BENEATH THE SURFACE
‘As he sowed.’
Ages have passed, and Christ is the Sower still, by whatever instrument He works, for we are God’s husbandry as well as God’s building. And the ‘seed’ is the Word of God; so strangely able to work invisibly below the surface of human life.
I. Indifference.—This seed, the Word of God, is sown broadcast, as all our opportunities are given. Men may receive the grace of God in vain, and this in more ways than one. On some it produces no vital impression whatever; it lies on the surface of a mind which the feet of human interests have trodden hard. It may well be doubted whether any soul, wholly indifferent to religious truth, ever retained even its theoretic knowledge long. The foolish heart is darkened. The fowls of the air catch away the priceless seed of eternity. Observe how Jesus explained this calamity. It was not because of forgetfulness; nor the truth neglected by, or withheld from, the careless, but—Jesus said, ‘straightway cometh Satan and taketh away the Word which hath been sown in them.’
II. Shallowness.—There are other dangers to dread besides absolute indifference to truth. Next to those who neglect the Word, He places those ‘who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy.’ They have taken the promises without the precepts, they have hoped for the crown without the cross. Their type is the thin layer of earth over a shelf of rock; a hot-bed for a time; and the seed springs up, but there is no deepness of soil, its roots are scorched, and it withers away. The roots of a real Christian life must strike deeper down. A mature and settled joy is among ‘the fruits of the Spirit’; it is not the first blade that shoots up. Feelings easily quickened are also easily perverted. Tribulation or persecution are not counted upon. Trouble and opposition of wicked men are not included in the superficial view of the life Divine. They endure, but only for a while.
III. Mixed motive.—There are very earnest men who, nevertheless, are in sore danger, because (being by nature earnest) they cannot also resign this world, whatever be their concern about the next; the soil of their life would fain grow two inconsistent harvests. Like seed sown among thorns, ‘choked’ by their entangling roots, the Word is overmastered by an unworthy rivalry. There is a sort of vegetation, but the Word becometh unfruitful. It is the same lesson as when Jesus said, ‘No man can serve two masters.… Ye cannot serve God and mammon. The various evils of this parable are all of them worldliness, differently manifested.
IV. Loyalty.—Lastly, we have those on the good ground. These are not described by their sensibilities or their enjoyments, but by their loyalty. They ‘hear the word and accept it and bear fruit.’ Fruitfulness is never in the Gospel the condition by which life is earned, but it is always the test by which to prove it. In all the accounts of the final judgment, we catch the principle of the bold challenge of St. James, ‘Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.’ We are not wrong in preaching that honest faith in Christ is the only condition of acceptance, and the way to obtain strength for good works. But perhaps we fail to add, with sufficient emphasis, that good works are the only evidence of real faith, of genuine conversion; ‘They bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.’
—Bishop G. A. Chadwick.
Illustrations
(1) ‘In Mark’s version of this parable we read (Mark 4:3) that our Lord prefaced it thus, “Hearken! Behold!” “Hearken,” Jesus said, to impress on men that His simple story conveyed more than met their ears; protesting in advance against fatalistic abuses of the parable, as if we were already elected to be hard, or shallow, or thorny, or fruitful; impressing upon all that, if the vitalising seed were the imparted Word, it was our part to receive and treasure it. Indolence and shallowness must fail to bear fruit; but—it is not necessary that we should remain indolent or shallow. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Having said “Hearken,” Jesus added, “Behold!” Very possibly the scene was before their eyes, and a process was visible, if they would but see, of which the tilling of the ground (and the sowing) was only a type. A nobler seed was being scattered for a vaster harvest, and it was no common labourer, but the True Sower, Who went forth to sow. “The Sower soweth the Word.” Who? Matthew tells us “The Sower is the Son of Man”; and it is clear that none of His disciples could mistake His meaning.’
(2) ‘The introduction of Satan into the parable is uncalled for by any demand save the necessity of telling the truth. It is true, therefore, that an active and deadly enemy of souls is at work to quicken the mischief which neglect and indifference would produce; and, as seed is only safe from fowls when buried in the soil, so the Word of life is only safe when it has sunk down into our hearts.’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE SOIL OF THE HEART
A parable is a story taken from natural things to instruct us in spiritual things; just as we teach children by pictures. And here the kinds of soil are to represent the different people who hear the Word.
I. The wayside (Luke 8:5; Luke 8:12).—Paths around or across a field, trodden down by the constant thoroughfare of the world—they are hard, impenetrable. So are some hearts (Romans 2:5; Psalms 95:8). They hear, but do not understand the Word (Matthew 13:19; Proverbs 1:7; John 8:43). Perhaps they are pleased with it (Ezekiel 33:31-32). ‘ Immediately’ Satan, like the birds, picks away the Word (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 5:18).
Why? ‘Lest they should believe and be saved’ (2 Thessalonians 2:9-13). Ex., Pharaoh.
II. The rocky (Luke 8:6; Luke 8:13).—Often on stony ground there is a thin layer of earth. The seed springs up, but does not take root. The Word often fills the head without reaching the heart (Isaiah 58:2). Slight conviction (1 Samuel 15:24). Excited feelings (Acts 8:13). Warm affections (Mark 10:17). Compare Jonah’s gourd (Jonah 4:6-7) and the grass upon the house-tops (Psalms 129:6). Such cannot bear the storm or heat (Matthew 24:9-13; John 15:20). They have no root (Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 3:17). Ex., Herod.
III. The thorny (Luke 8:7; Luke 8:14).—Here the seed might take root, but it is prevented bringing forth fruit—it is choked. The Word may find its way to the heart, but there can be no good result if it is divided. Cares of this world (Luke 10:40-41). Deceitfulness of riches (2 Peter 2:15). Pleasures of this life (Mark 6:26). All these prevent the Divine fruit appearing (Galatians 5:17-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Ex., Demas.
IV. The good (Luke 8:8; Luke 8:15).—Here the ground has been prepared, dug up, and softened, so as to receive the seed (Proverbs 16:1). The Spirit digs up the ground in conviction (Jeremiah 4:3-4; Hosea 10:12). He pours upon it the rain and gentle dew (Isaiah 45:8; Isaiah 55:10). He applies the warmth and genial influence of the sun (Malachi 4:2; John 16:14). And what is the result? Fruit an hundredfold (Galatians 5:22; Php_1:11).
What an important lesson for us is here! What are we doing every Sunday? We are hearing the Word; but are we bringing forth fruit? If not, why not? (1 Thessalonians 2:13.)
Bishop Rowley Hill.
Illustration
‘ “He taught them by parables,” says Jeremy Taylor, “under which were hid mysterious senses, which shined through their veil like a bright sun through an eye closed with a thin eyelid.” ’