Mark 4: Parable of the Sower

Jesus gives his Apostles the Parable of the Sower:

“…there went out a sower to sow: …as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up… some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth [dirt]… when the sun was up it was scorched… because it had no root… some fell among thorns…and choked it, and it yielded no fruit…other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Mark 4:3-8)

After Jesus was done explaining the Parable, the Apostles asked Jesus why He speaks in Parables. Jesus explains to them; “…Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of God: but unto them that are without [the keys of the priesthood, or Gospel knowledge], all these things are done in Parables. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear and not understand…” (Mark 4:11-12) Essentially those who are not in God’s presence or have priesthood keys or knowledge would need Parables to help them understand the things of God.

Jesus goes on to clarify what the Parable of the Sower meant:

For those who fall by the wayside and have little ground to root in, these are the same people that hear the word; “…but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” (Mark 4:15) These are the people who hear the Gospel and accept it with gladness and “…so endure for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mark 4:17) Often times people will accept the truth, but when things get difficult or the trials that God has given to them are too much, they give up and blame all their bad on the church or on the Gospel of Jesus Christ without realizing that it is actually their own fault or their own unwillingness to accept the trials that God has so graciously and out of love put into our lives.

Those who fall into good soil, accept the Gospel and even live it for a while in their lives. But without care for what they have surrounding them, they slowly let the garden of thorns and snares grow and surround them. Eventually the thorns and snares of the world take hold of their foundation and being, slowly choking them; “…the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)

Then there are those who fall into good soil, accept the Gospel and live it in their lives and do not let their garden be surrounded by thorns and snares. They stay clean and bring forth much fruit.

So what do we compare to the Kingdom of God? “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it growth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out many branches…” (Mark 4:31-32)

After Jesus was done explaining His Parable of the Sower, they all depart and get on ship. But there arose a great storm…

“And he [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awaken him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the sear, Peace, be still, And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How it is that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:38-40)

Again the Apostles failed to understand the great power and authority of Jesus and even ask amongst themselves; “…What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)