Sunday, September 3, 2017

Parable of the Soils

This last spring, Crosswalk ministries published an article whose title was “3 Kinds of Students That Leave Christianity After High School”. For some, this isn’t just an academic exercise. It was only last week that a teenage daughter of someone very close to me announced to her parents that she wasn’t interested in the whole church thing anymore. But I’m afraid that the article was a little late to the game: Jesus already addressed this topic -- and his list of “3 kinds of people that walk away from the gospel” is, well, a little more authoritative.

This morning we continue in our series of sermons on Jesus’ parables. Now while all of Jesus’ parables are important, if we had to choose the one that is the most important, it might turn out to be the one that we will consider this morning. Jesus could easily have given this parable the title: “3 kinds of people that walk away from the gospel.” There are four clues for us that this parable is really important.

First of all, most of Jesus’ parables only show up once in the four gospel accounts. For example, last week, M. took us through the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. But that parable only appears in the gospel according to Luke. Two weeks previous to that, A. took us through the parable of the unmerciful servant. But that parable only appears in the gospel according to Matthew. You get the idea.

There are only three parables that show up in three of the four gospel accounts. Now when that happens with any teaching, it is like the Spirit of God is underlining it for us. If something shows up in one of the gospels, that’s enough to make it significant, of course; but if it shows up in more than one of them, then it deserves special attention. This is the first indication that this morning’s parable is an important teaching of Jesus: it appears in the gospel according to Matthew, and in the gospel according to Mark and also in the gospel according to Luke.

In fact, in every one of those accounts, the parable we will consider this morning is the first of all Jesus’ parables (depending on definition of a parable). And this is the second indication that this parable is an important teaching of Jesus. This parable is like a lead-off batter: introducing the parables of Jesus.


So let’s read (from Mark -- the parable is essentially the same in Matthew or Luke):

Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear fruit. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. And he said, Whoever is able to hear – let him hear!

Now before we get to the meat of it, notice how much like what we’ve just read is like a sandwich: meat between two slices of bread. Before he begins, Jesus tells everyone in earshot to “Listen!” Now, to us, this way to start teaching is perhaps interesting, or perhaps quirky. But to Jesus’ hearers, this would be big. Even today, devout Jewish people often recited an important passage of the Old Testament twice a day. This is the text that Jesus himself said was the greatest of all the commandments. I’m sure you remember it: “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength.” But the common Jewish recitation actually starts with the previous verse, and, in fact, it gets its name from the first word in that previous verse, the word Shema. In English: “Listen, O Israel: the Lord is our God; the Lord is One!” Listen! And this word Shema didn’t just mean “listen” it also means “pay attention” and even “obey!” In fact, when your English Bible has the word “obey” in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word being translated is usually Shema. So when Jesus starts his teaching with this word, every ear would perk up for sure.

But then, as reinforcement at the end, Jesus says, “whoever has ears, let him hear!” (more or less: “pay attention!”) These two bookends, these two slices of bread for the meat sandwich, these are a third indication that this parable is an important teaching of Jesus.

So let’s quickly summarize this parable. Here, Jesus is telling the story about a farmer who was sowing seed. He wanted his seed to take root, and to grow up, and to provide food for his family and also to provide seed for the next season. It is pretty simple, really: Jesus seems to be saying that not all of the seed that a farmer throws around actually takes root. But we all know that. And not all the seed that takes root grows past a sprout. But we know that, too. And not all the sprouts become mature and give fruit. No news there. But instead of talking about the sower or the seed or the plants, Jesus spends this parable talking about the soils! So what is Jesus really trying to say?

Well, we aren’t the only ones asking such a question. The disciples listening to Jesus were smart enough to know that Jesus wasn’t just describing the experience of most of the local farmers -- he had a deeper meaning in mind. So they ask him what this parable is all about. And Jesus himself provides an explanation of this parable. Now this is a fourth indication that this is an important teaching of Jesus -- it is one of the very few parables that Jesus explained, and is certainly the longest explanation that Jesus ever gave for one of his parables. And this is how his explanation begins (Luke 8:11-15):

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts

The seed, says Jesus, is the word of God. The soil, says Jesus, is our hearts.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Jesus’ focus is on the soil, and now we know why: the soil is our hearts.

the good soil…[we read] are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit.

But before we get back to our hearts, how about that fruit? We can imagine how important fruit was in the Middle East at the time. We don’t have to go far to be reminded, either. One of the last times I paid a visit to our Syrian friends down the highway, dear A. brought out an item that she bought from Provigo.
“What is this?” she asked.
“A mango!” I replied.
“Do you like it?” she asked, with some evident skepticism.
“Sure,” I replied.
“But it doesn’t taste like anything.” she said, with some dissatisfaction. And she proceeded to cut it up, serve it to me and watch me eat it, as if there was something terribly wrong with it. And then I learned what fruit is supposed to taste like: that is, what fruit is like in Syria. The pomegranates; the apricots; the grapes; the figs; the citrus: each one more delicious, and succulent, and marvelous than the next. If there wasn’t a war going on there, we should all move to Syria… and not just for the weather: for the fruit! The fruit is what makes life worth living! And I believe her: I’m sure that the fruit in Syria is as wonderful as she claims! And I expect that the fruit in Jesus’ day was just as wonderful, but back then, agriculture was also a primary economy-driver. So it is no surprise that Jesus used fruit as an illustration again and again and again. As Jesus says to his disciples (John 15:16):

You did not choose me, but I chose you ... so that you might go and bear fruit

What Jesus is telling us is that the whole purpose of Christianity is that we go and bear fruit. The reason why you are in church this morning (whether you know it or not -- or whether you even like it or not) is that God wants you to go and bear fruit. And this fruit that Jesus is talking about isn’t just some “spiritual” thing. This is the stuff that makes life worth living. As we were reminded a few weeks ago, the Bible says that (at least some of) the fruit of the Spirit is love, and joy, and peace. I’m sure we can agree that we could all use more of those. Some of this kind of fruit even shows up in Jesus’ explanation: patience and goodness in verse 15, joy in verse 12. And in verse 13, we’re told that even salvation could be the result of receiving this seed.

But an easy lesson to miss from this parable is simply that there is no fruit without seed. The seed might be tiny. It might even go unnoticed. But if there were no seed, there would be no fruit. The soil doesn’t deserve all the credit for the fruit, after all.

In my office, we used to call this the “mailman principle”. Perhaps you call it something else. The mailman principle is the flip-side of the tendency to shoot the messenger. Shooting the messenger happens when the one bringing bad news gets blamed for it. Not cool, even though it happens far too often. Similarly, the mailman principle simply says that when the news is good, the one delivering the news gets far more credit than he deserves.

But we do this all the time. When something good happens to us, we forget that God’s investment in our lives is behind it. When we do something good, we want to take all the credit for it, naturally. But the Biblical principle is two-fold. On the one hand, we read that, “there is no one righteous, no not one,” and that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” And on the other hand, we also read (1 Cor 4:7): “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

All the good things in life come from God. And God participates in every good thing that we ever do. Now some people find this offensive. Atheists like to say -- it is kind of a motto for some of them -- that they can be “good without God.” Well, I have news for the atheists. Sure, they can be good without acknowledging God. But that is a far, far different thing from being good without God. Wherever there is good, God is always involved. I expect that God himself would laugh at the idea that just because someone stops believing in God then God must stop His involvement in that person’s life. As Jesus himself says, “your Father in heaven... causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” God doesn’t cut himself off from people, not even if they think that they are cutting themselves off from him!

Now the first lesson was that all good things come from God. But the seed is the word of God. Does that mean that all good thing ultimately derive from the word of God? It certainly does. Now if you aren’t so sure about that, please remember that the Bible doesn’t just say “the Word was with God.” It also says that “the Word was God.” You see, the Word of God is not just a message -- He is also a person. And all things were made by this Word. And all good things come through him. I like how John Ortberg puts it:

Jesus had no place to lay his head, yet he became the primary inspiration for architectural progress. We don’t know what Jesus looked like, yet he became the most recognizable figure in the world. He had “no beauty that we should desire him”, yet he became the subject of more paintings and sculpture than anyone else in history. He never wrote a book, but he became the most written-about person ever and the greatest inspiration for global linguistic development. He is associated with no known music, but is the subject of more songs and music than any other human being. He died alone, yet people die for him still.

You see, the consequences of the Word of God in the world, its fruit is not just love, and joy, and peace, but all the things that make life worth living ultimately derive from the word of God. Those who held fast to the word of God were even responsible for the entire scientific enterprise: Newton, and Faraday, and Pascal, and Maxwell, and Kepler… and the list goes on.

But now I’d like to change gears and ask you to use your imagination. I’d like you imagine that you are really young (perhaps grade eight or nine). And I’d like you to imagine that there is someone in the world who could be your best friend for life. This is someone who would stick by you in the hard times, and celebrate with you in the good times. This is someone you could wake up in the middle of the night to talk to. This is someone you will eventually marry and be your perfect partner. I’m not saying that your happiness depends on this development, but -- and I speak from experience -- I am saying you will never know what happiness could really be without it. But now please also suppose that as this really young person that you are imagining yourself to be, you have never actually connected with this special person yet!

So let’s ask the very practical question: what does it take for this hypothetical young you and this other person who is just perfect for you to get together? Well, obviously, first you need to meet. You need to meet as human beings. Have you ever wondered if you’ve ever bounced off someone who could have been a really good friends? That would be pretty sad. Tragic, really. Avoiding that tragedy is the first step: you need to meet.

But the second thing that you need to become friends with this special person, is to somehow get past all the teasing that, as a young person, you would certainly get from all of your siblings and friends. You know – that’s what happens. Now they don’t do that because they don’t like you. They aren’t trying to keep you from future happiness – they just don’t know any better.

The summer before after kindergarten, my daughter G. had a best friend. They spent all day every day running around and playing in the neighborhood. But when school started, all the boys in the class started to tease J. about “liking a g-i-r-l”. And in a short time, in order to demonstrate the falsity of these outrageous accusations, J. began treating G. very cruelly. Naturally, G. was heartbroken. But that’s the kind of thing I’m talking about. J. couldn’t take the heat. So he would never know how wonderful a person that G. was.

So you have to meet, but you also have to be willing to take the heat. And the third thing that you need to become friends with this special person – and this is the really hard one – you’ll need to spend less time with everything else. If you like to watch TV, well, you’ll need to watch less. And if you like to go shopping, you might need to shop less. You get the idea.

Nobody goes through life leaving big chunks of their time doing nothing in anticipation for that special person to come along and fill it in. Instead, our lives are typically full at all times, and adjustments will be necessary -- deciding to invest in this new person at the expense of other things and even other people -- in order to develop a relationship. And if we aren’t willing to make those adjustments, then we might as well give up the thought of ever having a healthy friendship let alone a healthy marriage.

So let’s summarize. What is necessary to make the deepest friendships? Three things:
  1. We need to MEET.
  2. We need to be able to take the HEAT.
  3. We need to allow this new friendship to comPETE.
And then, and only then, will you be able to discover that amazing human experience of a deep and healthy relationship.

But these three things are exactly the things that Jesus is talking about with the soils. With the pathway, the seed never really sinks into the soil. But that’s like never really meeting someone. With the rocky ground, the seed starts to sprout, but it gets scorched by the sun. That’s like giving up on the relationship when the going gets rough. With the thorny ground, the “competition” wins. The plant get choked out before it can bear any fruit. That’s like not taking the time to invest in the right person, because toys and superficial things are easier to handle.

What a tragedy it would be to meet a wonderful friend, but never get to know them; What a tragedy it would be to get to know this wonderful friend but then to abandon them when things get difficult; and it what a tragedy it would be to get to know his wonderful friend, but not give them the time or energy to really build a relationship… But this wonderful friend isn’t a hypothetical. This is the Word of God. This is someone who loves you enough to be willing to die for you. This is Jesus. As he says,

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a [seed] falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

This is the message of the parable of the Sower: the seed is the Word of God. He has come and sacrificed himself so that you can bear fruit, fruit that will last.

Sure, it is nice to meet someone special and even marry them. But as nice as that is, this is just a shadow of the reality to come -- another wedding, between this Word, the Lamb of God, who will come again in his glory, and his spotless bride. As the angel told John in Revelation: ‘“Write this!” he said, “Blessed are those who are called by name to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”’ But not everyone will be able to receive this blessing. As Jesus says (Matt 7:19),

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

These days, in some circles, it is trendy to reject the word of God. And those who reject God’s word like to pose as if their decision represents clear thinking and honest reflection. But there are only three reasons why people don’t accept the word of God, and Jesus calls them all out for us in this parable.
  • Number one: some people just don’t get it. Their hearts are hard, and they aren’t able to recognize the truth.
  • Number two: some people can’t stand the heat. They are easily bullied out of the truth – sometimes it is easier to go along with the crowd that to hang on to what you know to be true.
  • Number three: some people are easily distracted. There are other voices which are more appealing and easier to listen to.
That’s it; that’s all. These are the reasons -- and the only reasons -- that the word of God is rejected. In this parable, Jesus gives us “3 kinds of people that walk away from the gospel.”

Four types of soil; four responses to the word of God. And only the good soil bears fruit. But here’s the thing: as God looks at his church, he sees every type of soil in every one of his children. There are aspects of His word we just don’t get. There are aspects of His word that we are shy about. And there are aspects of His word that we don’t give nearly as much attention to as they deserve. But thank God there are also aspects of His word that we take to heart.

So how do we become less like those other soils and more like the good soil? Well, as any gardener knows, the major difference between a dirt path and the fertile soil (right beside it) is some muscle: the path could be turned into that fertile soil with some serious cultivation. Same with the rocky ground. Sure, cultivation can seem like work, but remove the big stones and bury the little ones, and the rocky ground could yield a crop, too. Same with the soil overgrown with weeds. Weeding is work, sure, especially when some of those weeds have deep roots that go deep down into your soul, but weeds don’t ever mean that the soil couldn’t be recovered. But here’s an interesting thing: the soil that is the most fertile is often the most messy, isn’t it?

But soil doesn’t cultivate itself. In the same way that the seed from God is necessary in our lives if we are to bear fruit, God’s cultivating activity is also necessary if we are to be able to permit the seed to sprout. It might be uncomfortable as God overturns the habits of our hearts. But it will certainly be worth it. But we need to be aware: God won’t be doing any heart-cultivation without our invitation, and certainly not without our permission. This morning, let’s ask God to prepare our hearts for his word, to help us with the removal of the stones and the distractions. And let us meet the King, allowing God to break down the spiritual barriers in our lives that keep us from understanding; let us resolve to take the heat, being prepared in advance to withstand mistreatment for his sake; and let us always allow the Kingdom to compete for our attention, for our loyalty, and for our energy. Amen.