anybody up for a study on the parables ?
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rjones
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The parable of the soils explained: each soil represents one of four responses to the gospel of Jesus.
Matthew 13:18-23 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
This is he who received seed by the wayside: The wayside was the path where people walked and nothing could grow because the ground was too hard. The wayside soil represents those who never really hear the gospel with understanding. The gospel must be understood before it can bear fruit. One of Satan’s chief works is to keep men in darkness regarding their understanding of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
On stony places: Stony places refers to a place where the soil was thin, laying upon a rocky shelf. On this ground the seed springs up quickly because of the warmth of the soil, but the seed is unable to take root because of the rocky shelf. This soil represents those who receive the gospel enthusiastically, but their life is short-lived, because they are not willing to endure tribulation or persecution . . . because of the word.
Among the thorns: This soil represents fertile ground for the word; but their “soil” is too fertile, because it also grows all sorts of other things that choke out the word of God.
Good ground: Good ground describes soil that is both fertile and weed-free. A good, productive crop grows in the good ground. This soil represents those who receive the word, and it bears fruit in their “soil” - in differing proportions, though everyone has a generous harvest.
We benefit from seeing bits of ourselves in all four soils.
Like the wayside, sometimes we allow the word no room at all in our lives.
Like the stony places, we sometimes have “hot flashes” of enthusiasm in receiving the word that quickly burn out.
Like the soil among thorns, the world is constantly threatening to choke out God’s word and our fruitfulness.
Like the good ground, the word bears fruit in our lives.
Notice that the difference in each category was with the soil itself. The same seed was cast by the same sower. You could not blame the differences in results on the sower or the seed, but only the soil.
God bless.
Matthew 13:18-23 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
This is he who received seed by the wayside: The wayside was the path where people walked and nothing could grow because the ground was too hard. The wayside soil represents those who never really hear the gospel with understanding. The gospel must be understood before it can bear fruit. One of Satan’s chief works is to keep men in darkness regarding their understanding of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
On stony places: Stony places refers to a place where the soil was thin, laying upon a rocky shelf. On this ground the seed springs up quickly because of the warmth of the soil, but the seed is unable to take root because of the rocky shelf. This soil represents those who receive the gospel enthusiastically, but their life is short-lived, because they are not willing to endure tribulation or persecution . . . because of the word.
Among the thorns: This soil represents fertile ground for the word; but their “soil” is too fertile, because it also grows all sorts of other things that choke out the word of God.
Good ground: Good ground describes soil that is both fertile and weed-free. A good, productive crop grows in the good ground. This soil represents those who receive the word, and it bears fruit in their “soil” - in differing proportions, though everyone has a generous harvest.
We benefit from seeing bits of ourselves in all four soils.
Like the wayside, sometimes we allow the word no room at all in our lives.
Like the stony places, we sometimes have “hot flashes” of enthusiasm in receiving the word that quickly burn out.
Like the soil among thorns, the world is constantly threatening to choke out God’s word and our fruitfulness.
Like the good ground, the word bears fruit in our lives.
Notice that the difference in each category was with the soil itself. The same seed was cast by the same sower. You could not blame the differences in results on the sower or the seed, but only the soil.
God bless.
rjones this is a great post. however the fact still remains that the parables are taught in a very misleading ways through out the churches around the world. therefor this study will go on so that other brothers and sisters can see the truth in the parables.
your post is right. these are the different ways that the word is accepted when it is presented. however i also believe that it means people that accepted the gospel and then sat doing nothing or went back to their own ways of life or their old crowds of friends.
there was a song written i believe in the 80s that started out with the words;
the biggest cause of athiesm today are christians, christians that step into a church and go right back out of the church living their old ways and never changing.
let us take alook at why this is. well there are a whole lot of false teachings in the churches. twisting the word and the parables that jesus told and taking jesus out of the seat of authority. i think as mature or inmature christians we always have alot more to learn and as more mature christians it is our job to get the whole truth to the less mature and easier to be manipulated with lies of the gospel. to strengthen, edify and build up one another in christ and his truth. this is all biblical.
your post is right. these are the different ways that the word is accepted when it is presented. however i also believe that it means people that accepted the gospel and then sat doing nothing or went back to their own ways of life or their old crowds of friends.
there was a song written i believe in the 80s that started out with the words;
the biggest cause of athiesm today are christians, christians that step into a church and go right back out of the church living their old ways and never changing.
let us take alook at why this is. well there are a whole lot of false teachings in the churches. twisting the word and the parables that jesus told and taking jesus out of the seat of authority. i think as mature or inmature christians we always have alot more to learn and as more mature christians it is our job to get the whole truth to the less mature and easier to be manipulated with lies of the gospel. to strengthen, edify and build up one another in christ and his truth. this is all biblical.
There is one other thing.
For the seeds to take root the soil first needs to be plowed.
in the first verse we see the word sower.
matthew 13:3-4 - and he spoke many things unto them in parables. "behold a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
this word sower is obviously using the reality of the world of a farmer. however in this parable it is talking about the person that is speaking the gospel to others. i believe that jesus is talking about himself in this particular verse. as he was the only one that was sowing any seed at that time.
matthew 13:3-4 - and he spoke many things unto them in parables. "behold a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
this word sower is obviously using the reality of the world of a farmer. however in this parable it is talking about the person that is speaking the gospel to others. i believe that jesus is talking about himself in this particular verse. as he was the only one that was sowing any seed at that time.
redfox
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Sorry for taking so long to join the bible study, thank you all for your helpful and wise comments.
I think that the Sower is clearly God. He might use us as a method by which to sow the seed, but the word of God (the seed) comes from God.
I'm loving this! Love Jack
well jack i am glad that you brought that up because seed is the next word to discuss,
your right that seed means the word. this is one of the main words for why i wanted to discuss the meanings of many words. the word seed is often misused while hearing people discuss the word of god. in todays world the word seed or sowing seed has become about money. sow your seed here and thou shalt prosper give us a seed of 100 dollars and you will receive 10,000 dollars back.
however these statements are not found anywhere in the word of god. nor are they implied to i8n the word of god. the word states that we will be blessed for speaking the truth of the word of god. not for giving money. also the blessings it talks about are spiritual blessings not physical and monitary blessings.
your right that seed means the word. this is one of the main words for why i wanted to discuss the meanings of many words. the word seed is often misused while hearing people discuss the word of god. in todays world the word seed or sowing seed has become about money. sow your seed here and thou shalt prosper give us a seed of 100 dollars and you will receive 10,000 dollars back.
however these statements are not found anywhere in the word of god. nor are they implied to i8n the word of god. the word states that we will be blessed for speaking the truth of the word of god. not for giving money. also the blessings it talks about are spiritual blessings not physical and monitary blessings.
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redfox
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Hey ushalk! Im amazed that the seed is taken to mean money by some people! Or at least, I don't know about the rest of the Bible, but in this parable it is CLEARLY not talking about money!
The Bible says that God gives us everything we need (or require): Matt 6:32-33
That does not mean that God will give to us financially proportionally to how much we give away.
We are told not to store up our treasures on earth Matt 6:19-21 but to store up our treasures in heaven. And in Ephesians 1:3 we are told that God has blessed us with every SPIRITUAL blessing in Christ. We are aliens and strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11) and we no longer conform to the ways of the world (Romans 12:2). If God wants to bless me I would hope that he would give me heavenly gifts, not money. Let's not desire the things of this world (money) because all that will pass away. Instead lets seek after God and make heavenly treasures that will not pass away.
I believe firmly that the seed that the Sower is sowing is the word of God. Just as an encouragement to us:
Isaiah 55:11
"My word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty."
That is a promise that if we faithfully share God's word then there will be response from those listening. That is good news! God is good
Love Jack
The Bible says that God gives us everything we need (or require): Matt 6:32-33
That does not mean that God will give to us financially proportionally to how much we give away.
We are told not to store up our treasures on earth Matt 6:19-21 but to store up our treasures in heaven. And in Ephesians 1:3 we are told that God has blessed us with every SPIRITUAL blessing in Christ. We are aliens and strangers in the world (1 Peter 2:11) and we no longer conform to the ways of the world (Romans 12:2). If God wants to bless me I would hope that he would give me heavenly gifts, not money. Let's not desire the things of this world (money) because all that will pass away. Instead lets seek after God and make heavenly treasures that will not pass away.
I believe firmly that the seed that the Sower is sowing is the word of God. Just as an encouragement to us:
Isaiah 55:11
"My word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty."
That is a promise that if we faithfully share God's word then there will be response from those listening. That is good news! God is good
Love Jack
sebastianju
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About seed, Jesus himself said that the seed is the word of God, so that settles the doubt, I believe.
redfox
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Just thinking about how we can apply this parable. I was praying and thought about the seed and about how it can be planted.
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
In the great commision Jesus sends US to preach the gospel. God has empowered US to be the carriers of his message. We are not alone, he is guiding us and directing us, but we have a responsibility nonetheless. In Romans here Paul says how important it is that the gospel is preached. There is a lot of soil that as yet has not received ANY seed. And this should motivate us to bring the good news to them. And then we will have beautiful feet .
We cannot sit back at home and wonder how it is the God's seed is sewn. We have to be active in the process. Becuase Jesus commisions US with the task at hand. So whether we are sending or going, we need to be advancing the gospel.
What d'you think?
Love Jack
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
In the great commision Jesus sends US to preach the gospel. God has empowered US to be the carriers of his message. We are not alone, he is guiding us and directing us, but we have a responsibility nonetheless. In Romans here Paul says how important it is that the gospel is preached. There is a lot of soil that as yet has not received ANY seed. And this should motivate us to bring the good news to them. And then we will have beautiful feet .
We cannot sit back at home and wonder how it is the God's seed is sewn. We have to be active in the process. Becuase Jesus commisions US with the task at hand. So whether we are sending or going, we need to be advancing the gospel.
What d'you think?
Love Jack
In this parable the word is the greek word logos which is Christ Himself. A good demonstration of this is found in Colossians 1.
Colossians 1:21-29
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul did not preach just a message, he preached the person Christ, the Word of God.
Colossians 1:21-29
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul did not preach just a message, he preached the person Christ, the Word of God.
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amen to both of your posts. that is exactly correct and i love the scripture references to back it up. totally awesome is our lord.
to help back both of you up on your posti am going to post a couple more
verses to help out with this.
romans 10:17- so therefore faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of god.
1 corinthians 1:22-25-for the jews require a sign, and the greeks seek after wisdom. 23. but wee preach christ crucified, unto the jews a stumbling block and unto the greeks foolishness; 24. but unto them that are called, both jews and and greeks, christ the power of god, and the wisdom of god. 25. because the foolishness of god is wiser than men; and the weakness of god is stronger than men.
awesome is it not.
to help back both of you up on your posti am going to post a couple more
verses to help out with this.
romans 10:17- so therefore faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of god.
1 corinthians 1:22-25-for the jews require a sign, and the greeks seek after wisdom. 23. but wee preach christ crucified, unto the jews a stumbling block and unto the greeks foolishness; 24. but unto them that are called, both jews and and greeks, christ the power of god, and the wisdom of god. 25. because the foolishness of god is wiser than men; and the weakness of god is stronger than men.
awesome is it not.
have we stopped to think of the many things that the wayside can mean? in this parable it is i believe the hearts that refuse to turn from the people that want to destroy the truth. or their old friends. and the fowls are satans workers. including the people that will not accept the gospel and will lead people away from christ like the woman in proverbs chapter 5.
many times we are afraid to walk away from the people that are hurting us the most spiritually. a big part of this is that we are taught in the world that all are good and a true friend is always there. however if your friends will not hear the gospel nor do they care to respect your decision to be a christian we must be strong enough to walk away and join to our new family and friends in christ.
many times we are afraid to walk away from the people that are hurting us the most spiritually. a big part of this is that we are taught in the world that all are good and a true friend is always there. however if your friends will not hear the gospel nor do they care to respect your decision to be a christian we must be strong enough to walk away and join to our new family and friends in christ.
