I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.
—Matthew 13:35
The Prodigal Son. The Good Samaritan. The Pearl of Great Price. You’ve heard the stories, but do you know them in their original context? In this 3-week study of the Parables of Jesus, we will read through many of the well-known—and not so well-known—stories Jesus used to teach hearers, both then and now, about how to live as His followers. Each day we will read parables in their immediate context, focusing on a different category of parables each week. In lieu of reading a devotional response, we will work through a series of questions to understand the meaning of the text and take to heart the “secrets of the kingdom.”
Editor’s Note: In this Parables study, Jesus Himself is telling us stories—stories He wants us to reflect on and process. Rather than asking our writers to write their own stories about Jesus’ stories, we thought it would serve you and the text better to provide questions to help you dig into the meaning of each day’s parable. If you find a parable or passage particularly confusing, stop and pray. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in His Word, and thank Him that we can know Him without knowing all the answers to our questions.
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Week 1: Parables about God’s Kingdom
Parables are stories with a point. They are designed to make us think about what is being said, why, where, to whom, and in what context. To get to the heart of Jesus’ parables, we need to pull them apart and take a careful look at the details He gives us. One detail that runs through this week’s selection of parables is that Jesus says they all describe the kingdom of God in some way. As you read through these passages, use the following questions to unpack the stories Jesus tells.
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Day 1 Reading: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:33-34
Questions:
1. Today’s reading gives us not only a parable, but Jesus’ own words about why He used them. How would you summarize why Jesus spoke in parables? How does that help prepare you to read through them?
2. What situation or problem is addressed in today’s particular parable, and what is the outcome of the story?
3. What is the central point of this parable?
4. What is your response to this parable?
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194 thoughts on "Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables?"
I resonate with all of the different soils at different times. Right now I am praying for rich, nutrient soil of my heart in the areas where it feels rocky and hard to root down. Lord, soften my heart and let the roots take hold.
Im checking the soil of my heart and changes in some habits need to be made to improve the quality of the soil.
I resonate the most with the seed on rocky ground. I hear the goodness of the Lord, but the minute things go south, I am quick to anger and cutting myself away from God.
We have to turn our hearts from evil and start trying to be fruitful through our everyday lives.
I appreciate that each of the seeds is like layers to an onion. Some people are only going to get through the skin. Others are going to get all the way to the heart of the onion and others still are somewhere stuck in different layers. I pray for my heart to be open to the Lords teachings and through continued time in his word I can build rich soil and bear good fruit.
Thorny soil, I need to block out all the distractions and totally rely on God.
where you sow your seeds is important to the amount of fruit you want to grow.
It’s crazy how at different seasons of life you get a new way of understanding His parables that you maybe didn’t understand the first time you read it
Check the soil of your heart daily
Parables are an interesting way Jesus communicates with us. You uncover something new each time you ready it!
This parable reminds me to do check ins with God about where my heart is and focus is at various times in my life, through lows and highs and make sure that I am storing treasures in Heaven and truly desiring that!! I love this passage because I am a visual learner and it is so sweet that the Lord conveys messages to us through real life pictures and events in our world
Wow! I live how the scripture is some relevant and how the Holy Spirit reveals we truth constantly!
Thank God we are to know the truth!
I am looking forward to adding nourishment to my soil!
This passage made me realize that reading the Bible isn’t enough if you aren’t really trying to understand it. Good lesson to start this study with
Love this! Definitely going to do a deeper study on this passage.
After reading this, I want to strive to be better. To receive Gods word better. I need to reach for the good soil because right now I feel like I’m in the rocks. I’ve been feeling lately that I’m not taking in the Word like I used to or that I’m not letting it go throughout my whole week and not just on Sundays and that’s not how it should be. Jesus loves us and talks to us all the time. Why do I need to only pick and choose when He is what I want to follow? Great first day! A real eye opener already.
Amen x
When I read this parable, I want to be the good soil. I want my children to be the good soil. Now, I’m not a farmer, but I know enough about soil to know that it doesn’t just “become” good. You have to work it. You have to water it. You have to protect it. You have to rid it of rocks. You have to give it nutrients. You have to tend to it until it is good soil. It takes work and effort.
I was convicted that I haven’t been tending my soil, my heart. In fact, if I’m being honest, I’ve been starving it. I’ve been contaminating it with news, useless junk, anything to numb out. I know what my heart needs – the Word, prayer, worship. Lord, I desire more of You. Help me resist everything else.
I have always thought that i am either one soil or another but taking the time to really break this down showed me that we go through seasons where our soil changes and we need to be constantly maintaining our soil so that we can remain receptive to the word.
Love this and it’s so true.
I want to be a different kind of soil. I used to be good soil, but now I’m neglected soil full of weeds. What grows is strained and tired. I want to clean up my garden and get rid of the weeds. I need to choke out the weeds by not feeding them. My chief weed is my phone. Reading news,twitter and playing games in stead of feeding on Gods word.
Same same same — especially now, being distanced from others, I turn to my phone (even more) to “fill me” with knowledge and entertainment and it’s a weed that has been slowly growing and wrapping itself around my heart. Thanks for sharing and reminding others they’re not alone — they’re are others fighting to get back to good soil
Jesus used parables to make the people understand what real belief is, I think. Back then, the Pharisee thought they were the only ones understanding the will of God. But they were wrong. They taught things that were not appreciated by God or Jesus. Also the people were poor and had to believe what they were taught by their religious leaders. Jesus was known as a man who disliked that way of teaching
Parables made it a lot more easier for the people to hear and to see what God’s will is about. The Pharisee used the normal people as their slaves. But this also meant that these poor people could not learn the original truth.
1. Today’s reading gives us not only a parable, but Jesus’ own words about why He used them. How would you summarize why Jesus spoke in parables? How does that help prepare you to read through them?
I think that Jesus spoke in parables because he believed that through them, we could understand better and relate better. It is like giving an example in a way. It helps prepare me to read through them by being aware that it is relating to some aspect of my journey with Him. I can try to think of where this parable will connect with me in my life.
2. What situation or problem is addressed in today’s particular parable, and what is the outcome of the story?
I interpreted as the problem of the word of Jesus and how it may not stick to people based on what kind of person they are/how they are accepting that word. For me personally, I wonder if I am like the thorns. I have received the seeds, but I have not always accepted them well. Sometimes I steer off the path to other temptations, ignoring his word.
3. What is the central point of this parable?
To accept his word and have good soil- good intentions, don’t ruin the seeds..
4. What is your response to this parable?
I will try to be like the good soil. I will try to let His word grow in me and with me.
For the past few months I’ve been struggling with communicating to God and I feel like I was going down into depression. And early this month, I came to the altar and gave it all to Him and cried for Him. Ever since then, I have this weight lifted off of me and now I’m trying to get back into studying the word and meditating on it. And I believe this plan will help me understand Jesus and know him more. So I just want to say thank you for everyone who posted because I was going to skip this part but I saw how everyone was vulnerable and strong to post the things you’ve had said. That gave me the courage to post this so I just wanted to say thank you all.
I love this
I have always struggled with the parables and making sure I am understanding God’s point or meaning to it. I’m excited to dig deeper and hear God speak through this. Sometimes this life seems so overwhelming and that I am being suffocated by all these things I think I need to do. This last study I finished with she reads truth really encouraged me to be still and know who God is. Not to fight the storm or battle or try to fix it but rather sit with God and let him control it.
Parables, to me, are a story in pictures that I can see in my head when I read them. They come alive.
I have been feeling like I’m in a spiritual slump these last couple months. I feel I’ve become overwhelmed and unmotivated because of life’s worries, my job, thinking about the future as an expectant mother, and I’ve been so focused on myself that I’ve been unfruitful. I’m praying that my time in this study would help to refocus me and that by Gods grace id bear fruit once again.
I’ve been really struggling with my faith lately. Just questioning a lot of things. But something that always leads me back to believing in him is his revolutionary way of thinking and treating people, specifically women. The fact that he treated them so well and held them to such a high standard during a time where women were REALLY second class, shows us how loving and perfect Jesus was. I know that might seem like a weird reason as to why I truly believe he was/is the son of God but i thought about that today while journaling and it really made me fall in love with him all over again. So long story short, I needed this.
I just began this study this week, and I can’t wait to dig deeper and find a more special understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Word!
What I’m taking from this particular parable is that our understanding of the Gospel increases when we take things in. When our soul comprehends versus just listening or reading. When we pray, meditate, and focus on whatever Jesus is saying – that’s when we start to get it. We have to fully grasp things to the best of our abilities, because shallow understanding isn’t enough and it won’t fulfill our souls.
So very true! Sorry for the late response but I just added this study!
Just as we sugar coat things to make them more desirable or to be understood easier, Jesus was doing the same. He needed to turn the soil and ready their hearts to hear, listen, and see all of the lords goodness. He chose parables to ready them. He tells these feel-good-stories and examples of where God has provided to show the unbelievers how good He is.
I love this! I just started this study too!
I think it’s easier to understand and relate to a parable. To fully immerse yourself as the seed. You see what happens to the seed and you feel connected with the seed; once the reader finishes the parable they can fully see that they are the seed and take useful tips on how to tend for their seed.
In Matthew 13:13-17, Jesus tells us exactly why He spoke in parables. I like the instruction Jesus gives in the last part of verse 15: understand with their hearts AND turn, that I may heal them. It is a heart issue and only The Lord can reveal his word to us, but it does require action on our part, too. Otherwise, like someone else said, they are just stories not truth.
i think Jesus uses parables for us to understand him and His word better.
I am fascinated about the description of the ground in each part of this parable….the path, where the birds stole away the seed is hard…maybe representing a hard heart? the one with the thorns….somehow that person allowed things to grow in their heart that wasn’t good (the thorns). it is so interesting to me that God used this parable to discuss people’s hearts and their receving of the word of God. the soil of a person’s heart must be soft, to accept the word, and we must SEEK to understand, hold it as precious in our hearts and allow God to do the growing He has planned for us!
I think this can be related in every way of life. When we are told something and don’t understand it is important to ask why and what. I feel though sometimes we read the word to just read it and we may understand it but we fail sometimes that God didn’t put these words in the Bible to just put it. It’s so important to seek the Fathers word in order to live not in a earthly way but in ways that God see’s us in his eyes. In other words, God wants us to to live through his eyes and his ears. Hence the reason why Jesus speaks through parables.
I have heard the expression that parables are “heavenly stories with earthly meanings”
Parables help you relate
My opinion of Jesus speaking in parables is to make his word relatable to the everyday person. People often get confused by what is written in the Bible but Jesus spoke in a way the made people listen.
I view what jesus said as a perspective of the abundance of people in the world we have and the lives we all live, see through the eyes of not just ourselves but through his eyes. the eyes of heaven and giving. the true value of yourself, to learn what can be taken from you if you do not see what can be taken from others.
I think that Jesus spoke in parables because He was demonstrating that without Him, without seeking the kingdom of Heaven all of this—the Bible is just stories. We can read the words but we will never understand them. Without true, honest relationship and fellowship with Him the words have no meaning, and we have no purpose. We first have to accept Him and His fellowship before we can accept understanding.
This is such a beautiful explanation. Without Jesus we are not able to interpret His word and His intention for the message in our life.
I love your response! I completely agree! Once Jesus has our whole hearts in a true relationship, he can begin to reveal things to our hearts that we may have never understood or realized before. I believe parables were his way of making stories relatable, but also presenting something that makes us want to go deeper in understanding.
I think the point of these parables was to witness. You can witness to so many people, most of which won’t be affected by it (the seeds on rocky ground) but it’s still worth it because someone WILL be affected, they will be that good ground. Sowing the seeds of the gospel.
I think he spoke in parables in order to reach the believers in his secret “spiritual language”. He knew the hearts of the self-righteous did not have “ear to hear”. God spoke in parables because His sheep recognize his voice and it allows for the Holy Spirit to speak to the soul. This way we understand with our spirits rather than Jesus spoon feeding us and then have us only understand Him with our minds.
When a friend or family member says something that we don’t understand, it prompts questions for further detail, “what? why?” In asking the questions, we give the speaker an opportunity to peel back the first layer and give us a different and deeper explanation. Asking people questions are important, and help us to draw closer and build deeper relationships with our friends and family. It is the same with Jesus. I believe Jesus used parables in this way, to provoke questions and deeper reflection. So that those who truly wanted to learn more would ask, seek, and knock. Jesus wants a relationship with us. He wants us to press in, dig deeper and walk closely with him. Parables spark conversation and pray with our Lord to help us better understand Who He is and His promises to us. ❤️
I love this!
Jesus speaks to not only listening and understanding the word but also choosing to live by the word. Some will read and understand and as soon as adversity strikes, they are using earthly solutions instead of going according to God’s plan.
The central point of this parable is to strive to read, understand and live according to his word.
I feel that i am the seeds that was down on rocky ground. And i am working towards becoming the seeds sown in rich soil. I want to read, understand and live right.
I’m somewhere in between as well. I think it’s important for us to recognize this is our position so we can dig deeper with an open heart. We won’t be shaken when trials come because of the hope we have after reading this passage.
When Jesus speaks in parables, he makes his point in terms that his listeners can understand. It provides context
i think he used parables because it was a way for the people to understand him.
I imagine parables were also His way of thinning out the crowd. How many listened, thought He spoke craziness and walked away grumbling about that crazy talker? How many stayed and needed to hear more because of the stirring in their souls, the excitement in their hearts, hearing HEARING the Word of the Lord being spoken. The hearers must have felt like His eyes were on only them, He was speaking directly to them! Maybe it was only 1 or 3, but I imagine it was not the entire crowd that ‘heard’. But maybe it was, this is JESUS we are speaking of after all! The doer of the impossible!!
Parables were used to help the people understand. They are also easy to remember as they create an image in your head. You can imagine someone walking dropping seeds along the way as the fall on different ground.
He wanted people to have to think about the message behind the story in order to grasp it. If you take the time to think about it, it is something you are truly interested in and value. I also think it is because stories reveal universal truths better than statements. Parables are more illustrative of the point being made, and are timeless.
I think Jesus spoke in parables because
I love Jesus’ reminder to his disciples to be humble because they can understand what he says right away, without any work. He tells them that many of the people he speaks to wish they could hear and see like Jesus and his disciples do.
I think the central point of these parables that Jesus told , was to make us understand the journey of life . Jesus spoke in parables to make people understand and think of what they are doing before doing it . It is also a test to whether people would obey j
This parable to me shows that those who understand the word of God will use the word as a sword in a constant spiritual battle. The ones that don’t understand however, will not be able to use the word of God as a tool and will not get the help they need from it. I think Jesus spoke in parables
The verse pressed upon a very important reminder on me, that yes – there is a clear distinction from believers (who believe only by the grace of God – not because he chose to) and non-believers (who are spiritually dead and have not yet been regenerated). But we have not been given an “elect list” for us to just knitpick who we’re going to share to. Instead, we go out and share as boldly as we can – to some, in parables, especially to those who are very hostile to Christian principles. I appreciate this devotional!
Much reflection needed after this. Very powerful. I can identify moments in my life where I laid the word on rocks and many were I laid amongst thorns. Tough times, the world, so much of my potential fruit in the lord has been choked out and that’s on me. I want good soil, it’s time to intentionally cast the word and God’s truth on rich ground and nurture what grows and find the joy God has for me when harvest comes. I am enlighten, excited and also fear God all the more. Loved this devotional.
I always wondered too why Jesus spoke in parables. I thought it was prob bc ppl can remember stories easier than straightforward facts but I love that this explains the reason and it was really so that we could hear him at all! We are so overwhelmed with information and things happening in our lives that speaking to us in parables makes us (and them at the time) listen bc it sounds different than our norm AND it’s like a puzzle you have to put time and thought into figuring out what he’s really saying…which makes it more memorable too. ♥️♥️♥️ so smart!
Great read , it made me reflect on the type of shower of the word I am . It so crazy how we think we are being good Christians but I admit I have laid the word on my path , on rocks and on soil/good ground . My desire is to always lay it on good ground . It definitely opened my eyes.
❤️
I thought that it was cool that Jesus even spoke in parables. It’s so cool that he knew exactly what to say to help new believers, and old believers understand his point.
Thankful for this devotional. My first time reading the Bible and praying in awhile. As a new mom, I found myself drifting away from the Word. But I digress, I find myself oftentimes reading the word, but taking it in briefly, without reflecting on it in my heart and through prayer. Parables help us understand Jesus’ word better, because sometimes we all get lost in the text and struggle.
Same! I’m a new mom too, and with less free time and more distractions, felt like I was just quickly reading the Bible to read it. Like you said, we need to take time to reflect! And let Jesus’ words SINK IN and bear fruit – actually shape and change our lives. The main thing I’m going to take from today is to be ready to take the time to not just hear, but also seek to understand what I’m reading.
I read into this the idea that if we as Christians plant seeds in a garden (preach and convert), we need to be responsible for taking care of our plants and helping them grow and flourish! In other words, we wouldn’t plant a flower and then never water it- the same with preaching the Word, if we are reaching someone we need to continue to help them pray and group in faith
I never really thought about why Jesus spoke in parables but now it makes sense, He only wanted to reveal His truth to those who were hungry for Him. The parable of the sower is making me think about if I am bearing fruit in my life or not and what that means. I need to keep praying and reflecting on that!
Jesus knew we would struggle sometimes to understand. we all do.
I love this.
Blessed by today’s devotional. So thankful that Jesus would humble himself and speak in parables that would transcend time. What a savior!
It has been really hard for me lately to open my bible. I redownloaded my app and have been pulled into getting in deeper. I was drawn to this study because of the title. I will be honest I have no read the entire bible but I intend to, although I have read the book of Matthew before and when I did I felt like I was on fire with the Holy Spirit. Reading this parable of the sower makes me want to be deeply rooted. I want to be the sower that fell on good ground that bears fruit. This parable has opened my eyes, ears and heart. I am so happy I decided to do this study! I really needed it and I think God has been yanking on my heart for a while now❤️ Glad he is pursuing me even when I fail to pursue him!
This brings living parallel to God back to its basics. The foundation you choose to harvest your seeds so that it flourishes- is equivalent to understanding God’s journey is has already created for you. Are you willing to follow it?
How amazing is it that God gave us the gift of stories. I work in a NICU, and one of the first things we teach parents, that they can do no matter the condition of the baby, is to read to their babies. We are told stories from day one and as adults we consume TV, movies, and books because we love a good story. I think the parable of the sower can be summed back to God writes amazing stories with all our lives if we will let him. How awesome!!
I love this parable!!
So applicable to different stages in my life.
A lightbulb went off as I was studying and reading this passage over and over again. If we want to receive the word, we will. If we don’t, then we won’t receive. If we have ready hearts, God will allow us to receive the revelations of His word and when we ask. Praise God! Holds me accountable because sometimes I can’t understand what the word says so when I don’t I put it down and go about my day… that time was wasted. But when I ask the Lord to reveal what it means He gives me revelation.
Stories help us relate our experiences to a higher knowledge. Indigenous peoples often use stories to communicate moral messages which interests me they’ve done this without Christian influence. God must have planned this along in the human psyche. I love hearing stories and want to understand deeper, I relate this to wanting good soil in my heart to receive the messages I hear. If I’m too busy, or hard then I can relate to others or their messages.
I love how Jesus did not disregard the crowd because of their lack of understanding, but instead told the crowd the secret of the kingdom in a way that they could understand. Often times I think “what’s the point of trying to sow seeds in others if I know they won’t get it?” Well if Jesus did it, and I am called to be like Jesus, then so should I.
As I read the passages and reflected on the message of this day, it made me think about how I work in a hospital. When we are educating and wanting people to understand what they know nothing about, we use “comparisons” or “layman terms”. I don’t feel we are supposed to fully understand everything about the wonders of our creator, just understand what we are called to serve for. Jesus’ parables help generations before us and generations after us find God. What a blessing that it continues on today.
As I read today’s parable and did the questions , it caused me to do some self examination. I knew for Swahili that things in my life weren’t at all alright but very tipsy turbo. These questions; especially No.4 made me realize that I might not be the good ground that I should be, could be and want to be to receive God’s word and to bring forth good Godly fruit. My ground is grown over with weeds that is choking the seed and it’s time to prune them!
As I read this today, I was reminded of how blessed we are to have access and know the kingdom of God! He truly is gracious and merciful to His children who seek Him and long to know Him. As I read the parable of the seed, I was encouraged to ask the Lord to give me revelation as I read and it encouraged me to continue to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord, never giving up. He is so good to us!
Context is super helpful in understanding why Jesus spoke in parables. Through His public ministry He offered the Kingdom to His people (Mt 8-10) & they rejected Him (Mt 11-12). This rejection of the Kingdom led Him to speak to them in parables & conversely explain more fully to His disciples who had acknowledged Him as the Promised King. Those who recognized Him as King would have greater insights into what He was teaching & what He was truly offering.
I’m praising God as I’ve just worked through today’s devotion, working through it in my mind and heart.
Thank you God for giving us women eyes to see, ears to hear and understand and hearts that want YOU and want to receive your free gift! AMEN!
I want to be diligent about remaining in as the last illustration of the seed. I want to be planted in good soil, staying in the Word, praying increasingly throughout easy asks every day and the greatest for me , curb my tongue and let only words of encouragement and supplication pass through my mouth. Then as I reigned this parable I can understand where others may be in their walk and encourage them along.
In today’s society we have technology that we can get into daily in anytime we want. I grew up in a poor country Island called Haiti. And knowing only evil things…. with this passage it reminds me when I was very little how much I had a great father God protected me above and with this I was one of the one he had chosen to be a part of this world to serve him and that’s why he speaks to me now than ever before and I understand. But the biggest thing is there’s a lot of things where I was born I was place didn’t go out right and realize with this message reminding me get with my strength and God‘s strength I can do all things. This verse reminds me of how Jesus speaks to his sheep’s because they understand I know it’s voice but if you was to speak to so many others that can listen because he were not planted correctly in this world but by choice you can live fully and recognize that second chance is Our maker above that we planted us and gives us a new heart and nobody knew so because when our spirits connects with his we become one with him and understand his word so much better compared to the ones that are planted around and doesn’t understand or want to understand.
Verses 18-23 seem to map my life. From ages 0-10 I heard but didn’t understand. 10-20 I understood but but it didn’t reach my heart enough and the world was more appealing. 20-50 I knew and the truths bounced back and forth from my head to my heart but with raising kids, financial concerns, health concerns, I relied too much on my own strength and failed miserably at all of life. I hit rock bottom at age 50 and I found Him there waiting. And God is redeeming my past! I know that the truth has hit my heart and from 50-100 are the years where He is going to use me to produce a crop of 100+!!
Yes! God is always good!
Praise Jesus! I have never heard each “soil” asa life season. What a blessing to know that the Planter is ever patient for his harvest.
Lois….I too have failed trying to handle everything myself. At 47 I have given God the reins. I want to be the good soil!
I began reading this thinking Jesus spoke in parables so that we could better understand the lesson He was trying to teach, but as I continued reading I began to understand a deeper meaning than just that. He spoke in metaphors that were so simple to understand that only the expectant hearts, only the open minded and the willing would be the ones to really understand the deeper meaning behind it all and those without that willingness would be left completely blind to it. In this specific parable I think Jesus is trying to get across that if we hear the word and what God is trying to speak into our lives and we take the time to dig deeper to better understand, then we won’t be left confused when the enemy tries to waver our confidence. If we always find comfort in the Lord despite how hard the season might be, then we produce discipline and endurance trough those trials and we find joy in the midst of the storm. If we seek knowing His word with a willing and open heart then it leaves room for God to do what He wants in our lives and we are left with nothing but roots so deep, nothing can waver our confidence because that confidence is in Him and Him alone.
Love this!!
Amen! Those words are true!
Jesus spoke in parables because so many had fallen from God and were not fully prepared to hear His words of the Kingdom of Heaven. By speaking in parables those that were fully prepared to receive His words and His message and put in the time to listen and understand would be able to experience the full effect and allow His message to take deep root in their souls. This really helped me to reflect on how I read scripture and how I approach my reading of the Bible. I should come to my study of the Bible ready to fully immerse myself and expecting that not all of His teachings are going to be easy to grasp but worth the time and effort.
In this particular story, the problem is that many are not fully prepared to receive His word, are not open to change and true commitment and belief of Jesus and His teachings. Those that have deep rooted faith and belief reap the benefits of Jesus’ word while those who are without faith or allow themselves to be tempted or distracted by earthly things do not. We must allow ourselves to be prepared for His message and have true belief and faith in all that He does.
Hi Miranda!
I️ completely agree! It astounds me how each time we read we see a different facet. In this case, the fact that Jesus was fulfilling a prophecy stood out when he directly answers the question about “why parables?” in verse 13.
It was a warning to look at verse 15 and realize that the parables weren’t hidden from certain people because Jesus wanted to hide them but because the people had let their own hearts grow dull and had closed off their ears and eyes to the Word! They closed themselves off first!! We must allow ourselves to be open to receiving His Word into our hearts no matter what.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
I agree with both of your comments. It is so important to dive into the word of God and open our heart, eyes, and ears to receive what the Lord has taught. I find it fascinating that in Isaiah’s prophecy mentioned, Jesus’ ultimate goal was to “heal them” if they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart.
Thankyou for writing this. That makes sense.
A very good word, Miranda. Just like a farmer who MUST work hard to prepare his soil to get a good harvest, so we must prepare our hearts EVERY time we read and hear and see God’s word. If our heart is shallow, dry, in love with the world, or overcome by the world, it will not be able to receive the peace of His truth and produce a harvest for others to glean from and feast on! We must pull these weeds and yank the hard rocks out of our hearts just as a farmer lovingly preps his soil with a sweating brow before he plants. Hard to do ! But the harvest will be plentiful! Hallelujah.
Amen! Such a great analogy!
This parable is so important. Too often what we don’t realize is that we are not keeping our soil rich and ready for God to plant seeds in our lives through the word so the fruit of the spirit can flourish. This really helps me see the areas in my life that I have been ill-prepared for by not being in the word constantly and my soil not being ready for the words Jesus laid on my heart.
can anyone respond if they see any of my posts. my name is Mischette. When i post i cannot see what i posted.
I can see this
this parable of the sower shows me what the condition of my own heart. can Gods word be planted and take root in my own heart enough to affect change in my lifestyle. where am i in my walk with in which the word of God can be planted in my heart and transform me in my situation until my situation changes. but i want my situation to go away asap and i dont like my situation however God is using it to change me in the middle of it. how do i respond to the word that im reading or am i gonna run from it cuz i dont wanna fsce me and face God as rhe word reveals my heart.
Hi Mischette, I want to encourage you to persevere in reading the Bible despite it not always making sense in the heat of the moment. God’s word is going into your heart, transforming you spiritually and as you continue to read you grow and He gives you understanding on a deeper level. If you ask and are willing to obey, he will guide you in all your decisions.
Im not sure how to interpret anything in the Word of God. The parables of Jesus are great stories but that all they are to me…GREAT STORIES! I have a burning desire to get to know God through His Word and to hear and know his voice so i do my best to read and ask God to give me revelation of the Word in which He is speaking 2 me through but I get discouraged cuz IDK how to apply it to anything im currently dealing with and how Gods word is gonna fix the problem at hand. so even when i dont understand i just keep reading with hope that the holy spirit will reveal and ill get it someday.
B
Jesus spoke in parables to show us the spiritual truth of His word. This spiritual truth is not available to those who have not a heart prepared to believe, seek and understand. Our hearts can be in the condition, as which is described in the condition of the seed in the soil, which left untended is to live fettered in sin. I can take a heart of hope because for when I believe, repent, and spend time in the Word, Jesus will explain it all to me, as he did the disciples, and His word will rest on fertile soil.
I love that Jesus loves us enough to teach us in parables. The ways and truths of God are often beyond our earthly understanding, yet Jesus put it into an earthly perspective to help us understand it. It is so easy for us to get lost in the meaning of things, why some do not receive the Gospel and others do for instance. Thankfully, Jesus showed us that we can understand these things, just as the people then understood the sowing of seeds.
I think reason Jesus spoke in parables is that He wanted there to be some effort on our part to want to understand and to seek Him ourselves. It’s kind of like how when we were kids, we’d ask our parents or teacher a question and they’d make us work it out ourselves, because it helps us grow.
One interesting thing I noticed is that while the parable about the soil is primarily about the gospel and people’s response to it, especially when taken in context of Jesus’ life, where not everything had been revealed, it’s almost a parable about parables, and could be taken to describe the response of people to Jesus’ parables.
I love that this study has started off with this parable. It’s so easy to fall into the “rocky soil” category and get on a spiritual high after hearing a great message or attending an event, but it is so important to prepare your heart and life to be good soil that can support the roots you develop through reading God’s word and being in community! By doing so we have so many opportunities for His love and truth to flow out of our hearts and mouths and help establish fertile soil in those around us as well!
PS- I’ve commented here on the website after doing today’s lesson in my book, but is there a way to do so on the app? I’m a newbie.
I love this perspective! I couldn’t agree more.
I’m reading your comment on the app so if you post on the website it must show up on the app as well!:))) love you comment too!
Sometimes I wonder if it maybe is just not the right time that the person heard the message. Coming from a farming community, I think of a new piece of land that has to be cleared and worked and the rocks picked up and worked and the weeds pulled and so forth before it really becomes ready to produce. Just a thought.
That is a great thought. I’m not from a farm, but my understanding is that seeds can lie dormant and only with the sun’s warmth, watering and time will it sprout. Sometimes people are not ready to hear, but if the seed is planted it may begin to grow in God’s time.
Today’s parable is about how all of us accept and follow the words of Jesus.Some of us hear the words but are confused by what we hear.I sometimes struggle to understand his word but by praying and meditating on it becomes clearer.
So excited about this study and having a Q & A section – although I do miss those amazing devotionals!
I love this parable! I was actually asked by my pastor to give a sermon on it earlier this year as he was going to be away on weekend. It made me really analyze which seed/type of ground I was in particular which helped me decide how I wanted to move forward with my faith. I was able to target new techniques and get myself in the mindset of continuously following Christ and getting excited about my faith even after the high of Sunday worship wore off. The Bible is so difficult to understand but if we just Trust and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open to HIm, He will show use exactly what we need to see.
I love that Jesus interrupts the parable to explain why he is using it. He recognizes that those without salvation, without God and the spirit of truth, cannot understand the things of the spirit. But he makes the gospel so accessible. Jesus came to earth to make himself accessible to everyone, and made sure when he spoke of salvation and the things of the spirit he spoke in a way that people could understand. He never waters down truth, but always presents it in ways so everyone can hear and receive it if they choose to. So cool.
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1. Human ears hear many sounds, but there is a deeper kind of listening that results in spiritual understanding. Jesus was not hiding the truth from sincere seekers, because those who were receptive to spiritual truth understood the illustrations. To others they were just stories without meaning. It helps me prepare by staying receptive to the supernatural messages.
2. How easy it is to agree with Christ with no intention of obeying. It is easy to denounce worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth, and still do nothing to change our ways. In light of eternal life with God, are your present worries justified? If you could have everything you want but forfeited eternal life with God, would those things be so desirable?
3. The four types of soil represent different responses to Gods message. People respond differently because they are in different stages of readiness. Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are contaminated by distracted worries, and some are receptive.
4. To continue to strive to be spiritually open to receiving when reading the Word or when doing anything in life really.
Thank you Jenn for sharing your answers. It helps to see others response ofGods truth and know that we are all able to understand. And maybe help guide others in the right way.
Thank you Jenn. That helped my understanding a lot!!
Great answers! Definitely some food for thought! Number 1 and 2 especially made an impact. God bless!
Such a good question! I’ve never really thought about the why of parables before other than a basic assumption that it was so make things easier for people to understand by using agricultural metaphors that the people back then would have been familiar with. But the idea that they are to to help distinguish in some way between who does and doesn’t understand or to help you understand on a deeper level is really interesting. Maybe the parables help to act as fertile soil to really help us understand the meaning. Like how a poem or a story is much easier to remember than just a list of things you should do. There’s also the whole Zen Koan thing and I’m sure lots of religious traditions use metaphors and stories. It would be interesting to see on an MRI if hearing a parables activates different parts of your brain than just a straightforward command to do something!
Love your response Nea!! This is great thinking material to take it deeper. Thanks for sharing!
I can’t speak for anyone else but I can say of all the lessons I heard growing up, the parables are the ones I remember the most. Maybe because I didn’t understand them at the time, maybe because they intrigued me, or maybe I just wasn’t really listening at the time. But, whatever the reason, they were implanted deep within my brain somewhere and come out often until I finally got it. Or maybe partially got it, because I feel that I still have more to learn from them and I love learning. Always have. Point being, if the people of the time were not ready to understand, the seeds were planted and would sprout at a later time when they were ready or when they really needed them. Just my thoughts. What say you?
After reading this parable for the umpteenth time, I’m struck by something that I’ve never really thought about before: sometimes, I’m the one sown on rocky ground when it comes to God’s word. I hear a message in church or read something or listen to something that I love. But then, life gets busy, things get stressful, or I get pulled in another direction and completely forget what I’ve learned. Today, I pray that I can keep God’s teaching in the forefront of my mind throughout the day. After all, they’re ultimately given to us to make like better.
I was asking myself the same question which seed am I?
I tend to be seeds 2,3.. I want to be seed 4.
What I love about this parable is the way God remains in power even when the “devil comes and snatches the seed away” that fell upon infertile soil. God remains in power because, when the plant falls over and dies because it is in infertile soil, the plant’s decomposition begins to slowly make the soil fertile. When farmers are first beginning to plant crops, if they use natural methods (no chemical ferilizers etc..) then they have to wait through seasons of the plants not producing much or any fruit, dying, and giving nutrients to the soil. After some seasons of this cycle, the soil will be fertile enough to finally produce crops. So although it seems that God’s word CAN’T be planted in certain areas, it is actually an opportunity for that soil to slowly become fertile.
I love this analysis!
I never thought of it this way. That is so beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your insights. I always feel awful for the first group described in this parable as if it was a total waste but with your insight I am reminded that God uses everything and everyone to achieve His ends. I know that in my heart but forget it in my brain. Thanks.
I love this as well. It is comforting as I look back in the many times it has taken to fertilize my soil.
1.a.) How would you summarize why Jesus spoke in parables? This is tricky. He says He spoke in parables because some would understand and some would not. So apathy? “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” . . . to me, it sounds like, “well if they are not going to hear or understand, why bother?” but I think maybe its the effort or pursuit part that makes the difference. Just like we are doing here. Lets untangle this and understand it, where as another might brush it off and say “I don’t understand, next!”
1.b.) How does that help prepare you to read through them? :) Makes me pay more attention!
2. What situation or problem is addressed in today’s particular parable, and what is the outcome of the story? The problem is where the seed (the Word of God) is landing and what happens to it. It draws my attention to how well (un-well?) I read Scripture or what I tend to brush over. The outcome is that if you dont have good soil (predestination?grace?), then the Word isnt going to grow in you.
3. What is the central point of this parable? Make your soil good. This involves responsibility on our part to keep pulling the weeds, watering, sunshine, etc,. God ultimately makes it grow.
4. What is your response to this parable? A sharper attention drawn to how I receive and process the Word.
This answer helped me process mine much better. Thanks for posting!
Thank You for your notes!
I’m so looking forward to delving into the parables… When I hear these stories, I always feel like I’m transported back to my childhood Sunday school classes – and in certain ways, I really am. Sometimes I feel like the parables are a reminder that the wisdom and truths of God are so far beyond human comprehension that they have to be broken down for us, because our brains simply cannot manage the immense realities of God’s plan. Jesus knew there was no way for us to truly understand, so He had to break it down for us to hear in ways we could comprehend. We are not so different from little children in Sunday school, except that now I find my adult mind wants to work even harder to try and logic and reason through divine truths that simply don’t fit those molds… I’m praying that throughout this study, I can turn off my constantly-questioning-adult-human brain and revisit these stories with a more simple, seeking heart, ready to hear the truths within.
Me too Caroline! :) <3
"because our brains simply cannot manage the immense realities of God’s plan . . . my adult mind wants to work even harder to try and logic and reason through divine truths that simply don’t fit those molds"
We’ve just had a baby and have struggled with going back to church, especially with all the people that want to tell you how to raise them and seem to know better than you. Our church, though, as reminded last Sunday, is there to uplift and grow us as Christians. It is certainly there to teach Jesus, and it is a place that we should be at as much as we can. This kind of environment is where God wants us to grow our faith -in good, nutrient-rich soil, full of his Word and the Holy Ghost. Reading this passage this morning helped me remember that my church is an environment such as this and we need to plant our roots deep in it so that they will grow and we can reap the reward in OUR lives and in our little boy’s life.
This passage came up in my personal bible reading a few days ago. It was focused on in the sermon at church yesterday and it is here today. I think God may have a point to make! Each time, it’s the “hundred, sixty, and thirty fold” that jumps out at me. Am I seeing a crop? Is there fruit to my faith? I know at times we may not see the work that God is doing through us but I must continually ask myself – is my seed sprouting a harvest or am I being choked out by all the distractions in my life? I spend time fostering my personal relationship with God but it’s maybe not actually growing and healthy if it is not producing fruit.
I love your question “am I seeing fruit to my faith?” going to ask myself this more often.
I really needed this today. I’ve been struggling to hear His love lately and this parable reminds me that I can’t just pick it up off the ground and be satisfied. I have to dig down my roots into the good soils of His grace and understanding to get to where He wants me to be. This makes me wake up and put one foot forward in the right direction again.
I LOVE your interpretation!
Wow. Thank you for this! I had a few questions after reading this, and this really answered them all. We can prepare our own soil.
Love the thought of digging my roots into His grace! Thank you!
Agree! I love this
I read the passage in several translations this morning (NAS, MSG, AMP, MOUNCE Greek). Something jumped out at me. When our hearts are hard and unreceptive/unresponsive, sometimes a story will get through/break through when apologetics or a sermon will not. Reading the different translations, I believe Jesus desired for the people listening to have soft hearts (good soil), open ears and eyes. A parable may hide the meaning when we are being hard-hearted and don’t care, but it also can break through without us realizing and unexpected plants can shoot up that broke through and escaped the birds and weeds. This parable humbles me and drives me to my knees to pray for a soft heart to the things of God. Jesus loved all those He spoke to and eagerly desired for each to have an open, willing heart. We cannot understand the ways of God, but He is tender and compassionate and longs for us to turn to Him as the last verse in the passage says.
I love this, and I definitely think it is so true! I especially think of David and the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12 where Nathan tells a story to expose the sin of David’s affair with Bathsheba. I don’t think at that point, David was very open to repentance and dealing with what he had done. But Nathan opened his eyes with that story and drove him to true repentance.
Not to get hung up on something you weren’t focusing on, but can you tell me more about MOUNCE Greek as a translation of the Bible you appreciate? I think I understand the point but why do you enjoy it? And how do you find it the most beneficial? I am so intrigued :)
I go to Bible Gateway and select it once I look up the translation. I like seeing for myself the Greek words under the English words. I do no read Greek, so I like to see the sentence structure/word order and be aware of what the different choices Bible translators made. All Scripture is God-breathed, but different translations have different goals (getting thr big picture, original intent across, making it more understandable for your average, modern reader, or literal word-for-word translation even when awkward). I feel when I prayerfully read some of each, I get a better picture of the passage. :)
Intriguing. Thanks for sharing that!
“This parable humbles me and drives me to my knees to pray for a soft heart to the things of God.” Just beautiful Wendy Garner
“Matthew Henry says parables make the things of God ‘more plain and easy’ to those willing to be taught, and ‘at the same time more difficult and obscure to those who [are] willfully ignorant.'” Lord, I am willing to be taught.
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/purpose-parables/
I want to be good ground so that the seed of His Word would take strong root and produce good fruit. Am I applying enough fertilizer? I get up and read His Word but do I also study it – look at other sources, commentaries? Do I talk about what I’m reading with those who can give additional insight? Am I faithful to draw out a personal application to my life and do I follow through in my actions? Do I share the gospel with others? Good hard questions for reflection for myself this morning.
Good questions Churchmouse, not only for you but also for me. Thank you for your thoughts as they usually mirror mine, you just have a great way of wording them.
Exactly the things that I am pondering in my heart Churchmouse. I want to be good soil, holding on. I matter what until there is a harvest.
Parables are an excellent and memorable teaching tool. As our Maker, God knows our psychology, that we seek understanding and crave deep connection to Him. I think this is why He gave us a set of timeless parables. We can look at them in each phase of life and every step in our journey with Him, and learn something more every time. Praise God for giving us everything we need before we know we need it.
I love the way Jesus takes the gospel down to a level that even peasant farmers could understand. Back then, most folks would have understood planting seeds. This was HIS way of making Gods word relevant to common people. As a farmer myself, this is one of my favorites….still perfect so many, many years later.
I love the way this new study is set up!! The questions are AWESOME!!! A great way to hold accountability and keep active our pursuit!!
Question 1) I believe Jesus spoke in parables because they separate the genuine from the deceptively ingenuine and help us to see through Christ’s eyes not our own filters. My heart’s desire is to be genuine and to always see through the unfiltered eyes of Christ, but I know I struggle daily to do this. Pride and ego are the reasons why I do struggle. Forgive me Father.
Question 2) The situation is knowing the “soil” of your own heart and being wise enough to only invest your time in that which gives Glory to God!! The outcome is KNOWING that God will ALWAYS surpass our expectations!!!
Question 3) The point of this parable is to keep us accountable and to give us wisdom beyond the paradigm we choose to live in.
Question 4) My response is to draw closer to God and to be more aware of my actions, thoughts and works. Are they for my glory or for God’s.. A question I will now be asking myself daily!!
Draw closer to God! Excellent point! Everything I have been reading, studying and hearing lately has emphasized that if you want to draw close to God, read and study the scriptures…because they are His words! What a privilege to have a written Bible. What a privilege to be spoken to by God through His scripture. What a privilege to be able to speak directly to God in prayer!
Amen!!
Thank you, ERB, for sharing your answers. They gave me a deeper understanding of this parable and insight into areas in which I could grow.
Amen!! And Me too Catherine Anne!!
I am looking forward to this study. I love that you can read these parables over and over, year after year. and then one day, God unpacks one just for the situation you are currently facing. Praise Him!
The Bible is living! Praise God!
I struggle with VV. 11-12: “He answered: ‘Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from Him.'” What does that mean? Didn’t Jesus come for everyone? Why does God allow that some ears stay closed, and why does he “take away” from some people? I’m looking forward to your insights on this subject!
Also, I just want to say how much I love the current study book. I struggled a bit with “digging deeper” and my reading was often quick and superficial. I love using the worksheet to really grasp the meaning of the parable and I am really looking forward to the following weeks.
I think those verses are talking about two different kingdoms. This decaying world’s and God’s perfect world. God desires NONE should perish!! We are His Beloved, but He is not always ours.. We must choose daily where we “plant our seeds” and understand why we are planting them there. Is it for God’s Glory or our own… Hope this helps. Xoxo
Only God knows our hearts. Yes, God desires for none to perish, but Jesus knew that most of those people were not true seekers. Most just wanted miraculous healing, etc… Even if Jesus did not use parables, the people who had no interest in the Truth wouldn’t “get it” anyway. I’ve heard it explained that those who were true seekers would search out the meaning thereby making them a disciple (“disciples” often refers to more than just the “12”- there were many disciples, those who truly followed Jesus).
I wondered about that passage as well- but I found the Message version to give me some clarify on these words that seem counter to the gospel: “Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again…”
I encourage you to read the whole chapter in the message if that’s your jam- I found it to add some really good context and fill up those parts of my heart that had questions. ❤️
♡ this! thank you for the suggestion!
I agree that these verses are hard to understand. To me they have the same meaning as the saying, “Don’t cast pearls before swine.”
Matthew 7:6 contains the admonition against casting pearls before swine.
You are absolutely right that Jesus came for everyone! God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). The message of the gospel has been given to every person: “The true light…gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). The thing is, every person chooses what they’re going to do with that message. I noticed something in v15 that helped me understand this concept: “their eyes they have closed”. These people have CHOSEN not to understand God’s Word. They have CHOSEN not to receive it. Every time we hear the Word of God, we choose what we’re going to do with it, and these people chose to reject it. I believe vv11-12 mean that God does not continue to reveal His Word to people who are choosing to reject it. If we want to understand God’s Word, we have to receive it. “Whoever has” refers to people who have some understanding of God’s Word because they have chosen to receive it. “Whoever does not have” only lacks understanding of God’s Word because she has chosen to close her eyes, ears, and heart to God.
Romans 1 gives an example of this principle as seen in the lives of the unsaved. The gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (v16), but people chose to ignore God and worship His creation instead (v21). “Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind” (v28). God allows these people to be consumed by their sin BECAUSE they first chose not to acknowledge God. God is not unjust; He is not playing Russian roulette with people’s hearts, randomly picking some to have hardened hearts. People’s hearts remain hardened because they chose to harden them. Romans 1 is referring to unbelievers, but obviously those of us who have trusted Christ still choose to harden our hearts to God’s Word at times, and I’m sure we’ve all noticed that it can be almost impossible at times to understand His Word when we are hardening our hearts against Him in some way!
This is so true. I’ve often found that there are some pastors whose teachings and words I struggle to grasp because I’ve already determined in my heart that I don’t like their style of preaching. When I do this, I don’t receive anything. Praying to God to forgive me of this shortcoming of mine as it was my decision to close my eyes, ears and heart to what He had in store for me then.
This parable often makes me tear up because I often feel like I don’t understand what’s being said in the Bible. I feel blocked from true understanding. So what does that say about me?
Dana,
Just some encouragement that even the disciples needed Jesus to explain (in very plain terms so they would understand) what the parables meant! These were people who walked with him, ate with him, spent time with him- and yet they still needed an explanation. I think fear seeps in when we read these words without cultural context, and without remembering that Jesus heaps grace on us for when we don’t understand something. The Lords heart is that we would seek relationship with him; I’ve always believed that’s part of why Jesus spoke in parables. So we would seek him for the full answer, not religion. The Pharisees had books memorized, rules down to the letter- but showed no love or grace for God’s people, or even God himself in human form, and Jesus rebuked them for that. His disciples didn’t have the same book knowledge as the Pharisees, but they had a hunger for him. Remember that God’s is the only standard you need to measure up to, and he has already declared you as pure and righteous and his daughter through Christ. Seek answers in scripture where you can, and in areas where you don’t understand, pray; seek Gods heart; ask others around you with more wisdom; and remember that He loves you the same whether you understand every parable or not, and that no person will fully understand the depth of His word this side of heaven.
Thank You Mandy. Your response pretty much enlighten my understanding on this matter.
❤️
Yes. This. This is so inspirational. And thank you, Dana, for asking. I have often felt the same. God’s grace and love is infinite and eternal, we need only to seek him with our whole heart. ❤️ So glad I joined this study! Looking forward to the rest of it.
We are all on our own journey with Jesus, each in a unique place on our journey. The fact that you tear up speaks of a soft heart. Be encouraged you are further along your journey with Jesus than you think and He will lead you through His love to a place where the mysteries of His word are unveiled to you.
Keep your heart and eyes fixed on Him and through this you will come to a deeper understanding of Him. Don’t be discouraged because you lack understanding, press in for more and ask Jesus to open your heart even further to understand His heart even more.
You are precious to Him and He wants to spend time with you unpicking His word and revealing His heart for you!
Have a wonderful day and take comfort in the journey, it’s a wonderful place to be.
Dana, I can see my life in every example Christ gave in that parable. I started out not hearing or understanding anything, but I heard it. Then I understood a little, but I didn’t pursue it. I look back though, and I can see God pursuing me.
Then, I understood a little more, but I had so many other gods/idols in my heart (career, justice, money, appearances) that I didn’t have room to understand, but God still pursued me.
Finally, I got it! I had ears to hear and eyes to see, and I had no clue the changes God wanted to make in my life, but He continued to pursue and teach me.
God still continues to pursue me and I continue to grow through His Word. I share the joy His love gives me, but I still have a long way to go. I know He will continue to grow me into the Christian He wants me to be.
If you see yourself in this parable, as I did in ever single step of it, take heart! Continue to look to God and He will continue to look for you and work in you! He loves you and wants you, and He will pursue you and grow you into the Christian He wants you to be. We all have room for growth in our Christian walk and will until Christ returns.
Praise God for His continuing love and His enduring patience!
Great words! Thanks for sharing them.
I agree. Been “learning” the Bible for 30 years but still don’t get it!
Right there with you Dana! I don’t understand a lot of the time and I wish I did! Just trust in Him and where he is leading you.
i can totally relate! when i read that even the disciples asked Jesus what the parable meant, it helped. my favorite version of this parable is Luke 8:4-15, it was the easiest to digest for me.
Mandy, what a great question. We all have felt the same way. Thank you everyone who responded. Every one of your responses touched me and helped me. I was going to comment, but instead, I received. Thanks.
Opps, sorry, I meant Dana.
Dana… there is nothing about Jesus anywhere in scripture that indicates He wants to block anyone from understanding. Satan, however, absolutely does and will whisper into our ears that we can’t understand or aren’t being allowed to understand. That is a lie. There are things that may not make sense at times, but hang onto His word and His promises and understanding will come with time. Hugs to you!
I can’t thank you all enough…those who replied with so much encouragement and those of you who said you can totally relate. My heart is full because you took the time to reply. I had a rough night last night and definitely am wrestling, but definitely not feeling alone…just loved. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. <3 May God pour blessings on all of you.
Again, I feel the same. I echo the appreciation.
Everyone makes great points!! Also, none of us today can understand Jesus’ teachings without the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for those of us that would come after His resurrection. It moves and stirs in us, it opens the eyes and ears of our hearts to understanding God’s and Jesus’ teachings. I have often struggled too, but I have found that when I ask, pray, seek, and long for God to reveal His word to me, the Holy Spirit can make something I’ve read a thousand times, a totally new passage. It’s a constant process, and I’m always finding something new! Praying this for you today Dana!