Luke 8:11-15 - The Parable of the Sower; How Is Your Heart?
Luke 8:11-15 (NIV) "This is the meaning of
the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and
then the devil comes and takes away the word from
their hearts, so that they may not believe and be
saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who
receive the word with joy when they hear it, but
they have no root. They believe for a while, but
in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The
seed that fell among thorns stands for those who
hear, but as they go on their way they are choked
by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and
they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil
stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
hear the word, retain it, and by persevering
produce a crop.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Fighting the Fast Fade
As you waved good-bye to your friends at
church last Sabbath, what mental darts were left
stuck in the target of your thinking?
Can you remember those pointed challenges
from the preacher who stood before you with Bible
in hand? How many hours have passed since you
sat there, opening your ears and heart to
counsel from God's always-relevant Book? A few
dozen, maybe?
Ah, it's starting to fade, isn't it?
Those incisive, potentially life-changing
principles are swimming away in a sea of forgetfulness.
What a frustration! Why can't we hang on to those
mental, spiritual handholds we need so desperately?
Jesus illustrated this struggle so
vividly:
Listen! A farmer went out to plant some
seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of
the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came
and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with
underlying rock. Other seed fell among thorns that
grew up and choked out the tender plants so they
produced no grain. Mark 4:3"5, 7
What is it in your life that chokes the
life of the seed of truth? Worry over your
children's futures? Fear of losing your employment?
Stress from over-commitment or your lifelong
pattern of perfectionism?
Let go of all of that and begin to allow
the truths of God's Word to grow roots and
flourish. That takes a commitment to cultivating your
relationship with Him through prayer and meditation and a
daily reflection on Scripture. Also, join up with
someone you trust who can lovingly point out the
weeds in your life and help you maintain a fertile
heart for the things of God.
Watch how God enriches your life when you
pay attention to the soil of your heart. You'll
experience a bumper crop of joyfulness and peace. I
assure you. [Chuck Swindoll www.insight.org.]
COMMENTARY
Dangers in Putting Gods Word Aside
The word of God is the seed When the
word of God is set aside, its power to restrain
the evil passions of the natural heart is
rejected. Men sow to the flesh, and of the flesh they
reap corruption.
And here, too, is the great cause of
mental weakness and inefficiency. In turning from
God's word to feed on the writings of uninspired
men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It
is not brought in contact with deep, broad
principles of eternal truth. The understanding adapts
itself to the comprehension of the things with
which it is familiar, and in this devotion to
finite things it is weakened, its power is
contracted, and after a time it becomes unable to
expand.
All this is false education. The work of
every teacher should be to fasten the mind of the
youth upon the grand truths of the word of
Inspiration. This is the education essential for this
life and for the life to come.
And let it not be thought that this will
prevent the study of the sciences, or cause a lower
standard in education. The knowledge of God is as
high as heaven and as broad as the universe.
There is nothing so ennobling and invigorating as
a study of the great themes which concern our
eternal life. Let the youth seek to grasp these
God-given truths, and their minds will expand and grow
strong in the effort. It will bring every student
who is a doer of the word into a broader field
of thought, and secure for him a wealth of
knowledge that is imperishable.
The education to be secured by searching
the Scriptures is an experimental knowledge of
the plan of salvation. Such an education will
restore the image of God in the soul. It will
strengthen and fortify the mind against temptation, and
fit the learner to become a co-worker with
Christ in His mission of mercy to the world. It
will make him a member of the heavenly family;
and prepare him to share the inheritance of the
saints in light. [COL 38-43]
PARALLEL PASSAGES
Matthew 13:19-23; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Luke 8:11-15 - The Parable of the Sower -
How Is Your Heart?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200211-1037.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor
(recent): https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (recent):
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
