Wouldn't it make sense to follow Jesus' wisdom rather than our own ideas? I've read commentators who teach that this parable refers to the nation of Israel. But that doesn’t seem likely as it doesn't fit the context. Jesus is talking to his followers and reminding them that they need to repent or perish. He mentions nothing regarding the nation of Israel as a whole. Instead, His parable fits perfectly with several other parables that He used to teach about being fruitful. It also fits with what the rest of the New Testament teaches about fruitfulness.
In Luke 8 we have Jesus teaching the Parable of the Sower. In this parable we discover that Jesus talks about several different kinds of soils. Again, most commentators seem to be convinced that the parable is about the "soil" of people's hearts and they focus on that. But it seems apparent that Jesus is more concerned with the people themselves, rather than they soil they represent. It’s not a parable about the condition of the soil so much as it is a parable about how so many people seem to start following Him but then fall away -- to use Jesus’ words -- due to the concerns of this life.
We tend to look at the Parable of the Sower and decide that the first three are "false" converts and only the last one is a "true" convert. And we give it no further thought. But I believe there's more in this parable that we need to look at.
We need to see this as Jesus intended and not necessarily as we want to see it through our denominational eyes. We can do that by comparing Jesus’ message in Luke 8:4-15 -- and parallel passages in the other Gospel accounts -- with Jesus words in Luke 13:1-9.
Notice that in Luke 13:8-9, the owner of the vineyard is looking for fruit. He’ll settle for nothing less. The vinedresser understands this. After all, the only reason the tree is around is so it can provide fruit for the owner. But notice what the vinedresser doesn’t do: He doesn’t start telling the tree that it doesn’t matter; he doesn’t tell it “once in the garden, always in the garden.” Why? Because it’s not true.
It’s not just about being in the garden. It’s all about the production of fruit. So instead, the vindedresser tells us what he’s going to do. He’s going to dig around it to loosen the hardened soil to make it easier for the roots to get the nutrients it needs. He’s then going to fertilize it to give it an even better opportunity to grow. He’s also interceding with the owner to give the tree another year to see if the tree will produce. But even with that, it’s still ultimately about the fruit. If the fruit begins to grow, very good. If not, the tree will be cut down. And what will it be good for then? To be burned. That’s it.
Jesus doesn’t say that here, but He doesn’t have to because it’s implied. What else do you do with a tree that’s been cut down? Besides, He makes it even clearer in John 15:1-6. There He clearly reveals that the fire is the end result for branches that bear no fruit.
Now let’s turn back to the Parable of the Sower that Jesus tells in Luke 8. Here we see the sower sowing seed everywhere. We know that the seed that’s being sowed is the Word of God, so this means we should be sowing everywhere we go as well. Let’s stop pre-determining who we think will respond and just go ahead and presume that the LORD already knows whom He wants to hear the Word: everyone (1 Timothy 2:4).
The seed that falls by the wayside represents those who listen but don’t respond because the devil is at work making sure they don’t hear, “lest they should believe and be saved.” There’s not much we can do for these types other than to pray that God will open their ears and allow them to hear in spite of the enemy’s attempts to keep them from hearing.
The seed that falls on the rock actually receives the message with joy and believes. In Luke 8:12 Jesus states “lest they should believe and be saved.” It sounds as if this type of hearer is indeed saved as they receive the word with joy, “which for a while believe.” But due to the lack of depth of soil where’s it’s been received and lack of roots, when temptation arises this type “falls away.” In another account of this same parable, Jesus states his problem is that he “dureth for a while” (Matthew 13:21) while we know that he that endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22). We’re often told by “once saved always saved” preachers that it’s impossible to “fall away.” But here, that’s what Jesus says happens.
Remember that when this type of hearer first receives the Word of God with joy and believes, they’re going to look and sound exactly like the “good soil” hearer. In fact, if we think this through a little bit, this type of hearer will be indistinguishable from the good soil hearer at first. We’ll have no reason to believe that this type of hearer is anything other than a “good soil” hearer. That’s OUR problem and one we need to deal with.
Rather than reassuring this type of hearer with man-made words that attempt to reassure him in his struggles, we should be digging around their roots and fertilizing them with the Word of God. Instead of saying, “It’s ok, you’ve prayed the sinner’s prayer and all of your sins are forgiven so what should you fear” we should be telling them that they need to draw nigh to God and He’ll draw nigh to us. We need to tell them the same thing that Peter told us in 2 Peter 1:5-12. We also need to follow the example of the Luke 13 vinedresser and intercede with the Owner for grace and mercy while we look for fruit to appear.
This is one of those times where preachers might actually do this type of hearer some good by following the example in Luke 13:8-9. Instead of constantly reassuring people that they can continue on as they are, they should be preaching about the need for holiness and perfection; the need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. THAT’s the biblical message, the one that needs to be preached over and over again. Perhaps by doing so, some of the less-than-good-soil hearers will be worked and fertilized enough to become good soil hearers.
This must be possible or why would God tell us to break up the fallow ground of our hearts in Hosea 10:12? The problem is, that isn’t being preached at all? Why not? Probably because it’s unpopular and preachers are concerned about “scaring people away” as I’ve been told in the past. But what’s wrong with “scaring” unsaved people from the grips of hell? Jude said to save some with fear. So why can’t we be obedient to the Word? And, if these less-than-good-soil-hearers really are saved before falling away as Jesus states, then shouldn’t we be warning them against falling away?
Next, we come to the seed that falls amidst the weeds and thorns. Jesus tells us that these things represent the things of this world. Let’s be honest, the vast majority of Christians in the US probably fall into this category and don’t even realize it. We talk a good game, but more often than not the western church more closely resembles the Laodicean church of Revelation 3:14 than it does the overcoming, soul-winning Philadelphian church of Revelation 3:7.
If we would examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) honestly, maybe we’d see that we really do struggle with this. When’s the last time you memorized a Bible verse? Before you answer, let me ask you this: Do you regularly set aside time for TV, internet, sports, news, etc. but then tell yourself you’re too busy, too old, too whatever to read the Bible, spend time in prayer or memorize Scripture? If so, then you’re a thorny ground hearer yourself and probably don’t even realize it. You’re dwelling in the weeds and need to do something about it.
Would you want a preacher to tell you everything is OK even though you now know that it isn’t? Or would you want your preacher to tell you the Truth, even if it hurts. If you want the Truth and aren’t getting it, tell your pastor your concerns. If he responds, great. If not, you have decisions to make about where you’re going to go to be fed not just milk, but meat (Hebrews 5:12-14).
The bottom line in all of this is we need to stop settling for denominational explanations for passages and dig in to get the Truth. Stop letting others search the Word and then tell you what it means, and pitch in and see if the Lord won’t show you Himself.
If you do determine that you really may not be a “good soil” hearer, don’t despair. Instead, thank God that He’s showing you this. Then repent of your sins and ask Him to help you break up the fallow ground of your heart (Hosea 10:12). Get into the Word -- the real Fertilizer -- and study it like you’ve never seen it before. Ask the Lord to let it come alive in your heart then start being obedient to what He teaches you.
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” 2 Peter 1:10