The Sower and the Seeds

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The Sower and the Seeds [∞]


https://2ndbook.org/w/images/8/88/2ndB_Parable_of_the_sower.mp4

▸ ± Mark 4:3-9, 13-20; Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15

Common Elements Shared by the Three Accounts

  1. The Sower – the words for 'sower' and 'seed' are the same. זרע - 'lifted up זע in revelation ר' or 'the crown זר of the flesh ע' or 'the bride's ז friend רע'. Both the sower and the seed are Christ. He is the one that the world sees and hears as the sower, and he is the one who lays down his life as the seed.
  2. Four places – The seed is sown four times representing the four things for which scripture is profitable:
    • The path - This is either דרך (afflicted גך revelation ר ) for way as the path back to the garden, or ארח (brother אח revelation ר Ge 49:17 ) as path.
      • Doctrine (Garden): The garden represents the beginning of God's revelation to humanity, where doctrine is established. This is where the foundation of truth is laid. Doctrine starts with a catechism hidden in the alphabet, then expands through words, verses and the first chapter. As an outline of time through and beyond the cross, the story of Christ is told and doctrines spawned for later elucidation.
    • The rocky ground - צור means 'bound'. Israel was bound in the desert for 40 years.
      • Reproof (Wilderness of Exodus): The wilderness is where the people of Israel are tested and corrected. Reproof is the process of pointing out where things have gone wrong, just like Israel’s disobedience in the wilderness. This time of wandering shows the consequences of straying from God's word. It’s where God brings conviction and exposes failures, yet it is also where He provides mercy, showing His love and urging repentance.
    • The thorny ground Jesus said thorns were the cares of the world. He loved the world so much that he died for it.
      • Correction (Teaching of Jesus): Jesus’ teaching is the direct correction of the misinterpretations and distortions of God's word. Just as He healed the sick and restored sight to the blind, His teachings restore the broken understanding of truth. He corrects the heart, pointing out the inward issues that lead to outward sin, calling people to a deeper righteousness that surpasses mere outward actions.
    • The good soil. 'Soil' שדה also means 'wife' or 'lamb שה of the command ד'
      • Training in Righteousness (Resurrection of Jesus): The resurrection represents the ultimate transformation, where all that is broken is made whole. Training in righteousness is not merely learning facts; it is the process of being renewed and equipped for godly living. Through Christ’s resurrection, we are empowered to live in newness of life, as He teaches us through the Holy Spirit. The resurrection trains us in the way of righteousness, giving us the hope and power to walk in it.
  3. The Call to Hear – Each account ends with Jesus saying, "He who has ears אזן ( separated א prostitute זן )(chosen sinner) to hear, let him hear (שמע 'saved שע of the promise מ' or 'reputation שמ of flesh ע').


Differences Between the Accounts

  1. Wording Variations
  2. Emphasis on Growth
    • Mark uniquely notes that the seed "produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
    • Matthew also includes these numbers but presents them in a different sequence: "a hundredfold, sixty, thirty."
    • Luke simplifies the statement, only saying it "produced a hundredfold."
  3. The Role of Birds
    • In Mark, the birds "came and devoured" the seed.
    • In Matthew, the birds simply "ate them."
    • In Luke, the birds "trampled" on the seed before eating it.

Study During the Gaps of Authorship and Its Explanation of Differences

  • Mark (First Gospel): Focuses on the simple telling of the parable, emphasizing the initial scattering of the seed and the various ways it fails or succeeds. The numbers (30-60-100) may reflect an early understanding of the increasing fruitfulness of the word.
  • Matthew (Second Gospel): After discovering that Israel was a "son" and a shadow of Christ, Matthew refines Mark’s teaching by adding details that emphasize deeper Jewish connections. The reversal of the number order (100-60-30) may highlight the fullest kingdom expression first.
  • Luke (Third Gospel): With a broader audience in mind and his discovery that pre-Abrahamic figures foreshadowed Christ, Luke clarifies ideas by adding the concept of "moisture" to explain why the seed withers. He simplifies the numbers, focusing on the ultimate "hundredfold" return.

Unique Ideas of the Gospel Authors

  • Mark: Emphasizes the act of scattering seed, growth, and fruitfulness. The focus is on the mystery of the kingdom taking root.
  • Matthew: Orders the fruitfulness from greatest to least, possibly reflecting the Jewish priority of the kingdom being fully realized before diminishing in later ages.
  • Luke: Stresses the importance of nourishment ("moisture") and simplifies the message for a Gentile audience, focusing on the ultimate reward (hundredfold).

Unique Ideas in Putting This Together (My Approach)

  1. The Parable as a Picture of Christ – The "sower" is Christ, the "seed" is His wordh he is the one who was "trampled" (Luke), "devoured" (Mark), and "withered" (Matthew), (prefigures of his tribulation) yet He ultimately produces the great harvest.
  2. Progressive Revelation in the Gospels – The differences in the accounts are not contradictions but reflections of what the authors discovered during the gaps of authorship.
  3. Typological Fulfillment – The three failed soils represent three times Christ was revealed to man prior to the resurrection. The fourth is his resurrection. It might be said this is how Jesus saw 'dispensationalism'.
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