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- How many times per year in church? – the natural harvest is one per year
- Spiritual harvest seasons? – the natural harvest seasons one maybe two per year
- The Seed and the harvest is said in the Bible to be 4:1 = 75% pure loss
- From the 25% guaranteed return not ALL were 100% return – some only 30% and some 60%
- The laborers are few and declining with time
RichardAnna Boyce
Wise gardeners sow seed every week, so they get harvests every week to feed their family. The problem is the soil (human heart), not the seed (Gospel). Matthew 13:18-23
Jesus had come sowing “the word of the kingdom.” One question that would naturally arise is, “Why was Jesus’ ministry not more fruitful?” And the answer would be that productivity is determined by receptivity, and receptivity is a matter of the heart.
For the disciples, who would continue the activity of sowing that Jesus had begun, the unstated problem or question Jesus answers is, “What are we to do and expect during the time of the King’s absence which extends from His rejection until His second coming?”
The answer is that they are to sow “the word of the kingdom” in the hearts of those who would hear. In so doing, they could expect four different reactions to the message. These responses would reveal the heart condition of those to whom it is preached. Jesus explains that the four soils symbolize four responses the disciples may expect from their preaching the word. Not all preaching would be productive, but some would. The Parable of the Sower would guard the disciples against any unrealistic expectations, but it would also offer encouragement that their work would not be in vain.
Some hearers would be uninterested, and so in their hearts “the word” would not germinate. They would hear, but “not understand,” and hence not believe (cf. Luke 8:12). The birds represent “the wicked one,” Satan, who “snatches away what was sown in his heart.” Clearly, this first type of soil represents the unsaved.
13:20-22. Impulsive hearers would manifest life, but would experience no real productivity. In their hearts “the word” would be readily received. However, such a person “endures only for a while” until problems arise. Since truth did not take firm root in his heart, it would not brace the recipient against the forces that would come against it. Therefore defection could be expected.
While many commentators say the second soil represents another type of unbeliever, that view is untenable because the seed sprang up (v 5), and clearly germination must precede springing up! Luke 8:13 specifically says that this person believed the saving message for a time. Sadly, apostasy is possible for born-again people. Of course, everlasting life, once it has germinated, is everlasting—even if the faith later fails.
Then there are the distracted hearers. Their hearts’ interest is deflected away from God toward seductive material and worldly pursuits (Matt 13:22). “The cares of this world” refer to the worries or excessive concerns of this life. “The deceitfulness of riches” refers to the false security offered by the accumulation of temporal wealth (cf. Luke 12:15-21). Riches may promise fulfillment, but they fail to deliver. The result of the wordly distractions is that the person “becomes unfruitful.” The believer represented by this soil perseveres in faith, but his works are not brought to maturity (cf. Luke 8:14).
13:23. Fourth, there are the ready and faithful hearers, represented by “the good ground.” These individuals exhibit different degrees of commitment and giftedness, hence they manifest varying levels of productivity and their hearts bear varying proportions of mature fruit.
Any lack of results is due not to a defect in the divine message but to the condition of the hearers. The disciples’ preaching, like that of Christ’s words, would not win everyone, but on the other hand it would not be fruitless.
Link Hudson
Do you sow zucchini in December?
RichardAnna Boyce
i live in Philippines and my vegetables feed off the effluent of my fish, cleaning the water ready to be recycled back to the fish so we grow zucchini organically 12 mths each year.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams comparing zucchini with souls
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams comparing zucchini with souls
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce Joe Absher how many spiritual harvest per a fiscal year?
RichardAnna Boyce
365
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce 3 verses for that pls? Jess the Harvest is – not the harvestS
Joe Absher
Lots of types of harvest. Souls that come alive to God by faith in Jesus Christ is another matter
Varnel Watson
how many times per year?
Joe Absher
Something’s are sacred?
Joe Absher
Wow walk 10 miles to plow one acre
Varnel Watson
wouldnt be much more to thread every row in an acre ?
Joe Absher
Please explain. I might he missing your meaning
Varnel Watson
Link is good in math business accounting – who can calculate the exact % of return in the parable? 3/4 seeds fail – 1/4 gives some 30, 60, 100 WHO HERE can calculate the formula for total return?
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson Philip Williams not sure that anyone has been able to calculate it until now Joe Absher knows you spread as many seeds as possible As to the harvest you’ve got an early one and a late one
so then Jim Price Nelson Banuchi
100% seeds produce only 25% return from which some return 30 some 60 some 100 – lets say equally in 3 parts
if h = harvest
h = ((30 + 60 + 100) : 3 ) : 4 = 15.83% total return
Link Hudson
Troy Day I am not an accountsnt. I do not think the gormula captures the intent of the parable. You also assume even distributions of kinds of ground. Divide by x instead of 3.
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson why X if taken average ?
Nelson Banuchi
Algerbra… you went beyond my paygrade…
Link Hudson
Troy Day If you were a farmer, would you dedicate as much land for the path to walk on as you did for growing crops? Does every farm have exactly 25% stony ground?
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson are you mis-representing the words of Jesus now?
Link Hudson
Troy Day No, that’s a comment on your math.
Joe Absher
I share this as a testimony of our Lord Jesus his faithfulness and foresight.
I was sitting in the airport. Phoenix. I just finished the book of Daniel. Put my Bible away. Ten minutes later a young woman walks up. Asks can I pray for you? I said I don’t know? Are you a Christian? Do you claim Jesus Christ as your Saviour. She said yes, I feel like the Lord gave me a verse for you. “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” Daniel 8:16. Which I had just read and was wondering about it?
She said she was praying and saw me with wings and I had my arms open like a messenger angel.
I think you know I don’t go for the flakey stuff but I let her pray for me…
It was a young woman named Tameka. So she prays and asks God to take the doubt. I had been asking the Lord concerning my mission trip to Chicago south side for 30 days. Is this me or is it the Lord. I receive as assurance and a pleasant surprise. She was a nice girl and I honor her willingness and obedience.
That Jesus is really something!!!
35 minutes…
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher Philip Williams Jim Bolin IF Jesus spoke of only 15% harvest RETURN on all the seeds thats pretty bad planting
Philip Williams
Troy Day or else pretty bad soil.
Joe Absher
When good teaching goes bad
Philip Williams
Joe Absher the hearts into which planted.
Joe Absher
The heart that is bad today could be made new and good and right tonight.
Varnel Watson
WELL I guess the moral of the story could be dont plant your seed in BAD soil if you dont want 4/5 loss but then WHO is BAD soil? charismato-catholics bapticostals?
Link Hudson
I think your question reveals a misunderstanding of how to interpret the parable if you are serious.
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson Have you revealed a better formula or just mis-representing my words again?
Joe Absher
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:..” Hebrews 11:6a
The problem as I see it, is that with that kind of thinking you become the one who decides who hears and doesn’t hear the gospel of Christ. That is not a position you can stand before God in grace, mercy and faith.
Jim Price
There are a few crops that bear every six weeks, also young frier chickens. A book i read that makes sense to me is to think of the spiritual harvest as coming due every six weeks. Ever six weeks things will happen in your church that will create opportunity for harvest. A death, a child born, an accident, a new family or something in the Christian year; christmas or easter etc. Also the people’s finances change every few weeks. If you don’t get commitment at the right time, your faithful deacon may buy a boat, an RV or a $ 50,000.00 car. Once that happens you probably won’t get true stewardship from that family for years.
Philip Williams
Jim Price got your eyes firmly focused on the money that you can extract from a congregation?
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams Jesus said a LOT on money too
Philip Williams
Troy Day yes, did he!
And just what did he say about those with money in their heart?
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams tell us Philip Williams
Philip Williams
Troy Day let Jesus tell you:
““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
Luke 16:13-15
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I know what Jesus says but seems you are on e different not – what say ye?
Philip Williams
Troy Day Why?
I hate money.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams Give all yours away then 🙂
Philip Williams
Troy Day i did.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I know very few who actually have
Jim Price
I have given myself broke several times but now believe that we should keep enough so that we are not a burden to others. Especially in our old age. Remember that the idea of stewardship comes from the bible and is often complicated. As in the case where wives and children may not be in agreement with how much or how little the man of the household chooses to give. Money was a great invention and can be turned into food, shelter, transportation, education, health, pleasure etc. money can be used in a way that lays up treasure in heaven.
Varnel Watson
where is your formula? Link Hudson
Link Hudson
A math formula misses the point of the parable.
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson can you propose a better one?
Link Hudson
Troy Day a math formula likes that misses the point, IMO. How do you put a mathematical value on ‘some’.
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson as average – already explained it
Link Hudson
If land were evenly divided and a fourth of the land brought fourth a minimum of 3000% up to 10000%…..
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson but it didnt – whats the issue?