Mark 4:1-20
The parable of the sower is perhaps the most important of all the parables. Jesus said of it that if we do not understand it, we will hardly understand the rest of the parables (Mark 4:13). The theme of this parable is the gospel, or more precisely the reasons for the different reception of the gospel: “Why is the gospel not received to the same degree by all people?”
THE FOUR KINDS OF SOIL
In the parable of the sower the Lord Jesus speaks of four kinds of “soil.” What are these four kinds of “soil”? They represent four groups of hearers of God’s Word. What distinguishes these groups of hearers is their attitude toward the seed of the gospel. What does the “seed” symbolize? In Luke 8:11 it says that “The seed is the word of God.” It is the same for all four kinds of soil. It is full of life. In Hebrews 4:12 we read that “the word of God is alive…” It is eternal, imperishable. The seed as a symbol of God’s word is used in other places in Scripture as well. For example, in 1 Peter 1:23 it says:
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
The seed of the Word is full of desire and potential to sprout and bear fruit. But in order to do so, it needs the nutrients of the soil. Bearing fruit does not depend on the seed. It is ready to give everything of itself. The reason for barrenness is not in the seed, but in the soil.
How do the four kinds of soil react when they meet the seed? In the parable itself (verses 1-9) Jesus describes what happens when the seeds of the gospel of the kingdom fall on the different kinds of soil, and in the explanation of the parable (verses 10-20) — which people, and what reactions to the word, the individual soils symbolize.
First, soil that does not receive the seed at all (Mark 4:4,15):
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. (Mark 4:4)
We can call this kind of hearer of the Word the wayside, trodden, or hostile soil. Who are they?
15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. (Mark 4:15)
These are people who hear the gospel but do not let it into their hearts at all. So when they get home and turn on the television, or hear something interesting, the new information displaces the old, and in this way the devil steals the word sown in them.
Second, soil that receives the seed only superficially (Mark 4:5,16-17):
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Mark 4:5-6)
This kind of soil can be called rocky, poor, or shallow soil. Who are the people that this soil represents?
16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (Mark 4:16-17)
These are people who receive the gospel with joy, but their commitment to God and the things of God is far too shallow. That is why they cannot endure the trials and the pressure of the times in which we live, and without realizing it they find a reason to fall away from Jesus.
Third, soil that receives the seed but nourishes not the seed, but the thorns (Mark 4:7,18-19):
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. (Mark 4:7)
These are people who can be called thorny, uncultivated, or unweeded soil. Who are they?
18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)
These people are different from the first two groups. With them the problem is not the shallow and superficial reception of the word. With them the problem is the weeds. The word grows in them, and may even form fruit, but that fruit is choked by other things that begin to take first place in their lives. We must fight for our priorities, and not allow anyone or anything to change them! Whatever happens, first place in our lives must always belong to God alone!
Fourth, soil that receives the seed and nourishes it (Mark 4:8,20):
8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. (Mark 4:8)
This kind of soil is called “good,” because it is well cultivated and fertile. Which people are the fertile soil?
20 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)
| KIND OF SOIL | RECEIVING THE SEED | NOURISHING THE SEED | FRUIT |
| WAYSIDE, TRODDEN, HOSTILE SOIL | NONE (NO SOFTNESS) |
NONE | NONE |
| ROCKY, POOR, SHALLOW SOIL | YES (RECEIVES THE SEED SUPERFICIALLY) |
PARTIAL (NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES) |
NONE |
| THORNY, UNCULTIVATED, UNWEEDED SOIL | YES (RECEIVES THE SEED, BUT ALSO RECEIVES EVIL SEEDS) |
PARTIAL (WEEDS AND THORNS) |
NONE |
| GOOD, CULTIVATED, FERTILE SOIL | YES (RECEIVES THE SEED) |
FULL | 30, 60, A HUNDREDFOLD |
THE UNWEEDED SOIL
What do the first three kinds of soil — the hostile, the shallow, and the unweeded — have in common? That all three bear no fruit at all. Which of these first three kinds of soil is the most widespread on earth? The most widespread is the unweeded, uncultivated soil. What is interesting is that it is also the most widespread in the church today. That is why we will give it special attention.
The sad thing about the unweeded soil is that, compared with the other two barren soils — the hostile and the shallow — it turns out to be far better than they are. The hostile soil does not receive the seed at all. The moment the seed falls upon it, it is repelled and bounces off. Imagine the terrible situation. The birds come to devour it. It begins to beg the wayside soil to hide it from them. But the constant trampling of the people, carts, and animals passing over it has turned the door of this soil into a wall. It refuses to receive the seed, and the “birds” devour it.
The shallow soil, for its part, does not have enough resources. Its nutrients are quickly exhausted, and it dooms the plant to a slow and agonizing death by starvation. The sun beats down, the moisture in the soil quickly evaporates, and it withers away fruitless. In Luke 8:6 it says:
6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. (Luke 8:6)
The most pitiful of all, however, is the unweeded soil. It has none of the excuses of the trodden and rocky soils. It cannot say that it was too trampled, or that it is too poor. It can not only receive the seed. It can even nourish it. But the problem is that together with the good seed, it also receives the seeds of the weeds. And the weeds, in turn, suck out most of its life-giving power, so that not enough nutrients are left for the good seed, and it cannot bear fruit.
The remarkable thing about the unweeded soil is that, of the three kinds of barren soil, it can most easily be turned into fertile soil — it only needs to be weeded! On the other hand, fertile soil can also very easily turn into unweeded soil — if its owner becomes careless and lazy.
The unweeded soil is people who have heard the Word and received it. The seed has sprouted in them. It has begun to grow. Its condition is promising, and this soil is expected to bear fruit. But then the weeds appear on the scene (Mark 4:19):
19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
This soil may even begin to bear fruit — but not “ripe fruit.” In Luke 8:14 it says:
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)
What I want to say is that we must guard the soil of our hearts from weeds.
I believe the message of the Holy Spirit to us today is this: “DO NOT LET YOUR SOIL BECOME OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS!” If we do not get rid of our spiritual laziness, we will become spiritually impoverished!
In Proverbs 24:30-34 it says:
30 I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; 31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 34 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34)
Why will poverty come? Because a field whose soil is overgrown with “thorns and nettles” will hardly bear any fruit! That is why in Jeremiah 4:3 God’s Word tells us:
3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. (Jeremiah 4:3)
Which are the spiritual thorns, and how do we fight them? In Mark 4:19 they are listed quite clearly — “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things.” These are the weeds of the materialistic society in which we live!
THE WORRIES OF THIS LIFE
The word “worry” in ancient Greek is “merimna.” This word is made up of two other words: “meiro” — to divide; and “noos” — mind. It can be translated as “a divided mind,” burdens, anxieties, and worries. That is exactly what worries do — they occupy our mind and so prevent us from doing what is expected of us. We must learn to shake them off through prayer (Luke 21:34-36):
34 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36)
“Merimna” also means to be worried in advance about daily life — an excessive preoccupation with things that cause nervousness, stress, and tension. But the Word tells us that such worry is unnecessary, because the love of our heavenly Father provides and supplies everything that is needed for our life and godliness.
In part of Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount,” recorded in Matthew 6:24-34, we find at least four truths about worry:
First, worry about life is service to mammon — the god (or rather the demon) of money!
24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. (Matthew 6:24-25)
Second, worry is unnecessary!
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)
Third, worry is pointless!
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? (Matthew 6:27-30)
Fourth, worry is unbecoming to a Christian!
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Here is the key to well-being — right priorities!) 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)
The way to fight the weed of “worry” is by building in ourselves a greater trust in God! In the Word we find enough assurances and promises that give us grounds for this:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
THE PURSUIT OF A “HIGHER STANDARD”
And so, the first weed that chokes the word in our lives is the worries of this life. How do we resist them? By building in ourselves a deeper and stronger trust in God. He is in control. And if we keep right priorities in our lives and seek first not something else, but God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then everything we need will be added to us.
The second weed that chokes the seed of the word in our lives is “the deceitfulness of wealth.” In modern language I would call it the pursuit of a higher standard of living. This means having everything that is flashiest and advertised on the market — expensive clothes, expensive possessions, expensive cars, expensive furniture… But in order to have them, you must either lie and steal, or give yourself so completely to your work that you sacrifice your family, your ministry, and your relationship with God. Thoughts of more expensive and “better” things can so consume you that you forget about the gospel.
In 2 Kings 5 we read about the different reactions that Elisha and his greedy servant Gehazi showed to Naaman’s offer of financial reward for his supernatural healing.
Here is how Elisha reacted (verses 14-16):
14 So he (Naaman) went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. (2 Kings 5:14-16)
Elisha was not seeking a higher standard of living. He was seeking the glory of God. And he trusted God to supply everything necessary for his life.
Gehazi’s reaction was radically different. He wanted to draw dividends that were not due to him. As we will see a little later, his thoughts were not about his ministry and his relationship with God, but about a higher standard of living (verses 20-27):
20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives (notice this!), I will run after him and get something from him.” (2 Kings 5:20)
Here Gehazi was concealing his desire for more by deceiving himself that what he would take from Naaman would be in the name of God. We human beings are masters at explaining that what we want is not some whim of ours, but something necessary and useful for us, and often not only for us but for others too. This, however, is self-deception. For God always knows our hearts, our situations, and our needs, and unlike us He can always tell the difference between which of our desires are real needs and which are whims or mere caprices and extravagances.
21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him (Gehazi was in such a hurry that Naaman thought something bad had happened) and asked, “Is everything all right?” (2 Kings 5:21)
22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say (this was a lie for personal gain), ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them (them, not me — what a pious lie!) a talent of silver (30 kilograms!) and two sets of clothing.’” (2 Kings 5:22)
23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. (2 Kings 5:23)
24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants (so that Elisha would not see them!) and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. (2 Kings 5:24)
25 When he went in and stood before his master (as if nothing had happened!), Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. (How brazenly Gehazi lied!) (2 Kings 5:25)
26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? (2 Kings 5:26)
You cannot deceive God’s prophet. Gehazi could not deceive Elisha. In exactly the same way, later Ananias and Sapphira could not deceive the apostle Peter. Why — because the Holy Spirit was in the apostle and in the prophet. We can deceive people, even ourselves — but not God! He is all-knowing. And a day is coming when each of us will have to answer to Him for our deeds!
Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? (2 Kings 5:26)
(This is what Gehazi dreamed of — not to be an approved prophet of God, but to have a higher standard of living! But what did he receive as a reward for his behavior and his deed?)
27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow. (2 Kings 5:27)
Remember what Jesus said to his disciples after his encounter with the rich young ruler in Luke 18:24:
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! (Luke 18:24)
Not that it is impossible, but wealth has its lure, which turns a person away from God and draws him toward money, property, and possessions.
The means by which we fight the weed of the deceitfulness of wealth is contentment in God! In Philippians 4:10-13 the apostle Paul tells us what the secret of fullness and satisfaction consists in:
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:10-13)
Have we too grasped this secret? Have we learned to be content in whatever state we find ourselves? Do we know how to draw on God’s resources and strength? The answers to these questions are decisive for whether we will be able to withstand and cope with the weed of “the deceitfulness of wealth.”
LIFE’S PLEASURES
And so, which are the weeds that choke the seed of the gospel in the unweeded soil? The first is “the worries of this life,” the second is “the deceitfulness of wealth,” or the pursuit of a higher standard. The third weed is “the desires for other things,” or simply the desires for “life’s pleasures.” The desires for other things are in fact desires for things that are not connected with the gospel and the kingdom of God.
In Luke 8:14, where the same parable is told, “the desires for other things” are called “life’s pleasures.” What are the pleasures of this world? A drink, a bite to eat, music, parties, discos, entertainments, pleasant company, gossip, gambling (games of chance), television, cinema, romance novels, sport… Some of these things can turn into serious and heavy vices. Others pass for normal and innocent. Some of them are even good and useful! But if they fill up the time in our lives that ought to be devoted to fellowship and service to God, then they truly are effective weapons in the hand of the adversary — weeds that take away from our fruitfulness!
In 2 Timothy 2:4 the apostle Paul uses a very apt metaphor to convey the importance of being careful about what we get entangled in:
4 No one serving as a soldier (we must not forget that we are soldiers in Christ’s army!) gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. (2 Timothy 2:4)
Do we want to please the Lord? We must be disciplined — keeping our minds under control. This is a good mark of Christian maturity. In Philippians 4:8 the apostle Paul tells us how to do it:
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think (logizomai) about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
WILL WE BEAR FRUIT — YES OR NO? IT DEPENDS ON US!
If we have kept ourselves in church for at least some time, then most likely we are one of the last two kinds of soil — the unweeded and the fertile. To a large extent they resemble each other. The only difference between them is the weeds. Unweeded, the fruitful soil can turn into barren soil. And if it is weeded, the weed-overgrown soil will certainly produce abundant fruit.
THE FIGHT AGAINST THE WEEDS
| WEEDS | DEFENSE |
| THE WORRIES OF THIS LIFE | TRUST IN GOD |
| THE DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH | CONTENTMENT IN GOD |
| LIFE’S PLEASURES | DEVOTION TO GOD |
The weeds are known — “the worries of this life,” “the deceitfulness of wealth,” and “the desires for other things.” Let us not allow them into our lives! The solution is clear — to fight them by resisting them. To the worries of this life let us respond with an ever stronger trust in God. To the deceitfulness of wealth — with an ever deeper contentment in Him. And to the desires for other things — with ever greater devotion and more constant fellowship with our Heavenly Father! In this way we will surely bear abundant fruit. And is this not what we have been chosen and appointed for (John 15:16)?
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)
May God bless us and help us to do it! Amen!