Open to Truth

KEY VERSE: “With many such parables spake he the Word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” —Mark 4:33

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:1-9,26-34

ON THE OCCASION of this lesson, our Lord was sitting in a boat while a multitude of people had gathered on the seashore to hear him preach. The majority of those who were assembled may have appreciated his gracious words and considered him to be a great teacher sent from God, but they doubtless understood little of the deeper meaning in this parable of the sower.

Others who were listening to him, however, included the twelve apostles and other interested followers, who had crowded around him to ask the meaning of the parable. This was in response to the Master’s words, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9) They had ears not only for the interesting story, but also for the interpretation of the symbols used.

“He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand.” (vss. 11-13) The worldly wise and self-seekers did not heed our Lord’s message; therefore they remained in ignorance of the more meaningful lesson.

In this parable of the sower there is deeper significance in the very basic teaching concerning four different kinds of soil in which the sower cast his seed, and these represent the heart condition in which the seed of truth was sown. In the first illustration some of the seed fell by the wayside where birds quickly ate it up. This represents those who never make the truth their own, and Satan steals it away from them, or because of the hard-packed clay soil where people walk, the seed never penetrates the soil to germinate. Such are the hearts of most of mankind.

Other seed fell on stony ground where there was little soil to nourish it and to take root. The shallowness of nature in this kind of Christian becomes manifest when the sun of opposition and discouragement begins to wither the seed. The stonyhearted ones lack character to develop acceptable fruitage.

In another instance, thorns choked some of the seed that had been sown. Although the soil was deep with rich nutrients and could have brought forth good fruitage, these Christians had other concerns and earthly ambitions that conflicted with the interests of the truth. They may have had the potential for developing strong, deep characters but because of the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, no fruit is produced.

Lastly, there was good ground on which the seed fell. By God’s abundant care on their behalf the experiences of life have developed in them the proper appreciation of the Gospel call, as well as the necessary fruitage of his grace. These will be of the class that partake of the kingdom blessings as joint-heirs with our Lord.

May we be of those who receive the seed into good and honest hearts, bringing forth much fruit to the honor of God. Let it choke out the thorns of earthly interests, and separate us from the world’s spirit, thus sanctifying us to the love of God who both called us out of darkness.

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