Jesus Speaks To His Disciples

Jesus began a tour of the cities and villages of Galilee to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God, and took His twelve disciples with Him. Some women went along, from whom He had cast out demons or whom He had healed; among them were Mary Magdalene ( Jesus had cast out seven demons from her), Joanna, Chuza's wife (Chuza was king Herod's business manager and was in charge of his palace and domestic affairs), Susanna, and many others who were contributing from their private means to the support of Jesus and His disciples.

One day He gave this illustration to a large crowd that was gathering to hear Him - while many others were still on the way, coming from other towns.

"A farmer went out to his field to sow grain.  As he scattered the seed on the ground, some of it fell on a footpath and was trampled on; and the birds came and ate it as it lay exposed.

Other seed fell on shallow soil with rocks beneath. This seed began to grow, but soon withered and died for lack of moisture.

Other seed landed in thistle patches, and the young grain stalks were soon choked out.

Still other fell on fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as large as he had planted."

(As He was giving this illustration He said, "If anyone has listening ears, use them now!")

His apostles asked Him what the story meant.

He replied, " God has granted you to know the meaning of these parables, for they tell a great deal about the Kingdom of God.  But these crowds hear the words and do not understand, just as the ancient prophets have predicted.

THIS IS THE MEANING:

The seed is God's message to men.

The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believeing and being saved.

The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn't take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe for a while,; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest.

The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God's words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life.  And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.

BUT, the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people.  They listen to God's Words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe."

Luke Chapter 8 paraphrased. The Living Bible.