The Parable of the Sower (Part Two)

In this familiar story found in Mark 4, simple components teach important lessons. In our first look at this lesson, the wayside soil pictured the “hardened heart.” Today we move on to the shallow heart represented by the seed thrown on stony ground and the divided heart represented by the thorny ground.

The Stony Ground and the Shallow Heart.

“Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away” (Mark 4:5).

The gardeners were happy when the plant shot up so quickly, but sad when it was gone in a day or two. But it was inevitable. Because of the rocky soil, the plants had no roots. Who are these stony-ground listeners?

Acts 8:6-8 reveals the shallow heart and the message that falls on stony ground. In this story, Philip traveled to the city of Samaria on a gospel mission and received an encouraging response to his message. Simon Magus, who was into sorcery and had a big following in Samaria (8:9-10), was listed among the scores of converts (v.13). He was fascinated with the miracles and signs that accompanied the ministry of Philip.

As the story unfolds, Peter and John visited Samaria. When the two learned that the Samaritan converts had experienced water baptism but had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit, they laid hands on the converts and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon Magus observed all of this. And now we discover why the word simony enters our religious vocabulary. Simon offered money to buy the power to bestow the Holy Spirit. At this request, discerning Peter erupted with some of the harshest words in the New Testament (8:20-23). To summarize, no true convert would offer to buy a spiritual gift! Simon Magus had a shallow heart and the seed had fallen on stony ground. He responded quickly to the message, but when the “sun came out” in the person of Peter, his shallow heart was exposed.
The Thorny Ground and the Divided Heart. No one ever has to plant weeds. They just come! Pulling weeds is the constant job of the conscientious gardener. But Mark 4 reminds us that even pulling weeds can teach us a spiritual lesson.

“And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. . . . Now these are the ones sown among the thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:7,18-19).

Jesus gives us a “heads up” when it comes to spiritual weeds. He names some: “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:18-19). The plant is at least out of the ground this time. But its fate is to be strangled. An illustration of a thorny-ground listener with a divided heart can be found in the story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27).

I like some things about this young man. I like his haste. He came running (10:17). He was a high achiever, a man in a hurry. I also like his humility—he knelt (v.17). He showed respect for Jesus. And yet, despite the things I like about him, he made some great mistakes:

• He was inadequate about the person of Christ. He called Him “Good Teacher.” We read the response of Jesus: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (v.18). Every seeker must be absolutely sure about the person of Christ, that He is the Son of God.
• He was incorrect about the way of salvation. Immediately, Jesus began listing the Ten Commandments. Why? Not because law keeping is the way to heaven. No, the law is a “tutor to bring us to Christ” (Gal. 3:24). The man’s response was positive. “All these things I have kept from my youth” (Mark 10:20). Note what happens next: “Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (v.21). What does that brief phrase say to you? It reminds me to love and pursue not only the prodigal sons of my world but also the elder brothers. Jesus didn’t give up on him. He asked him to sell all he had and give his money to the poor. Why? Because charitable giving is the way to earn heaven? No! Because in ticking off the commandments, Jesus skipped #10: “You shall not covet.” Sadly, the young man was covetous and greedy. He wasn’t ready for salvation because he didn’t know he was lost! He went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. What was his third mistake?
• He was inaccurate about the value of things. Weeds were choking his interest in Jesus and in heaven. The deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things strangled his interest in spiritual matters. His heart was divided. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon [money]” (Matt. 6:24). He made the wrong choice by making a god of his money.

Is it impossible for a rich man to be saved? This is the serious question of concerned disciples. The response of Jesus is that it is hard but not impossible (Mark 10:23-27). Hard, because rich men and women are used to getting anything they want with their money. Hard, because wealthy people have trouble seeing a need for salvation. But it’s not impossible. That’s why the stories of Joseph of Arimathea, Lydia, and others are in the Bible. Tomorrow, we conclude by seeing a ready heart…