Mark 4:13-21- Responses to the Gospel

And then there's the soil the sower forgot to water...

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

Jesus now explains what the parable of the sower means. The context of the parable is one who is giving God’s word, to anyone and everyone. Jesus then uses the different soils to explain people’s different reactions to God’s word—specifically the word that God’s kingdom is coming to take the place of the current authorities of God’s kingdom.

The first response is one who hears God’s word, but rejects it immediately. Jesus explains that it is because Satan takes away from these the truth of God’s word. The second response is one who receives the word and immediately accepts it. However, because of the word—either through obedience to it or through proclaiming it—they are rejected and hated by those around them, and so they do not continue to obey it or proclaim it, and thus they fail to endure in the word. The third response is that of those who also accept the word as true and obey it and proclaim it, but they also want the comforts and wealth of this world. This causes them to compromise their stand with the message of revolution, and so they too do not endure in the word. The final response is that of those who hear the word, totally accept it and remain with it through the sacrifices and difficulties that the word requires. Such people continually obey the word and proclaim it, causing it to increase.

Jesus is speaking first to those whom he is training to be evangelists. He is telling them to not expect most people to follow or even listen to their message. In this story, only one fourth of the people listening actually follow through and fulfill the message of the kingdom.

It's frustrating to share the word of God.  So many people don't listen, or only listen hardheartedly.  In a sense, Jesus is getting us ready for that frustration.  Just like when God spoke to Jeremiah or Ezekiel and he told them, "I'll give you messages, but no one will pay attention to them."  That's a tough ministry.  Is it better to tell the truth that no one listens to or to tell a half-truth that everyone appreciates?  Hmmmm....

But Jesus is also speaking to those who are listening. He is saying that the requirements of hearing His word, in order to receive the blessing, is not simply to understand. Or even believe. The basic requirement is that one follows through. Belief is simply the first step, then one has to be consistent with Jesus' word-- through the temptations of a "normal" life and through the difficulties of people mocking you for following Jesus. If we aren't faithful with Jesus' word, then we haven't finished the process of faith.