Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15
Two more Gospel accounts of the Parable of the Sower… I was noticing today the three seed scatterings that had negative outcomes. In the first case, by the wayside, nothing happened – no comment. In the second and third cases, however, seeds sprouted but did not bear fruit. These last two cases are interesting, in effect polar opposites, the rocky soil and the thorny ground. With the rocky soil, tribulation and persecution befall the person receiving the Word and he/she falls away. But the third case, the fertile, thorny ground is just the opposite – this person is extraordinarily blessed with money, wealth, power, whatever! And these “good things” result in the same outcome, failure to receive and act upon the Word. So life’s difficulties (tribulation and persecution) result in the same outcome as wealth and power. The better option – being good soil: But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. (Mark 4:20)
See also: April 12 / Mark 4:1-12; April 13 / Mark 4:13-20; April 14 / Luke 8:4-15
Love your Farmer Fred parable (from April 12, 2019), Fred. I have always been struck by the thorns choking out the Word. Certainly speaks a word of caution to our lifestyle here in the US. Our need for simplicity to counteract a material and divisive culture. Your comparison of hard ground (persecution) and thorny ground (wealth of “cares”) as opposite ends of a continuum is right on.
Fred, I also really like your comparison between the two entirely different types of “ground” producing the same ultimate outcome. What a great insight into these verses. I never paid attention to that before.