Central Truth

In this passage, Jesus interprets His parables for His disciples.  The key verse is from a parable where seed represents the Word and soil represents mankind.  The Word cannot grow in shallow and worldly people.  But those who are good ground see multiplication of the things of God.

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Reflections

In the first parable of this chapter, Jesus describes four types of people: those who are not prepared to receive the Word (the footpath where the seeds that land are eaten by birds), those who receive the Word but fall quickly away (the shallow soil), those who receive the Word but see its development choked by the cares of the world (the soil with thorns), and those who receive the Word and see it develop and bear fruit (the good ground).  For the believer, this passage is not just a description—it is a warning. 

We who are true believers have already received the Word and do not fall into the first category, but we must guard against being shallow (second category) or being choked by the cares of the world (third category).  It seems to me that the third category is most dangerous.  How often is it that we find ourselves sucked into the “rat race” of contemporary culture only to neglect our spiritual development?  How many of us fall into the trap of saying to ourselves, “I’ll spend time in prayer after I . . . ,” or “I’ll get my Bible out and study it some just after I finish . . . "? More often than not we’ll find that the day passes and our chance to spend time with the Lord passes with it.  The time to nurture the growth of the Kingdom within us is now, not later. 

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus instructs us to seek the Kingdom of God first.  That is precisely what we find Mary doing when she sits at the feet of Jesus to listen to his teachings in Luke 10:38-42.  When her sister Martha asks Jesus to instruct Mary to help her serve their guests, He says to her, “My dear Martha . . . There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Mary discovered the importance of being “good ground for the Lord.”  Let’s all do the same and see the resulting spiritual harvest!

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Discussion Questions

1. How do you see yourself in relation with this parable?  Do you have a shallow understanding of the Word, or are the cares of the world a problem?

2. What practical steps might you take to be better ground for God's Word?

3. Can you think of anyone in Scripture who struggled with the cares of the world?  How did the struggle turn out?

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