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Does the Bible
Teach In further considering this question I would ask that we look together at some of the stories told by the Master himself we know as “parables.” Most of us are more familiar with many of these than we are with other parts of the scriptures and even those who do not claim to be Christians are familiar with some of them. A parable is not a fairy tale, but is rather a simple story of certain facts told in a way so that we can identify and recognize ourselves in the picture that is painted with words. Jesus used many parables in his teaching as this was a very common method of teaching by the Jewish rabbis’ in his day and the Jewish people were very familiar with this method of teaching. The facts presented in the parables convey a message to be understood and acted upon by the hearers. It is also well to remember that no parable contains all the parts of Gods’ plan for mankind. “Come now and let us reason together.”
I urge you to take your Bible right now and turn to this parable and read it carefully before continuing further. In the interest of brevity I am not printing the entire story but will be looking at points that are made by Jesus in this story. If you notice, there are a variety of hearts mentioned in this story. You will also notice that the seed in the story is Gods’ word which James says “is able to save your soul.” James 1:21 The apostle Peter tells us that it is through this word that we are “born anew.” 1 Pet.1:23 These facts being true, then it becomes plain that the way that the seed is received into the heart and what happens afterwards is of the utmost importance. It is equally true that there being no fault with the seed and no fault with the sower, then what happens becomes due to the condition of the heart either before or after the seed is being sown. (a)The Heart of the Pathway This, according to Jesus, is the person who the seed can not germinate within because he is completely subject to the power of the evil one. He has no time or no care for the things that can be accomplished by the seed. The very lifestyle he lives has no place for the things of the seed. The soil of his heart is so hardened that the seed cannot penetrate it.
(b) The Heart of the Rocky soil. This persons’ heart has no stability. He is not one who looks ahead and counts the cost of actions that are taken nor the responsibilities that come with commitments made. Acting upon feelings he eagerly receives the seed without ever giving any consideration to what happens when the high is no longer there. When it begins to come through that there is more to this than just “jumping in” he dumps it all. The book says “he immediately falls away.” My question would be, from what?
(c) The Thorny Ground Heart Oh, how many have fallen victim to the thorny ground syndrome. Please note that in this case the seed, the word of God, lodges, germinates, and produces, but then alas, due to the things of this life and the pressures of living and the busy bustle of business perhaps, the life produced by the seed takes second place and is finally “choked out.” We are so much like the person of whom we read in 1 Kings 20 who was given the charge of keeping watch over a prisoner. When giving his reason for why the prisoner had escaped he said, “As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The thorns of too busy have very sharp points! The thorns of want more, work more, and play more, begin to overtake the growth produced by the seed and we are too busy to use the weeding hoe and let what the seed is producing grow! The weeds of pray less, attend services less, worship less, and give less, finish choking out what the thorns don’t get. There is not the slightest doubt that the person who continues on this course has thrown away what he once possessed. Think about it, WHAT IS THE LESSON OF THIS PARABLE ?
If there is any one story that Jesus told that shows that we can throw away the mercy, grace and forgiveness extended to us , it is this one. The little story could be paraphrased like this. There was a person who owed an enormous debt to his Master. In fact he owed so much that there was no possibility of ever paying it. That debt was freely forgiven by the Master because of the amazing grace, mercy and compassion he extended to the servant. The opportunity arose for this forgiven person to exhibit these same traits and be like his master. The amount he was owed was so trifling when compared to the debt he had been forgiven it was nothing. The points made here are three:
If this is not the thrust of the teaching of this parable then pray tell what does it teach?
THINK ABOUT IT!
------------------------In Love --Gerald thornsandnails@avsia.com or feel free to leave a comment in our Guest Book.
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