Session 5: The Soils

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Mark 4:1–34
• Scripture Memory - Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Matthew 3:2
• Catechism - Q: What is preaching the gospel like? A: Sowing seed.

Introduction

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The ministry of the word is the pipe or organ; the Spirit of God blowing in it … effectually changes men’s hearts … Ministers knock at the door of men’s hearts, the Spirit comes with a key and opens the door.

On the one hand, the work of Christian witness is like gathering a bountiful harvest of ripe produce. On the other hand, Christians participate in Christian witness by spreading the word like a farmer would scatter seed on the ground. Both of these images—the gathering of the harvest and the sowing of the seed—are powerful illustrations of evangelistic work. As ministers of the word, our foundational work is gospel proclamation. We act as witnesses as we share the good news of salvation with others. As we preach the gospel, we should anticipate various responses to the message.

Christian witness is not based on coercion, compulsion, or constraint. While believers should strive to be persuasive in the proclamation of the gospel, no person can force another person into the kingdom of God. Certainly, the gospel can powerfully transform the most rebellious and wicked sinner. But this transforming gospel power is felt upon those who fully embrace the good news of Christ. Full acceptance of the gospel—deep and complete appropriation into one’s life—results in clear evidence of a person’s faith in Christ. On the contrary, superficial assent to the gospel is insincere and inauthentic, disabling professed disciples from weathering the trials and tribulations intrinsic to the Christian life. A person’s receptivity to the gospel determines the impact of the gospel in a person’s life and the fruitfulness of this person’s service in God’s mission. God’s kingdom is composed of faith-filled and fruit-bearing disciples who have allowed the seed of the gospel to deeply penetrate their hearts and establish deep roots, causing them to become productive servants in God’s work.

In Mark 4:1–34, Jesus depicts the work of gospel witness as a person sowing seed on the ground. To do this, he used parables. A parable is a narrative tool that is a true-to-life story that is not a true, historical story, but it is used to demonstrate or illustrate biblical truth. First, Jesus told a parable about seed that fell on four different kinds of soil. Each of these soils had a different response to the gospel. Connecting gospel witness to kingdom growth, Jesus told two shorter parables about seed. The first of these shorter parables described seed that gradually grew into a harvest. The second was about a small mustard seed that grew into a large mustard plant. These parables elucidated the gradual and dynamic growth of God’s kingdom. Interspersed between these parables were explanations and sayings about the nature and purpose of parables. Jesus taught in parables to reveal the truth to the spiritually receptive and to conceal the truth from the spiritually stubborn. As disciples preach the gospel, sensitive and receptive hearts of faith are like good soil that fully embraces the gospel and bears fruit in God’s kingdom work.

This biblical narrative depicts various levels of gospel receptivity. Through the narration of three “seed” parables and three explanations about parables, this passage teaches disciples what to expect as they engage in the important work of evangelism. Believers are called to spread the good news of Jesus—to sow the seed of the gospel—summoning people to full devotion to Christ. To the extent that teaching in parables and preaching the gospel are similar, a person cannot come to fully understand the truth of the gospel or the essence of Christ’s kingdom by mere natural ability or intelligence. True understanding requires spiritual ears of faith and receptive eyes of trust to truly understand and embrace God’s word. Since true spiritual understanding involves embracing the truth, members of God’s kingdom become fruitful agents of his kingdom. As we survey these short narratives, may the soil of our hearts be ready to fully receive the seed of God’s word.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God calls his people to join his kingdom work by spreading the word like a sower scatters seed, trusting God to grow his kingdom.

Passage Overview

The gospel preached will reach the ears of many people. Not all of these spoken words will reach the depths of people’s hearts. Like the parable of the four soils, people will accept the word of salvation in varying degrees. Despite the fact that many will not genuinely receive the gospel, God will slowly and deliberately build his kingdom. To participate in God’s mission and to understand the essence of God’s kingdom, each person must cultivate the eyes of humble faith in Christ. As a believer, understanding the spiritual climate of a society is important. When we understand the questions, obstacles, and hesitancies people have toward the faith, we can more effectively share the gospel. Moreover, this understanding can also encourage God’s people as they engage in the toilsome (and often tiresome) work of evangelism. Carefully read the following commentary to help you understand Jesus’ teaching as it relates to evangelistic work.

Passage Outline

Preaching to the Heart

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

No man ever believes with a true and saving faith unless God inclines his heart; and no man when God does incline his heart can refrain from believing.

Introduction

The work of Christian witness targets the hearts of people in the preaching of the gospel. This heart-focused preaching leads Christians to announce the gospel in the hope that people receive the message in faith. A genuine response of faith means that the gospel has penetrated to a person’s inner core in full acceptance and devotion. More than a few have heard the gospel and expressed interest in its teaching, yet they do not internalize it. Upon hearing the message, others want to further explore its claims. Only those who internalize and embrace the gospel message can be said to have received the word. It is this act of genuine faith that makes someone a follower of Christ.

Understanding the unique heart conditions of humanity helps Christians in evangelistic work. Adjusting personal expectations and knowing about the different kinds of responses to the gospel can help a disciple anticipate reactions to their evangelistic work. Understanding the variety of responses can also help a person pray for people to have a change of heart. While each disciple must take care to share the gospel precisely and persuasively, it is only a work of God to make a person’s heart hospitable to the claims of Christ. Additionally, awareness of different heart conditions can help a person share the gospel with people in a focused and targeted way. Truly, gospel preaching is heart work.

In Mark 4:1–34, Jesus used parables to teach about the nature of the kingdom and Christian witness. This narrative compares the preaching of the gospel to a sower who scatters seed on the ground. In this act of sowing, seed fell on different kinds of soil. Each soil received the seed differently. Falling on a path, one seed was immediately devoured by birds. Another seed fell on rocky ground. Although it quickly sprouted, its shallow roots made it vulnerable to the sun’s heat. Eventually, the seedling withered. Other seed fell in the middle of the thorns. The seed sprouted, but the thorns choked the plant and did not allow it to yield grain. Some seed fell on good soil. This seed grew healthily and produced a great quantity of grain. Through this parable, Jesus highlighted the various responses people can have to the gospel message.

Jesus also told two other parables about seed: the parable of grain growing into a harvest and the parable about a mustard seed growing into a large plant. These two parables highlighted the definitive and gradual growth of God’s kingdom. Throughout this narrative, Jesus also explained the purpose and character of his parables. Through the content of the parables and Jesus’ explanation, we come to learn more about how to engage in the work of Christian witness. This story provides foundational teachings for evangelism, viewing it as a kingdom work. As this narrative commends, may we see and perceive, hear and understand, and listen and learn.

Listen and Behold: Hearing and Heeding the Words of Jesus’ Teaching

Biblical Narrative (Mark 4:1–9)

At the time of this story, Jesus “began to teach beside the sea” (4:1). Many people were interested in hearing Jesus’ teaching. Consequently, because there was “a large crowd gathered around Him” (4:1), Jesus got into a boat on the sea and sat on it. From the boat, Jesus taught the crowd of people on the shoreline. In particular, Jesus “taught them many things in parables” (4:2). These parables were special types of stories that Jesus used to communicate basic teachings of the faith.

Jesus told the crowd a story about a person who scattered seed on the ground. When the “farmer went out to sow his seed” (4:3), some of the seed “fell along the path” (4:4). The seed never sprouted as “the birds came and devoured it” (4:4). Some of the other seed “fell on rocky ground” (4:5). This ground was shallow and “did not have much soil” (4:5). The seed that fell on this soil “sprang up quickly” (4:5). The shallow roots could not survive the heat of the sun. Therefore, the sun rose and scorched the seedlings, and “they withered because they had no root” (4:6).

When the sower scattered his seed, “other seed fell among thorns” (4:7). The thorns grew up around the plant and “choked the seedlings” so that “they yielded no crop” (4:7). Some of the seed also fell on a fourth type of ground that was “good soil” (4:8). Because the soil was good, the seed grew and produced bountifully: “It sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop” (4:8). So productive were the plants of this seed and soil that its crop was numerous: “one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold” (4:8). Because this was a parable, Jesus concluded his story by telling his listeners, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (4:9).

Biblical Principles

Jesus’ Teaching. The opening of this narrative describes Jesus teaching to a “large crowd” (4:1). Later in this story, Jesus would eventually speak privately to “the Twelve and those around Him” (4:10). At this point in the narrative, it seems that his teaching was directed to “all the people crowded along the shore” (4:1). Jesus’ twofold teaching—a movement between speaking to large crowds and privately to his devoted followers (4:33–34)—helps us understand the plot of this narrative and also a core aspect of Jesus’ ministry. Healthy Christian witness is both public and private. Offering the message of salvation to the masses and providing personal explanation to smaller groups (and even individuals), Christians can focus on both breadth and depth when it comes to our evangelistic work.

Gripping Parable. When Jesus spoke to the crowd, he told a specific kind of story called a parable. The fuller interpretation of this parable will be explained later in the narrative (cf. 4:13–20). For the moment, it is important to note that the parable is a simple, concrete story that is true-to-life and aims to communicate a truth about the faith. So important was the truth that Jesus was communicating that he began the parable with the exclamation, “listen” (4:3). In addition, Jesus ended the parable with a promise and a warning, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear” (4:9). The simple, true-to-life nature of the story did not mean that the spiritual truths were readily accessible to any listener. It would require the attentiveness and perception of faith to understand what the parable was teaching. However, once a person grasped the story in faith, its illuminating power would dwell in the hearts and minds of Christ’s followers, not only to recall the spiritual truth but to utilize it as a guide for Christian mission.

He Who Has Ears: Coming to Terms with Spiritual Understanding

Biblical Narrative (Mark 4:9–13)

Jesus acknowledged that not everyone would understand the parable. Only those who had “ears to hear” (4:9) would grasp the story’s meaning. Jesus did not explain the meaning of the parable to the large crowd. Instead, he finally elaborated on the parable’s meaning when he was “alone with the Twelve and those around Him” (4:10). Jesus responded to this smaller group and told them that they had been given “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (4:11). Jesus’ disciples were given a specific understanding of the nature of God’s kingdom rule. In contrast, Jesus explained that “to those on the outside everything is expressed in parable” (4:11).

In essence, Jesus used parables to explain spiritual truths, but he also used them to conceal truth from the unbelieving. Quoting from Isaiah 6:9–10, Jesus told this smaller group of followers that parables will cause the unbelieving to be “ever seeing but never perceiving” and to be “ever hearing but never understanding” (4:12). Those who purposefully and stubbornly reject the gospel message are blinded in ignorance so that they will not “turn and be forgiven” (4:12). Having established this underlying purpose of the parables, Jesus asked his followers if they grasped the meaning of this parable of the seed (4:13) because understanding this parable was foundational for them understanding other parables. In this way, Jesus established a double purpose for the parables: understanding for those who have responded to Jesus in faith and ignorance for those who have deliberately rejected Jesus.

Biblical Principles

Parables and Spiritual Understanding. Throughout the course of the narrative, Jesus gave insight into the nature and purpose of parables (4:9–13, 21–25, 30, 33–34). These glimpses into his parabolic teaching not only help us understand Jesus’ use of parables but also help us understand the specific spiritual dynamics related to the topic of his parables. That is, the parables in this narrative expose the faith condition of a person (or group) by the very riddle-like nature of the parable and the actual content of the parables. The three main parables of this narrative—the parable of the soils (4:1–20), the parable of the grain harvest (4:26–29), and the parable of the mustard seed (4:30–32)—explore what it means for people to genuinely receive the gospel message.

Said simply, sincere followers of Christ embrace the gospel with understanding and acceptance in a way that produces fruit. The very beginning of this faith journey is hearing the word. While the first parable warns about those who only hear the word but do not accept it (4:15, 16, 18), this same parable also highlights the importance of hearing the gospel message. Without messengers to scatter the seed of the gospel—encountering the gospel message through the clear and accurate preaching of the gospel—people would remain ignorant of God’s message of life. Still, only hearing the gospel message is insufficient for gaining the gospel’s promise of life, as the parable also emphasizes. The first soils in the parable receive the scattered seed (like people hearing the gospel message). Some of the soils have some level of acceptance (cf. 4:16–19). Only the last soil hears, accepts, and produces fruit (cf. 4:20).

The goal of preaching and parables is to facilitate the kind of hearing and understanding that leads to a full embrace of the gospel. In terms of parables and the genuineness of one’s faith, hearing and seeing are used to describe true understanding. This is what Jesus meant when he says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (4:9; cf. 4:23). The people who truly hear are in stark contrast to those who are “ever seeing but never perceiving and ever hearing but never understanding” (4:12). Within these statements are both a promise and a warning. People who really hear the gospel by accepting it and bearing fruit in the Christian life prove they have genuine faith, have understanding, and are in God’s kingdom. The converse is tragically just as true: those who reject the gospel (even if they had heard it and partially accepted it at some point in the past) evidence that they are not citizens of God’s kingdom of eternal life.

Later in this narrative, Jesus will elaborate on the nature of full understanding and complete devotion to the gospel with the command, “Pay attention to what you hear” (4:24). God’s kingdom will not come in the way that many people expect it to come. It requires the attentiveness of wisdom, spiritual sensitivity, and the vision of faith. Those who gain a deeper and clearer understanding of the kingdom—though it is partially veiled and difficult to perceive—will have more entrusted to them (cf. 4:24–25).

On the one hand, parables help clarify the essence of God’s kingdom. In this way, they use narrative comparisons (4:30; cf. 4:26) that people can relate to so that the truth of the kingdom becomes “disclosed” and is “brought to light” (4:22). On the other hand, parables conceal the nature of the kingdom. By his own words, Jesus told parables to keep things “hidden” and “concealed” (4:22), like putting a lamp under a basket or bed (4:21). In essence, the parables reveal the mysteries of the kingdom for those who are ready to embrace them, and they conceal the essence of the kingdom for those who remain stubborn and resistant to the faith.

In a broader sense, teaching with parables is like preaching the gospel. Some are ready to receive the good news. To these, the message of the gospel is not only clear but appealing, so appealing that they yield their lives to its message. For others, the message of salvation may have an initial intrigue, but these people are not ready to align the entirety of their lives around this word. Just like people responded variously to Jesus’ parables, so should believers expect different reactions when they sow the seed of God’s word. This also means that Christians should preach in a way that calls people to a deep understanding and full-orbed devotion to Christ. Only when people surrender themselves in faith to the good news are the secrets of the kingdom unfolded.

Secrets of the Kingdom/Inside and Outside. The overarching theme of these parables (and many of Jesus’ parables elsewhere) is God’s kingdom rule. Notably, this important theme of the kingdom is elsewhere identified in this narrative (cf. 4:26, 30). Part of God’s plan of salvation is to establish his righteous and good rule over all creation. By speaking about “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (4:11), Jesus was saying that not everyone fully understood the nature of God’s kingdom. This is not only why parables were appropriate to teach about the kingdom, but also why some people remain outside the kingdom. Jesus made it clear that citizens of God’s kingdom have come to a genuine understanding of his kingdom, and those who are “outside” (4:11) the kingdom remain in ignorance. Preaching the gospel is an invitation for an outsider to become a citizen of God’s kingdom. The key to accessing God’s kingdom is a response of faith where one yields to God’s rule. Such a genuine faith will also result in a turning from sin and accepting God’s divine forgiveness. The members of God’s kingdom are those of faith, repentance, and forgiveness.

Repentance and Forgiveness. The climax of spiritual understanding and faith is to “turn and be forgiven” (4:12). Jesus spoke in parables to keep some people from gaining this understanding. He also preached in order to summon his people to become kingdom citizens. Repenting from our life of sin and receiving God’s forgiveness—realities which only come from the genuine understanding of faith—represent a height of spiritual understanding and kingdom membership. The marks of God’s kingdom are humble faith, childlike trust, genuine repentance, and lavish forgiveness. These are not only crucial elements for us to become members of God’s kingdom. These characteristics should also define our work of Christian witness. When it comes to gospel preaching, we are calling people to faith in Christ and repentance from sin in order to experience the gracious forgiveness offered in Christ.

These Are the Ones: Becoming Aware of Different Responses to the Gospel

Biblical Narrative (Mark 4:13–20)

After explaining the nature and importance of parables, Jesus offered his followers an interpretation of the parable of the soils. Connecting the parable to Christian witness, Jesus identified the sower as the one who spreads “the word” (4:14). Like a person who scatters seed on the ground, a person who preaches the gospel is spreading the word to others. While the story begins with the sower, the main emphasis of the story is on the different kinds of soil that “receive” the seed of the word. The focus of the parable is to identify the different kinds of people—“some are like” (4:15; cf. 4:16) and “others are like” (4:18, 20)—and their various responses to the gospel.

Jesus explained that some people are like the path. They hear the word preached, but “as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them” (4:15). Like birds that devour seed on a path, Satan removes the word before it has a chance to take root and make a life impact.

The rocky soil represents another kind of reception of the gospel. Some people hear the word and “at once receive it with joy” (4:17). Although this initial response to the gospel is admirable, the gospel has shallow roots in these people’s hearts. That means they “remain for only a season” and “when trouble or persecution comes … they quickly fall away” (4:17). This group of people cannot endure the suffering and opposition that comes “because of the word” (4:17). This soil characterizes people who crumble under hardship and do not maintain their faith in the gospel.

Jesus illustrated a third kind of reception by likening people’s hearts to thorny ground. These people hear the message preached (4:18) and are undone by the cares of the world: “The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (4:19). Life worries, empty promises of wealth, and insatiable desires can crowd out the truth in human hearts. In this instance, the world’s concerns and temptations restrict the growth of the word. The result is that the word is received, but it does not bear fruit.

Finally, we compare genuine disciples of Christ to the response of the good soil. This final kind of ground represents people who “hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold” (4:20). Not only is there a sincere reception of the word, but this reception results in bountiful provision of fruit.

Biblical Principles

Preaching and Sowing. One of the most basic and instructive details of this narrative is the comparison of preaching to sowing seed. The image of the sower spreading his seed on the ground (4:3–4) is compared to a person who speaks the word to others (4:14–15). This image is repeated in the latter two parables in this narrative: a man who scatters “seed on the ground” (4:26) and mustard seed that is “sown upon the earth” (4:31). The act of sowing seed leaves a vivid image upon the heart and mind of the Christian disciple. Christians do not force people to convert. They do not offer the gospel to a limited group. Christian preaching involves spreading—yes, even scattering—the message of the gospel to as many people as possible. Just like a sower does not know exactly which seed will grow into a plant, so the disciple does not know which person will respond to the gospel in faith. Rather than targeting our evangelism to a limited group of people or demographic, Christians should broadly and generously share the gospel with anyone who will hear.

Different Soils. People with many different heart conditions will hear the gospel message. When the gospel is spread broadly and generously, people will variously respond. Like the path, some hear the gospel but do not truly accept it. Exemplified by the rocky ground, some will hear the gospel and receive it with joy, but will not endure under hardship and suffering. The thorny ground highlights the kind of people who hear and receive the word, yet it does not bear fruit in their lives. The good soil represents those who genuinely believe in Christ. This group of people hears and embraces the gospel and bears fruit in their lives, demonstrating spiritual understanding and sincere faith.

Importantly, this parable highlights specific hindrances to genuine faith. One threat to evangelistic work is the devil. Some people hear the gospel message, but Satan steals the seed (4:15). Although the gospel may be preached clearly, accurately, and persuasively, Satan seeks to remove the word from people before it takes root and sprouts. Knowing that there is a fierce enemy who seeks to intercept and steal the proclaimed gospel should cause us to labor in all of our evangelistic work in prayer. Additionally, this also means that persistent preaching of the word to people can give them multiple chances for the seed to implant itself in a person’s heart.

Some people will receive the gospel with initial joy (4:16), but the gospel will not form deep roots. The promises and benefits of the gospel greatly appeal to people. However, the Christian life involves suffering and hardship. People who experience the joy of the gospel promise without understanding the commitment of gospel sacrifice do not fully understand the gospel or God’s kingdom. Suffering, trial, persecution, and difficulty are core parts of the Christian life. As representatives of the Christian faith, we should expect such opposition “because of the word” (4:17). Secure in deep roots, faithful Christians will endure “when trouble or persecution comes” (4:17). In our evangelism, we need to not only announce the joyful promises of salvation but also warn about the upcoming difficulties for those who believe. Further, this means that after a person comes to Christ, it is important to help this new believer build solid foundations in their faith.

The third soil warns us about several things that suffocate the faith of a person who has initially expressed acceptance of the gospel: “the worries of this life,” “the deceitfulness of wealth,” and “the desire for other things” (4:19). One’s constant work of meeting their basic needs can stir up anxiety and fear and take their attention off of the eternal promises of the gospel. The empty and elusive promises of wealth can distract a person from the future and the irrevocable reward guaranteed to those who truly believe. The thorny ground of the world’s seductive appeal is not a hospitable environment for faith. In spreading the word, Christians should address the worldly temptations that seek to pull people away from faith. Good gospel preaching exposes worrisome cares, false promises, and fleeting pleasures for what they really are. In contrast, the gospel offers a person enduring peace, genuine fulfillment, and full satisfaction in Jesus.

Acceptance and Faith. In contrast to the three bad soils, the good soil represents people who fully embrace the word. The other soils depict people who variously accept the gospel. The first (path) soil heard but did not receive the word. The second (rocky) soil heard and received with joy, but did not endure suffering and hardship. The third (thorny) soil heard and sprouted but did not produce fruit. The fourth (good) soil illustrates people who “hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop” (4:20). Importantly, these people encounter the gospel message, embrace it with joy and endurance, and bear fruit as evidence of this faith. Full acceptance of the gospel results in a bountiful production of fruit.

When we share the gospel with others, we should be aware of different levels of acceptance. In one sense, it helps us to evaluate where a person currently stands based upon how they respond (or don’t respond) to the gospel. But the progression of acceptance—hearing, accepting, bearing fruit—helps us to guide people in their journey of faith. Although understanding the message of the gospel is crucial to becoming a believer, mere intellectual assent to the gospel message does not make a person a follower of Christ. Accepting the gospel is more than just a one-time decision to follow Christ. Like a seedling that grows, genuine believers will grow and mature in their faith. Intrinsic in the gospel is an appeal to receive the gospel in moments of joy and bouts of suffering. Although genuine Christians maintain a steady faith in Christ, the fullness of faith is verified when it becomes fruitful and productive.

Pay Attention to What You Hear: Cultivating a Godly Perception and Faithful Devotion

Biblical Narrative (Mark 4:21–25)

After telling the parable of the soils, Jesus again clarified the purpose and character of his parables. He explained that parables are like a lamp that is put “under a basket or under a bed” (4:21). While the lamp is covered—“not on a stand” (4:21)—it does not give off light. When it is uncovered and put on a stand, it can give light around it. Although the parables have temporarily concealed the meaning, the meaning of the parables will not be hidden forever. Jesus clarified that “there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light” (4:22). Eventually, the truth of the parables will become evident to all. Highlighting the nature of true understanding and faith, Jesus said, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (4:23; cf. 4:9).

Jesus urged his followers to “pay attention to what you hear” (4:24). Expanding on the essence of spiritual understanding, Jesus said that “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you” (4:25). Those who are responsible with the knowledge and understanding of the faith not only evidence their citizenship in the kingdom, but also make themselves open to receive more blessings from God: “for whoever has will be given more” but “whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” (4:25).

Biblical Principles

Spiritual Blindness. In this section, Jesus once again explains the nature of his teaching and spiritual understanding. Admittedly, these are very difficult sayings to understand. The imagery of the lamp illustrates Jesus’ use of parables and the nature of God’s kingdom. Normally, a person would not put a lamp under a basket or bed (4:21). Typically, a person would put a lamp on a stand so that it illuminates everything around it. However, through the use of parables, Jesus partially and temporarily veiled people’s understanding of the kingdom, making it difficult for them to understand it by their own strength. This use of parables was appropriate regarding the kingdom because the kingdom was partially revealed and yet imperceptible to human wisdom. Because the kingdom is partially revealed (and thus partially veiled), those who truly come to faith in Christ and continue to embrace the gospel amid suffering have shown that their faith is genuine and sincere. In these instances, God has truly caused faith to grow and produce fruit.

Partially Revealed Kingdom. The kingdom will not be veiled for all time. There will be a time when the fullness of God’s kingdom will be visible and unquestioned. The time to choose one’s allegiance is now, during the partially revealed and progressively growing kingdom. People who “measure” the essence of the kingdom correctly (that is, those who understand the gospel, embrace it in faith, turn from their sin, and receive God’s forgiveness) enter into the membership of God’s kingdom and enjoy God’s abundant blessings. Those without this kingdom membership will be completely bereft of all good things. These sayings are an appeal to spiritual understanding: to pay attention to Jesus’ words, evaluate them correctly, and truly hear the message of the gospel by accepting it with sincerity and joy. In the work of Christian witness, disciples must be aware of two significant barriers: the ignorance (i.e., spiritual blindness/deafness) of people and the partially revealed nature of the kingdom.

It Is Like This: Understanding the Way God’s Kingdom Grows

Biblical Narrative (Mark 4:26–34)

The last parables in this narrative highlight the nature of the kingdom as it relates to Christian witness. Both of these short parables use the seed imagery (4:26–29, 30–32) like the earlier parable (cf. 4:1–20). In the first of these short parables, Jesus explained that “the kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground” (4:26). A person who scatters seed cannot make the seed grow. He simply sows the seed on the ground and then “night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows” (4:27). The man “knows not how” (4:27) the seed grows. The growth of a harvest takes time: “first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within” (4:28). Similarly, the test of a person’s faith is revealed over time. The growing fullness of God’s kingdom will also take place in a subtle way that eventually culminates in a grand finale of redemptive history: “as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come” (4:29).

Jesus offered another short parable with which he would “compare the kingdom of God” (4:30). Jesus explained that the kingdom “is like a mustard seed” (4:31). The mustard seed is “the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth” (4:31) but “after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches” (4:32). The mustard tree becomes so immense that “the birds of the air nest in its shade” (4:32). As the kingdom takes time to grow from a seed to a harvest, so the kingdom will begin small (like a mustard seed), but will eventually become enormous. These were not the only parables that Jesus used. The story recounts that “with many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand” (4:33). When Jesus spoke to the people, he used parables, but then “privately He explained everything to His own disciples” (4:33).

Biblical Principles

Seed. Both of these final parables describe the kingdom as seed. This reinforces the earlier parable about the different kinds of soil (cf. 4:1–20) and adds to this imagery with great depth. Explicit in these parables is a comparison of God’s kingdom to seed that sprouts and grows (4:26, 30). The process of growth begins when the sower scatters seed on the ground (4:26, 31). While the first parable focuses on a quantity of seed scattered on the ground, the second parable seems to focus on a single mustard seed (even if more mustard seeds are implied by the sowing and scattering process). As it relates to God’s kingdom work, God is concerned about the breadth and depth of his kingdom. He wants it to spread like scattered seed, and he wants it to grow healthily like a mustard seed that becomes a large mustard plant (4:31–32).

Cause of Growth. In terms of Christian witness, Jesus used the parable of the seed growing into a grain harvest to highlight that God is the cause of kingdom growth. As evangelism is a kingdom work, Christian disciples can (and should) have a faithful role in the work of gospel proclamation. Vital to this work is the realization that God is the one who makes a Christian’s work productive and fruitful. While the sower “sleeps and wakes” night and day, eventually “the seed sprouts and grows” (4:27). The farmer is faithful in his work to plant the seed, but he cannot fully explain how it grows. God causes the growth of the kingdom even while believers are asleep and ignorant of the full process of growth. Clearly, the sower is not responsible for the growth of the seed into grain. Jesus described the growth of the plant from an earthly perspective in a way that bears testimony to God as the cause of growth: “the earth produces a crop” (4:28).

God’s definitive role in growing the harvest of his kingdom does not mean believers should be inactive or passive in sharing the gospel. Although no human can cause the growth of his crop, the sower is responsible for scattering seed on the ground (4:26) and gathering the crops when they are ready and ripe (4:29). Christian disciples cannot cause God’s kingdom to grow on earth, but this does not mean our role is insignificant or irrelevant. We can be faithful participants in the work—spreading the gospel (like a sower) and calling people into God’s kingdom (like a harvester)—with a healthy and humble recognition that we cannot generate the growth of God’s kingdom. In the mystery of his will, the sovereign God invited his people to be completely engaged in his kingdom work without laying on their shoulders the full weight of responsibility for making it a success.

Progressive Growth. The two short parables in this final part of the biblical narrative also teach us about how God’s kingdom grows. The first parable seems to describe a process of growth after the seed is scattered: “first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within” (4:28) and then “as soon as the grain is ripe … the harvest has come” (4:29). Seed is sown. The seed sprouts into a seedling. A blade forms on the stalk. An ear of grain grows. This ear grows into a full grain. The grain becomes ripe and is harvested. The detailed process contained in such a short parable highlights the progressive and gradual nature of growth. Whether one considers raising crops or serving God’s kingdom, growth and expansion usually occur over a period of time.

Growth is a process, and while there are discernible milestones to this growth, day-to-day observation of kingdom fruit may seem quite unremarkable. In terms of individual evangelism, a person’s journey to faith in Christ may take many years of progressively coming closer to Christ. But the same is true of God’s cosmic kingdom agenda. When one looks at the panorama of history, it is clear that God’s kingdom is growing. But when we try to notice the progress of the kingdom in our immediate present, the growth of the kingdom may seem unspectacular to our eyes. Nevertheless, this parable gives us hope that God’s kingdom will become a great and plentiful harvest even if its progressive development seems uneventful and unexceptional.

From a slightly different perspective, the final parable also emphasizes the growth of God’s kingdom. Like a small mustard seed growing into a large and expansive mustard tree, this “largest of all garden plants” (4:32) becomes the dwelling place of many. Just as the mustard seed grows into a plant that “puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade” (4:32), so the shade of God’s kingdom will offer coverage and safety for any and all who place their faith in Christ. God’s kingdom growth—individually and globally—not only takes place gradually but also becomes expansive from what appears to be a very small beginning.

Conclusion

In this narrative, Jesus told three parables about seed. Interspersed in these parables is an explanation about what parables are and how they functioned in Jesus’ teaching. The parable of the four soils clarified the different responses to God’s word, highlighting what genuine acceptance of the gospel entails. The parable of the grain growing into a harvest shows the certain yet gradual growth of God’s kingdom. The parable of the mustard seed reminds us that the small beginnings of the kingdom will become expansive over time. Jesus used parables to reveal the essence of his kingdom to those who are receptive and to conceal the truth from those who are resistant and stubborn. Both the content and characteristics of Jesus’ parables inform our approach to Christian witness.

When Christians preach the gospel, they are broadly scattering the seed of God’s word to people. Expectedly, gospel preaching will be met with a variety of responses. Some will hear but not receive. Many will superficially receive the word. Others will genuinely embrace the gospel in a way that yields abundant fruit. Those who respond in faith become members of God’s kingdom. Although God’s kingdom begins small and often grows gradually, the ultimate success of God’s kingdom is certain. Those who have the spiritual understanding that comes from faith not only know how God’s kingdom works, but they are entrusted with responsibility in God’s kingdom work. In this work, Jesus’ parables guide our preaching work.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 5 SYNOPSIS
The Heart Work of Gospel Ministry	In this passage, we learn about the inner work of evangelism and the hidden nature of Christ’s kingdom. Jesus told people a parable about four different types of soil: path, rocky, thorny, and good. Each type of soil received the seed differently. Only the good soil bore fruit. Jesus explained that he taught in parables to reveal the truth to the believing and to conceal the truth from the unbelieving. Jesus also explained to his disciples the meaning of the parable of the four soils. The four soils represented different heart conditions of people who hear the preached word. Jesus taught a parable about a seed growing while a farmer was asleep and a small mustard seed growing into a large plant. These parables taught about the nature of God’s kingdom. Jesus taught in many parables like these. These narrative teachings explain how the gospel gets implanted in people’s hearts and how God grows his kingdom. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Preaching Like Sowing Seed	Preaching the gospel is like sowing or scattering seed (4:3–4, 14–15, 26, 31). God calls his people to share the gospel liberally, but also to recognize what true acceptance of the message entails.
Heart Conditions	Jesus described four soils in the first parable: path soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, and good soil (4:3–8). These represent different heart conditions of those who hear the gospel (4:14–20). When people hear the word, they will encounter various obstacles and opponents that make it challenging to truly receive the gospel. In this narrative, some of these obstacles are Satan (4:14), shallow roots (4:17), suffering and persecution (4:17), cares of the world (4:19), desires for wealth (4:19), and covetousness (4:19).
Kingdom Growth	God is the one who causes growth (4:27–28). God’s people are responsible for preaching the word like scattering seed (4:26, 31). Growth takes place progressively over time (4:28–29, 31–32). God’s kingdom starts small and then grows large (4:26–32). Currently, God’s kingdom is partially revealed, and one day it will be fully revealed (4:21–22).
Parables	Jesus taught people publicly (4:1) and privately (4:10, 33–34). Jesus also taught in parables (4:2, 11, 13, 30, 33) that explained according to people’s understanding (4:9, 13, 23, 33). Those who understood were insiders by virtue of their faith and acceptance; those who did not understand were outsiders by virtue of their lack of faith and unreceptive hearts to the message (4:9–13, 21–25, 30, 33–34).
Spiritual Understanding	Faith in the gospel amounts to true spiritual understanding (4:23–25). This true understanding comes from hearing (4:9, 12, 15–16, 18, 20, 23–24, 33), paying attention (4:3, 24), repenting (4:12), and accepting (4:16, 20). Those who truly believe will grow (4:8, 27–28, 32) and bear fruit (4:8, 19–20, 27–29). Those who only hear the word but do not accept it in faith are spiritually ignorant, blind, deaf, and lack true understanding (4:15–16, 18).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Faith Interview

Prayerfully think about key questions that would help you understand the religious beliefs of people in your surrounding area. Write five questions that you can use for an interview or survey. Discuss and refine these questions with your community. Then, complete the survey with as many people as you can, seeking to understand the spiritual climate of your society and potentially spark faith conversations.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.