Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

Meditations in the Season of Epiphany 

February 16, 2022

Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

Luke 8:15

Read: Luke 8:1-15

In today’s passage, Jesus talks with his disciples about how the people are responding to his proclamation of God’s Kingdom. The parable of the farmer provides images the disciples can easily relate. Luke wants us to be sure we do not think of this as a theoretical exercise, as in how people might respond to God. Luke has already introduced us to all the people represented in the parable.

There were the people in Nazareth, when upon hearing Jesus teach from Isaiah trampled on the word as they rushed Jesus out of the synagogue.

There was the Pharisee who wanted to hear more of Jesus’ words and invited Jesus to dinner. But his prejudice against Jesus and the woman made Jesus’ words land upon the rocks and stones of his heart.

There were the discontents who responded to neither John the Baptist nor Jesus. Their lives had too many distractions that choked out the words of the Prophet and those of Jesus.

But there were also the Gentile Centurion, the woman at the table with Jesus, and the twelve disciples. These, and many others, are the ones Jesus refers to in verse 15: “And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”

Verses 2-3 introduce us to the group of women who traveled with Jesus. There was a high cost to their discipleship. Not only did they support his ministry with their financial means, but they also served Jesus with a willingness to go against many of the social customs of their day. These women were the first disciples to truly get out of their comfort zone and dare to live a new way in response to the life-giving words of Jesus.

My Takeaway: These courageous women, as well as the others who received Jesus’ words, challenge me to examine my own life.  Is there a discernable personal cost for my discipleship?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.