Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus explained to his disciples the meaning of the parables. Most people see the four examples as being four levels of people seeking to do the will of God. It could also be the steps of progress of one person seeking to know his Shepherd. My chicken thinks I am his shepherd. She follows me around, gets as close as she can to where I almost step on her if not careful. I would never seek to harm my chicken. Our LORD is our shepherd who leads us, but do we love him with the devotion even of the lowly hen?
Jesus explains the four types of soil, or hearts.
Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Now I believe that our salvation is the work of God through faith in Jesus, and once saved we are always saved, by his grace and not by our works. However we should seek to grow in faith and commitment following salvation.
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Let us return to Jesus' explanation.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
The first example shows that satan came and took the word out of their hearts, they were not saved from their sins, there was no salvation because they did not believe in their hearts.
The second example shows that the word was received with joy, but the garden was not cared for and they were not strong in faith.
The third example shows that there was too much junk in the life and the progress was choked out.
The forth example shows the word falling in a prepared heart with an increase of good fruit. I learn from this that before we write off someone because they do not act as a Christian, perhaps they need help in growing into maturity. A fruitful Christian is totally dedicated to helping others to grow in faith. The devil comes immediately to snatch away the word, so knowing this we must be dedicated by reading the word with understanding. The Bible word is the sword of truth against the thief and liar. God loves us so much. He will help us as we face the worlds dangers. Come to him as a chick to the mother hen. We were made in the image of God, not a chicken. So let's be what God intended for us.
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