going to come to that in just a minute.
We can't be consumed with trying to predict
and then analyzing the outcome
of our sharing of the word,
but rather just trust
that in faithfully scattering the seed,
that which the Lord intends
will yield a crop.
And obviously,
while there's a clear evangelistic theme here,
there's also a challenge for the Christian
as we look at our own lives.
Are we continuing to sow and nourish
and water the word of God in our own life?
I think it's quite common to read this passage
and maybe be overly familiar with it,
but also just associate yourselves
into one of the scenarios
and think that that's final
and that there's no room
to see something of a few of them
in our lives.
Even though if we're saved
or if you consider yourself a Christian,
it is so easy, isn't it,
to be consumed with our own lives,
whether it's our family, work, hobbies,
the news.
And if we don't continually prioritize
spending time in the word of God,
it can result in us either just coasting
or even slowly drifting away
without realizing that we are no longer growing
in the things of God.
We need to be watching out for this
and not letting too much get in the way
of our spending time with him and his word
because it can have a really negative effect
on our relationship with him
and it can be dangerous for our spiritual health.
We need to sow God's word into our hearts
repeatedly and regularly
so that it continually grow in us as well
and so that we can bear fruit
and nourish it and not neglect it.
And then finally, the soil.
The soil, if you haven't sussed already,
is the human heart.
The seed is always good and very powerful,
but it needs to land on good soil
to grow and bring fruit.
And so as we're about to move through
the remainder of the passage,
the Lord is going to explain the parable
by explaining each of these different soil types
to our life.
And they're all relatable,
but only one of them produces a crop.
So when the Lord says,
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
He wants everyone to examine their own heart
and make sure that they're doing
what they need in their own life
to make sure that they become the good soil.
Ultimately, it's only God who has the power
who can give us the repentance for our sins
and change our lives.
But the responsibility is on us
to go to Him and acknowledge that
and accept that.
That is still with us.
So, from verse 12,
this is where the Lord starts to expand
on the first soil scenario,
which was the path,
the hard-packed walking path.
This, you'll maybe have noticed,
is the only one of the scenarios
where the hearer doesn't accept it at all.
Just like the paths along the edge of the field
that had been walked on so much,
and they were almost like pavement,
rock solid, unable to take seed,
so are these hearts.
This is the sad situation, really,
where men and women's hearts
have been hardened.
And it says here,
clearly, that it's Satan that takes it away,
the devil who takes the seed away
before it plants.
He is the bird
snatching out the gospel from hearts
so that there is no response,
no transformation,
and no fruit to come.
It's not just a figure of speech, either.
It's a real spiritual battle
that happens to all of us.
The devil will use any kind of distraction
or other beliefs and ideas
to make us reject and refuse God.
I'm sure, like me,
maybe many of you know somebody like this,
and so would it be your prayer
that God really breaks up
that hard ground in their heart
so they might yet be open
to receive the truth of the gospel?
Sometimes it's those who are most opposed,
seemingly,
that are actually acting that way
because they're feeling the most,
they're feeling very convicted
and conflicted
with what they want to believe,
and there is always hope
for these individuals,
these people.
And then, so in verse 13,
we have the rocky ground,
or sometimes known as the shallow soil.
This is because it wouldn't have been
straight onto a bunch of rocks,
as I maybe used to think,
but it would have been
a thin layer of soil
over hard limestone rocks.
And so, although the seed takes,
it has no strong root amongst the rocks,
and then it just results
in it withering away and dying.
This represents those
who obviously receive the word
with joy, it says,
which is a good start,
and they believe for a while,
but when they're tested,
they fall away.
This is a hard one
because we love to see
a positive response
to the gospel, don't we?
What a joy it is
when we see someone
who shows interest
and that seemingly
gives their life to God
and really seems to be
on fire for them,
making rapid progress,
and in the sadness
when it comes clear
that they didn't really grasp
what it means
to be a follower of Christ.
They don't lose their salvation,
but rather they were probably
never actually saved
in the first place.
Maybe the quickness
with which they received it
could be evidence
for a lack of deeper understanding
of the implications
and what it means
and what it would mean
for their life.
Sadly, also,
this could be because
of how it was represented
to them,
which is why it's so important
for us when we're sharing
the gospel
that we share the real truth
exactly as it is in Scripture.
Exactly as the Lord
sets out,
we can't sugarcoat it
or make any promises
about what becoming
a Christian is.
It's simply not true.
We heard Andy talking
about that this morning.
People are trying to
add their own bits to it
to make it more appealing
and end up watering down
the truth.
The Bible is very clear
that the life of a Christian
will be difficult at times.
Although we are blessed
immeasurably
and look forward
to an eternity with God,
that doesn't mean
eternal material blessing
while we're here on earth.
And we actually are
to expect trials
if we stand firm
in our faith in this world.
But it could also be
a case of selective hearing.
Somebody is looking
for answers
so they hear what sounds good.
They see all the positives
and they're like,
yep, great,
this is an answer
to all of my problems.
But they ignore
and overlook the cost implications.
And so when they're forced
to make a choice,
they end up falling away
quickly.
And then the third scene
starts in verse 14.
This is the thorny one,
literally.
Here, the seed lasts longer
than it does
amongst the rocks.
It takes and it grows.
But because it is
amongst the thorns,
they eventually choke it out
to where it doesn't
produce any fruit.
So this represents
those who have
a much better grasp
of the word
than those in the rocks
and what discipleships involve
and what discipleship involves.
So they make good progress.
But they never truly
give their whole life
to God
and free themselves
as what it calls here,
free themselves
of the cares
of this world.
They understand
what's involved
in following Christ,
but they're unwilling
to give up
the desires
and the pleasures
of this world
and it is stifling
their faith
and spiritual growth.
They know the cost,
but they're just
unwilling to make it.
And it's not a lack
of knowledge,
but really of priority
and of commitment.
I think it's important
to point out
he's not condemning
riches here.
I think that's important
just to make sure,
or even pleasures
that we can give God
thanks for.
It's the living
for them
that's the problem
rather than for God
and thanking Him
for what He blesses us with.
I think of the first three,
this is the one
that can be most challenging
for us who
would call ourselves Christians
as we know
that while we're still
living in our
human bodies,
we can still feel
the temptation
of greed
and sensuality
that is so widely
advertised,
encouraged,
and promoted
in the world around us.
And so we need
to continually
examine our hearts
and make sure
that we weed out
any of those thorns
that still cause us
to fall.
There's maybe,
it can look different
for each person,
but there's maybe
a habit or an interest
that you have
that you stay involved with,
but you know it's really
affecting your spiritual growth,
but you've just not
quite been able
to actually cut it out
for good,
and you're succumbing
to the temptation
for the short-term
perceived pleasure.
But we see here
very clearly
that if we don't
deal with it,
we will ultimately
be choked out by it
and no longer
produce any spiritual fruit.
And then,
so we have the final example
in verse 15.
This is the good soil.
This is the one
that plants,
grows,
and bears much fruit.
It says,
those with a noble heart,
a noble and good heart,
who hear the word,
retain it,
and by persevering,
produce a good crop.
This is the goal.
This is the ideal response
and outcome
from hearing the word of God.
And while a lot of Christians
probably automatically
see themselves
in this soil scenario
of the four,
and I hope that for many
that is true,
but I would suggest
that based on everything
we've looked at so far,
we can't be complacent.
And this is not
a permanent landing spot.
It's what we should
all be striving for,
but it takes work
and commitment
to stay here.
This is a heart
made good by God,
by the miracle
of regeneration.
The person has heard
the word
and holds it close
and is living
a life of a disciple.
And through perseverance,
over time,
they will produce fruit,
and they're not only
a hearer of the word,
but also a doer.
They are feeding on it
instead of the world,
constantly challenging
the sin
that comes into their life,
and then they can live
a life more pleasing
to God.
And by not being conformed
to this world,
they are becoming
more Christ-like.
This is what
we should all
want to be aiming for.
To see it
is an amazing
encouragement to others.
It's lovely
when somebody else
really starts
to make that commitment,
and it pleases God
immensely.
So,
as Christians,
I think we all
want to see
and be ourselves
in the good soil,
but are we?
Or can we really
see something
of the other soils
in our lives?
Does any of that
resonate?
And if so,
what are we doing
about it?
I think also
just another
common mistake
when considering
this passage
and applying it
is thinking that
it's all about
a momentary,
immediate response
to the gospel.
But it's not,
really.
It's really about
our response
over time.
You see,
it takes a while
for a seed
to grow and sprout
and then only to wither,
or to grow up
and then ultimately
be choked by thorns,
or to grow up strong,
well,
and bear fruit.
This is a long game.
So we must continually
evaluate and cultivate
the word in our own lives
to ensure we keep
ourselves and our hearts
as good soil.
We can only ever
grasp God's truths
with help from the
Holy Spirit
working in us.
They really are
beyond our comprehension,
but he can make
them known to us.
So while this is
often and largely
an evangelistic
parable with hope,
it's also a warning
for those that do hear
but don't act on it.
So just in closing,
I trust that
you'll be challenged
by considering
what you're doing
with the seed
in your own life,
ensuring it is being
cared for properly
and watching out
for the shallow
soil traps
and the thorns
that can come
for all of us.
And if you realize
that you have never
opened your heart
to the seed
that is the good news
of the gospel
in order that he might
work a miracle
of regeneration
in your heart,
then I challenge you
not to delay
in addressing that,
but rather come
to him
and accept him
for what he can do
for you today.
Thanks.
Let's just have
a closing word
of prayer
for a hand back
to the band.
Our God and Father,
we thank you
for the time
we've been able
to spend
in your words
this evening
and for the simple
but yet deep truths
that are contained
in your parables.
We thank you
for the reminder
about the power
that is your word
and the challenge
to share it
no matter what
soil type
we think we're
telling it to.
I pray that we would
also just feel
the challenge ourselves
to strive
to be that good soil,
aware of the traps
that can await
for all of us
and how they can really
affect our spiritual growth.
And Father,
I just pray
that we would
constantly strive
to sow the word
into our own hearts
so that we might
be less like the world
and more like you
and indeed get
to know you more.
So we just pray
that you'll bless us all now
in your son's
precious name.
Amen.