The parable of the sower isn't only about soil quality. Mark 4 holds a paradox most Sunday schools never taught: God conceals on purpose, so he can reveal.
We tend to assume the Word is evangelistic, and thus the "soils" respond to the gospel based on their nature. However, the Word is also much more than just our invitation into the Kingdom. Would it be legit to think about this parable with regard to our ongoing receptivity to all of God's truth? In other words, are there parts of each of us represented in all four soils? Do we sometimes reject the Word, sometimes only prefer the easy parts, sometimes let other attractions and concerns crowd it out, and only sometimes let it bear the fruit it's intended to produce?
And G-d still reveals the answer to a mystery to some an not others. Pathos encounters are so stirring that it results in a physical kinetic response and a drive so great that the event must go down in writing to be shared by others. The difference is, prophets of old used parchment or papyrus and ink as their medium
Since listening to this podcast, I began reading Daniel (again) looking for themes of hidden/reveal. I kept finding the same theme in other places in the Bible, although I was not looking in an organized way. It gives me a confidence I did not have before that the anxious “why” I sometimes ask (not for me personally) has an answer even if I don’t see it now. I often wish I did not feel the pain of the world as I do. Sometimes the question is not why, but an anguished question, how is God ever going to fix this? The psalms have given me a new language for prayer: Rise up, O Lord! It sounds more acceptable than my own words. Shalom
First, thank you for sharing how you “got this”-midway I was asking, how does she understand it this way? Then the rest. Never have I been taught OR taught this parable in this way. But the quote from Isaiah I have puzzled over for a long time-it did not make sense to me, though I sensed I was missing something. Now, Jesus statement about things hidden. I am completely embarrassed to admit that it’s a verse that came to mind when people had secrets-things they intentionally hid-and thought no one would ever find out. Completely out of context! This is a most humbling lesson. It convicts me of several things but also gives me hope that I can learn.
Wow Diane, your writing is So good! I am studying the parables now and how they are read thru different lenses John Dominic crossan has a book on them! THIS was such a good deep theological spiritual read! Thank you I love your work😊
I have to admit that “‘Seeing, they may see and not perceive, and hearing, they may hear and not understand, so they may not turn back and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:11-12, TLV) has always not only been puzzling to me, but also made me a little bit “upset” with Yeshua! Why would He bother to share the parable if they were not to be understood!?
This teaching of yours has helped clarify this for me and I am grateful!
I do have one question. Could the sower be a servant or servants of God who sows His Word as we go along and talk about Him, or quote scriptures? And we never know which type of soil the person were shared with, is, but that shouldn't stop us from sowing? In other words, you have just sown the Word in us. How we receive it, is up to us?
I do think that's a fair application. In the parable itself, Yeshua identifies the seed as the Word of God, and while He doesn't explicitly identify the sower, it's certainly consistent to see those who proclaim God's Word participating in that work.
This is how I understand it, too. I could just never explain it. The connection between all those parables is a new view. Thank you for taking the time to explain it in so much detail. I have challenge here on my side of the world where a friend of mine attends a church where they are adamant the seed refers to money. The more you give, the more you receive in blessings. Is that anywhere in the Bible that you know of?
I'm not sure where I got this conviction, but you talk about it a little here. I've understood that the parables are designed so that you cannot figure them out intellectually. Intellectual revelation puffs up and leads a person astray. The parables are designed to get people to turn to the Lord and ask for an explanation. That's what I came to in Isaiah. Does the word usage support that as well as I think it does.?
I think you're onto something, with one small nuance. I don't think Yeshua's point was that parables are impossible to understand intellectually. They certainly invite us to think deeply. But they aren't puzzles that can be solved by intellect alone.
In the context of Isaiah 6, which Yeshua quotes, the issue isn't a lack of intelligence. It's the condition of the heart. People can hear the same words, but only those who are willing to receive them will truly understand.
I agree. But the problem is that trying to deal with them intellectually without a relationship with HaShem and His Messiah will lead you astray very quickly. We need to discipline ourselves to hear what the Lord wants us to learn. He expects us to ask for help. My new (I'm embarrassed to say) procedure is, when I open my Bible for my daily verse by verse reading, to say clearly, "Lord, what do you want me to learn today out of your scriptures." Jesus told us that this is one of the main reasons the Ruach was sent to us. It has made a large difference.
Great stuff, Diane! It’s easier to skip to the “good” application or allegorize parables. Love the “conceal–reveal” insight! This is so often skipped over or misconstrued. Going back to Isaiah for context helps, as always.
I've often thought of this as a deeply humorous parable: Jesus is telling a bunch of peasant farmers - for whom every seed would have been precious, saved for sowing when it could have fed their family - about a sower who is clearly utterly mad. He thoughtlessly chucks that precious seed anywhere and everywhere, into places where there was *almost* no chance of it fully growing. Then Jesus suggests that God is like that mad farmer ... and they should be too!
We never know who will respond and our judgements of who is most likely to are deeply flawed.
We tend to assume the Word is evangelistic, and thus the "soils" respond to the gospel based on their nature. However, the Word is also much more than just our invitation into the Kingdom. Would it be legit to think about this parable with regard to our ongoing receptivity to all of God's truth? In other words, are there parts of each of us represented in all four soils? Do we sometimes reject the Word, sometimes only prefer the easy parts, sometimes let other attractions and concerns crowd it out, and only sometimes let it bear the fruit it's intended to produce?
And G-d still reveals the answer to a mystery to some an not others. Pathos encounters are so stirring that it results in a physical kinetic response and a drive so great that the event must go down in writing to be shared by others. The difference is, prophets of old used parchment or papyrus and ink as their medium
Since listening to this podcast, I began reading Daniel (again) looking for themes of hidden/reveal. I kept finding the same theme in other places in the Bible, although I was not looking in an organized way. It gives me a confidence I did not have before that the anxious “why” I sometimes ask (not for me personally) has an answer even if I don’t see it now. I often wish I did not feel the pain of the world as I do. Sometimes the question is not why, but an anguished question, how is God ever going to fix this? The psalms have given me a new language for prayer: Rise up, O Lord! It sounds more acceptable than my own words. Shalom
First, thank you for sharing how you “got this”-midway I was asking, how does she understand it this way? Then the rest. Never have I been taught OR taught this parable in this way. But the quote from Isaiah I have puzzled over for a long time-it did not make sense to me, though I sensed I was missing something. Now, Jesus statement about things hidden. I am completely embarrassed to admit that it’s a verse that came to mind when people had secrets-things they intentionally hid-and thought no one would ever find out. Completely out of context! This is a most humbling lesson. It convicts me of several things but also gives me hope that I can learn.
I am so glad you enjoyed it and that you feel you learned something valuable from it!!
I certainly did. 🙂
Wow Diane, your writing is So good! I am studying the parables now and how they are read thru different lenses John Dominic crossan has a book on them! THIS was such a good deep theological spiritual read! Thank you I love your work😊
Thank you so very much Diane!
This is so helpful! Thank you!
I have to admit that “‘Seeing, they may see and not perceive, and hearing, they may hear and not understand, so they may not turn back and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:11-12, TLV) has always not only been puzzling to me, but also made me a little bit “upset” with Yeshua! Why would He bother to share the parable if they were not to be understood!?
This teaching of yours has helped clarify this for me and I am grateful!
❤️
I do have one question. Could the sower be a servant or servants of God who sows His Word as we go along and talk about Him, or quote scriptures? And we never know which type of soil the person were shared with, is, but that shouldn't stop us from sowing? In other words, you have just sown the Word in us. How we receive it, is up to us?
I do think that's a fair application. In the parable itself, Yeshua identifies the seed as the Word of God, and while He doesn't explicitly identify the sower, it's certainly consistent to see those who proclaim God's Word participating in that work.
This is how I understand it, too. I could just never explain it. The connection between all those parables is a new view. Thank you for taking the time to explain it in so much detail. I have challenge here on my side of the world where a friend of mine attends a church where they are adamant the seed refers to money. The more you give, the more you receive in blessings. Is that anywhere in the Bible that you know of?
No in fact I just did a podcast episode on that. God’s provision and blessing can’t be bought. https://shessoscripture.com/p/episode-7-counterfeit-gospel-the
I'm not sure where I got this conviction, but you talk about it a little here. I've understood that the parables are designed so that you cannot figure them out intellectually. Intellectual revelation puffs up and leads a person astray. The parables are designed to get people to turn to the Lord and ask for an explanation. That's what I came to in Isaiah. Does the word usage support that as well as I think it does.?
I think you're onto something, with one small nuance. I don't think Yeshua's point was that parables are impossible to understand intellectually. They certainly invite us to think deeply. But they aren't puzzles that can be solved by intellect alone.
In the context of Isaiah 6, which Yeshua quotes, the issue isn't a lack of intelligence. It's the condition of the heart. People can hear the same words, but only those who are willing to receive them will truly understand.
I agree. But the problem is that trying to deal with them intellectually without a relationship with HaShem and His Messiah will lead you astray very quickly. We need to discipline ourselves to hear what the Lord wants us to learn. He expects us to ask for help. My new (I'm embarrassed to say) procedure is, when I open my Bible for my daily verse by verse reading, to say clearly, "Lord, what do you want me to learn today out of your scriptures." Jesus told us that this is one of the main reasons the Ruach was sent to us. It has made a large difference.
Great stuff, Diane! It’s easier to skip to the “good” application or allegorize parables. Love the “conceal–reveal” insight! This is so often skipped over or misconstrued. Going back to Isaiah for context helps, as always.
Also, love the hairspray pic! 😆
She is definitely doing ALL the Aqua Net LOL You can tell I was a teen in the 80’s LOL
#SokushinJobutsu
Attaining #Enlightenment in one’s present form.
https://youtu.be/0YiiQj5o0Q0
I've often thought of this as a deeply humorous parable: Jesus is telling a bunch of peasant farmers - for whom every seed would have been precious, saved for sowing when it could have fed their family - about a sower who is clearly utterly mad. He thoughtlessly chucks that precious seed anywhere and everywhere, into places where there was *almost* no chance of it fully growing. Then Jesus suggests that God is like that mad farmer ... and they should be too!
We never know who will respond and our judgements of who is most likely to are deeply flawed.
I would never have thought of the preciousness of seed to farmers. Thanks for stretching my way of thinking.