THE PARABLE OF THE SEED
THE PARABLE OF THE SEED
Today I pondered this verse in Mark 4:
Mark 4:25 For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.
At first glance, that verse seems quite unfair! So I looked it up and could see that the whole chapter of Mark 4 is about misc parables of the seed. The bottom line is that if you have just one tiny seed, and you cultivate and nurture that seed… in time you will end up with a huge harvest of many seeds, along with the enjoyment of the harvest that each seed produces. If you don’t have one seed, your harvest will eventually be gone without the ability to grow more.
What is the seed He is speaking of? He is talking about His Word and the ability to hear His Word. Our measurement for hearing His Word is like a measuring cup. What we allow ourselves to hear, that is our volume. He is clearly saying the amount we hear the Lord depends upon us.
Mark 4:23-26 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what you hear: with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has. 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
MEASURE
Strong’s Greek Dictionary
3354. μετρέω metreo (metréō)
Search for G3354 in KJVSL; in KJV; load in ESI.
μετρέω metréō, met-reh’-o
from G3358; to measure (i.e. ascertain in size by a fixed standard); by implication, to admeasure (i.e. allot by rule):—figuratively, to estimate:—measure, mete.
verb
BIBLE STUDY:
So read the whole chapter and ponder and consider answering these questions:
- What 4 things keeps the seed from growing up to produce a harvest and even more seed?
- How does this apply to specific areas of your own life?
- What limitations are in your mindset and faith that keep your measure of hearing God at the current level?
- Do you want that level to change? What can you do about those limitations?
- How do you nurture the seeds you have?
Mark 4:3-41 3 Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And others fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are outside, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13 And he said unto them, Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise who are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they who are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And these are they who are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. 21
And he said unto them, Is a lamp brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come into the open.
23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what you hear: with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. 28 For the earth brings forth fruit of itself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, With what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 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: 32 But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all plants, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
