Last night as I went through Chapter 13 of Mathew and Chapter 4 of Mark’s gospel, I was reminded of one simple fact that all of Jesus’ teachings were always given as ‘parables’. Why did Jesus teach only in parables? What is a parable? We know that any parable is an important story with a hidden deep meaning. Notice even His disciples asked Jesus, “Why speakest thou unto them only in parables?” Look at what Jesus replied. He said “To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.” (Mathew 13:12) In essence He is saying here that He and His teachings will be available only to those who are willing to receive Him fully with an open heart in spite of all the opposition that will surely come as a result.
Keeping what I have said above in perspective, let us go through the parable of the Sower (Mathew 13:1- 9)…
This in a nutshell is the parable of the sower. Just as the farmer sows his seeds in different soils and reaps a corresponding harvest, so does a believer receives the Word (seed). If his heart is humble and willing to go by the Word in spite of all the odds, he then reaps a supernatural harvest, sometimes a hundred fold result. Great victories can be had by him. The Word of God has the ability to produce supernatural results, sometimes much more than we can dream and expect. We are not the ones who produce the seeds (Word). Our only job is to allow the Word to be sown deeply into our hearts, tend to it, and hold on to it even while we are under the opposing pressure of great conflict.
When will our harvest (victory) come? We should not worry about that. Jesus said the farmer or the sower does not know when the fruits will come. He is only sure that it will come in due season. Likewise, we also should walk with the firm belief that our harvest will definitely come. In due season!
Bible commentator: Sunder Venkataram (Thane)
