Commentary on the Four Gospel Books
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
G065 Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven:
The Sower
Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-25; Luke 8:1-18

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All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version.

Matthew 13:1-23

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Mark 4:1-25

1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

Luke 8:1-18

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

In this lesson, we will learn about the parable of the sower and a few short parables. All the parables that the Lord Jesus taught are related to the Kingdom of Heaven and those who belong to it.

The noun “παραβολή” (G3850) /par-ab-ol-ay’/ in the Greek of the Bible, translated into English as “parable”, literally means: placing alongside; metaphorically means: comparing two things side by side; broadly means: using one event or object to illustrate another event or object.

The parables were often used by the Lord Jesus to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven. He used familiar events or objects from daily life that everyone could easily recognize to speak about the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, only those who seek *God and have faith in *God can understand or be revealed by the Lord the meaning of these parables.

Luke 8:1-3

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke began chapter 8 by detailing how the Lord Jesus left the city of Capernaum and went through every town and village, teaching the people and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of *God. The towns and villages mentioned here were mostly those inhabited by the Israelites in the regions of Judea and Galilee at that time. There were also a few towns and villages in the area east of the Jordan River. During this period, the initial twelve apostles of the Lord, commonly referred to as “the twelve,” were with Him, along with many other disciples. Among the disciples of the Lord Jesus, some were women. They were those whom He had healed of diseases or from whom He had cast out demons.

Mary Magdalene was a woman who had been possessed by seven demons and was delivered by Him. She faithfully followed the Lord, even to the point of His crucifixion. Later, she visited His body to anoint it with spices, but He had resurrected, and He appeared to her in His resurrected body before any other disciples. Mary Magdalene is mentioned several times in all four Gospels. According to Church tradition, she was the woman closest to the Lord Jesus. Some traditions claim that she was a prostitute possessed by demons and was healed by the Lord Jesus. Many people associate her with the woman who washed the Lord Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed them with perfume, recorded in Luke 7:36-50. Others associate her with the woman caught in adultery, recorded in John 8:1-11. However, there is no evidence that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute or one of these two women. On the contrary, she was likely a noblewoman, wealthy like Joanna. After being delivered by the Lord, she, along with a few other noblewomen who had also been healed by the Lord, followed Him and used their resources to serve Him.

Joanna was the wife of Chuza, who was the steward of King Herod Antipas. King Herod Antipas was the one who killed John the Baptist and also the one to whom Governor Pilate sent the Lord Jesus for judgment, but he refused to judge Him. The steward was the chief servant responsible for the king’s household. Joanna also faithfully followed the Lord and was one of the women who visited His body to anoint it with spices. Luke is the only one who mentions Joanna in Luke 8:3 and 24:10. It is possible that Luke was acquainted with Chuza’s family and many others who worked in Herod’s palace. Before following Paul, Luke may have been a physician for noble families in Jerusalem, including wealthy merchants, Pharisees, Sadducees, and government officials, for some time.

We do not know much about Susanna. She is mentioned only once in the Bible, in Luke 8:3. It is possible that she was healed by the Lord or delivered from demons. She may have been a noblewoman acquainted with Mary Magdalene and Joanna. Hence, Luke also knew her and specifically mentioned her name as one of the women who used their resources to serve the Lord Jesus.

In the same verse, Luke used the terms “evil spirits” and “demons” to refer to fallen angels. The term “evil spirits” refers to malicious spirits that torment and cause illness in humans. The term “demons” is used for malicious spirits that possess human bodies.

Serving the Lord with substance means paying for the daily expenses of the Lord and the disciples who followed Him. Primarily, these expenses were for food, clothing, and footwear. The number of disciples following the Lord sometimes reached hundreds. The Bible tells us that the Apostle Judas Iscariot was the one who kept the money bag (John 12:6).

The events recorded by Luke in Luke 8:1-3 occurred a considerable time before the Lord Jesus taught the parables. According to Matthew, the Lord Jesus began teaching the parables on the same day His mother and brothers came looking for Him, and after He had addressed the Pharisees during a meal.

Matthew 13:1-2

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Mark 4:1-2

1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Luke 8:4

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

“The same day” refers to the day when the events recorded in Matthew 12:15-50; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 8:19-21; and Luke 11:24-54 occurred. We can understand that this day was still the Sabbath. The Lord Jesus had left the house of the Pharisee who invited Him for lunch, and He went out and sat by the Sea of Galilee. Many crowds from various places gathered and followed Him. Luke specifies that they were people from the cities. Because the crowd was so large, the Lord Jesus had to step into a boat that was docked at the shore. It was very likely a fishing boat belonging to the families of His apostles, either Peter and Andrew or James and John. He sat in the boat to teach, while the crowd stood on the shore. This is when the Lord Jesus began teaching in parables.

“He taught them many things by parables” means that the Lord Jesus used parables to teach the people many spiritual truths.

“Doctrine” means the teaching of a person or an organization about something.

“Said unto them in his doctrine” means that the Lord Jesus taught the people about *God, about the Gospel, about the Kingdom of *God, and called them to repentance.

Matthew 13:3-4

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Mark 4:3-4

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Luke 8:5

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

The parable of the sower is the first parable about the Kingdom of *God, taught by the Lord Jesus.

In the original Greek of the Bible, Matthew uses the plural pronouns “some” and “them” to refer to the many seeds that fell by the wayside. Whereas Mark and Luke use the singular pronouns “some” and “it.” We can understand that Matthew accurately recorded what he himself heard the Lord say. Meanwhile, Mark and Luke record according to the narratives of others. The narrator for Mark or Luke used the singular form to collectively refer to the seeds that fell by the wayside. Although there are differences in grammar and the meaning of words, the meaning of the sentences remains unchanged.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record “by the way side,” not “on the way side.” All fields have paths around them, also called field edges. When the sower sows, he throws the seeds onto the surface of the field. However, when the seeds were sown near the edge, some fell on either side of the wayside.

Luke adds a detail: “it was trodden down.” Perhaps the Lord Jesus did not speak these words, but they were added by the narrator for Luke or by Luke himself to provide clarification. Whether it was the narrator’s or Luke’s words, the content of the Lord Jesus’ speech remains unchanged. Thus, the Bible remains faithful. The Bible is faithful to the events that occurred and true to the accounts, observations, comments, and explanations of the narrator or recorder of these events.

The seeds that fall on either side of the wayside are not mixed into the plowed and tilled soil, making them easily visible to birds, which can eat them.

Matthew 13:5-6

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Mark 4:5-6

5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Luke 8:6

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

“The stony places” refers to areas with rocks on the surface of the field. Sometimes the rocks are exposed, while other times they are covered by a thin layer of soil.

“Had no deepness of earth” means there is not enough depth of soil for root development.

“No root” means there are no roots developed sufficiently.

“Lacked moisture” means there is not enough depth of soil to retain moisture to nourish the plants. This is likely an explanation provided by the narrator or by Luke himself.

Seeds falling on stony places may still sprout, but they will wither and die when exposed to the scorching heat of the sun due to a lack of moisture.

Matthew 13:7-9

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:7-9

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:7-8

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

“Fell among thorns” means falling among probably various types of thorny bushes growing in the field. Some of the seeds, when sown, fall among these thorny bushes. Although the seeds may sprout, take root, and grow, before long they are choked by the thorns and cannot produce fruit.

“Choked” means hindering normal growth. It implies that the roots of the thorny plants have absorbed all the nutrients; the leaves and stems of the thorny plants have shaded the sunlight. Therefore, even if the wheat or corn plants grow, they do not have enough strength to produce ears and yield grain.

“Fell into good ground” or “fell on good ground” both have the same meaning. Perhaps the Lord Jesus used the preposition “into,” which Matthew accurately recorded. The narrator for Mark or Luke likely used similar prepositions.

“Some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold” means that each seed falling into good soil produces a result. However, the results vary: a hundredfold is the highest level of result; sixtyfold is the normal level of result; and thirtyfold is the lowest level of result.

The narrator for Mark changed the order of the results from least to greatest: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. Meanwhile, the narrator for Luke condensed the results as an hundredfold.

The Lord Jesus concluded the parable with the call, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

“Hath ears to hear” means being able to think, pondering what one hears.

“Let him hear” means to let the hearer listen and consider what has been heard.

In reality, many people listen without thinking or considering what they have heard. Therefore, their listening is in vain, especially when they hear about spiritual matters. The Lord Jesus calls only those who know how to listen and think to listen and think about His parables.

Matthew 13:10-11

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mark 4:10-12

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 8:9-10

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Matthew records succinctly that the disciples of the Lord Jesus came to Him and asked why He spoke to the people in parables. Mark provides a detailed account of how, when the Lord was alone, the twelve apostles and other disciples asked Him about the meaning of the parables. Luke also records briefly that the disciples asked the Lord what the parable meant.

It’s highly probable that among the disciples of the Lord, some asked, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” While others asked, “What might this parable be?” Matthew recorded one question, while the narrator for Luke recounted a different question from the one Matthew recorded.

The answer of the Lord Jesus is recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke with different sentence structures, but the meaning remains unchanged. We still believe that Matthew, as a disciple who walked alongside the Lord, directly witnessed what the Lord said and did, so Matthew often records the exact words spoken by the Lord. Meanwhile, Mark and Luke record the exact words of the narrative provided by the storyteller, who could be a direct witness like Matthew or someone who heard from a witness. The sentence structure and the language used in their narratives often differ slightly from the original words spoken by the Lord Jesus, but the meaning of the words they recount remains unchanged.

The content of the Lord Jesus’s response shows that the reason He teaches the people in parables is because they are not granted the understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom of *God like His disciples. Mark refers to them as “them that are without,” meaning those outside the Kingdom of *God and also outside the intimate relationship with Christ. Luke calls them “others,” meaning those who are not granted the privilege like the disciples of the Lord Jesus.

“All these things are done in parables” means all of the Lord’s teachings about the Kingdom of *God to the people are taught by Him in parables. The purpose is for them to see but not perceive, to hear but not understand, lest they repent and receive the grace of forgiveness from *God.

The question posed is: Why does the Lord Jesus preach the Gospel, call for repentance, and *God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), yet the Lord Jesus preaches in parables? Because the preaching in parables causes those who hear Him not to understand His teachings so that they may not repent and be forgiven. The answer was explained by the Lord Jesus Himself in Matthew 13:12-15.

Matthew 13:12-13

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Mark 4:24-25

24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

Luke 8:18

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Every person born “has” existence given by God. It is a living entity, in the image and likeness of God. The image and likeness of God were explained in our sermon, “Commentary on Genesis 1:26-31 God Creates Humanity” [1], which has been published on the website: timhieuthanhkinh.com. We excerpt it below.

[Excerpt:]

Humanity is created in the “image” of God, which means being endowed with good qualities akin to those of God. These qualities include love, justice, and being holy. The term “image” in Hebrew carries the meaning of “representation” or “exemplification.” Just as when we say, “The lion is an image of strength!” or “The lion represents strength!” it means that by looking at the lion, one can understand what strength is like, not that strength has a physical form resembling that of a lion.

Humanity is created in the “likeness” of God, referring to the resemblance of God’s form in the spiritual body, that is, the spirit, as well as in the physical body, that is, the flesh. Presently, with our physical eyes, we cannot see the spiritual form of ourselves, which is the spirit, just as we cannot see the spiritual form of God and angels with our physical eyes. But when God incarnated as a human, we could see the physical form of God with our physical eyes, and humanity could touch His physical form.

It can be said: From eternity, God chose for Himself a physical form to appear in the material world that He would create. And He created humanity with a physical body similar to the physical form He had chosen. That form is called the fleshly body of humanity.

[End of excerpt.]

The existence as a living soul of an entity as the image and likeness of God is the fundamental “having” of every person, coming from God as a gift from God. The “having” that each person needs to maintain the “having” that God has bestowed and to inherit the inheritance of *God is the heart of faith and obedience to *God.

The ancestors of humanity, Adam and Eve, did not have the heart of faith and obedience to God, so they and all humanity descended from them were taken away from the privilege of existence as the image and likeness of God. By the mercy of *God, He granted humanity the grace of redemption through the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anyone who “has” a repentant heart, accepts *God’s redemption, will be granted forgiveness, restored to the status of a child of *God, and bestowed with *God’s inheritance, the eternal joyful life in the Kingdom of *God. That is the abundant “having.” Anyone who does not “have” a repentant heart to accept *God’s redemption will lose everything they have, even the opportunity to repent.

Luke uses the expression “seemeth to have,” perhaps to emphasize the temporary nature of what a person possesses in this life before being in *God’s redemption, as fleeting and passing away, including the opportunity for repentance.

That’s why the Lord Jesus taught the mysteries of the Kingdom of *God in parables. Those who don’t seek *God and His salvation won’t care about His teachings. They hear but then leave without pondering, without seeking the Lord Jesus for explanation. Those who seek *God and His salvation will meditate on what they’ve heard. They will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit for understanding, or they will come to the Lord Jesus to ask for His explanation.

“Because they seeing see not” means they perceive only the outward appearance without understanding the essence of the object or the situation.

“Hearing they hear not” means they hear and understand literally without grasping the true meaning of the words.

“Neither do they understand” because they have no enlightenment from the Holy Spirit to perceive all truths.

The true children of *God always see and perceive, listen and understand the true of what is seen and heard, guided by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, as it is written:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13).

God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, always dwells within the physical bodies of every child of *God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) and reveals all truths to them. The people of *God understand the Word of God, know how to conduct themselves in all things according to the Word of God, and foresee what will happen in the world according to the plan and will of *God.

Matthew did not record the content of Mark 4:24 and Luke 8:18a. We do not know the reason Matthew omitted and did not record these words.

“Take heed what ye hear” is nearly synonymous with “Take heed therefore how ye hear.” It means to evaluate the attitude towards what is heard. Eagerness, attentiveness, reflection, and practicing the teachings of the Lord will bring benefits and blessings to the listener. The more attention and earness, the more harvest.

The measure spoken of here is precisely the attitude towards the Word of God. Because the disciples of the Lord have eager hearts to listen to His teachings, they will gain further understanding of the Kingdom of *God.

Those who seek the Word of God will gain knowledge even more. Those who do not seek the Word of God will gradually lose the understanding they had when they first believed in the Lord.

Matthew 13:14-15

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

“In them” refers to those who lack faith and obedience to *God and who do not seek the salvation of *God. When they hear the preaching of the Word of God from the people of *God, they do not understand. When they see the deeds of the people of *God, they also do not understand. Although many of them profess to be *God’s people, their hearts lack reverence and obedience to *God.

The Lord Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9-10, the words of “God in the person of the Word,” spoken to Isaiah when he was sent to the people of Israel to preach to them. We know these are the words of “God the Word,” for the Lord Jesus Himself confirmed it in John 12:39-41. In other words, the Lord Jesus reiterated the words He spoke to the Prophet Isaiah as God about 770 years earlier. Isaiah began his prophetic ministry around 740 BCE.

“Heart is waxed gross” is a soul no longer pure enough to receive the truth and to repent because it is accustomed to living in sin and prefers sin.

“Ears are dull of hearing” means a mind unwilling to accept anything contrary to its opinions, character, and preferences.

“Their eyes they have closed” signify their decision not to seek the truth.

Such individuals only find pleasure in sin until their lives are taken away. They do not wish to escape their sinful ways; they do not listen or accept what is right; they do not seek *God and the truth.

If someone is not like that, they will repent and feel remorse; they will listen to the truth; and they will seek *God and His salvation. They will be healed by *God, saved by Him, and blessed abundantly with the goodness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 13:16-17

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus are blessed. They have recognized Christ as their Savior; they have heard and understood all the truths from Him. The disciples of the Lord Jesus at that time, and collectively all the people of *God in the Church, are more blessed than the prophets and saints of previous times. Because those prophets and saints did not have the opportunity to hear and know what the Lord Jesus taught.

Through this teaching of the Lord Jesus, we understand that the prophets and saints of previous times were revealed by *God about Christ, and they longed to hear Him teach. Indeed, the Lord Jesus confirmed that Abraham had received revelations about Him.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56).

On another aspect, the people of *God in the Church are more blessed than all the people of *God in every other era. Because only the people of *God in the Church are united with Christ and co-rule with Him. Moreover, some individuals in the Church will be blessed without experiencing death, as their bodies will be transformed and taken into heaven on the day when Christ returns to take the Church out of the world. Thanks be to *God! That day is very near. It could happen at any time. May every child of *God always be vigilant, ready for the day when their physical bodies will be transformed.

Matthew 13:18-19

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mark 4:13-15

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Luke 8:11-12

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

The Lord Jesus began to explain the parable of the sower. The sower represents the one who preaches the Word of God. The seed represents the Word of God.

The seed falling beside the path represents the Word of God preached to those who do not seek *God. The birds coming to eat the seed symbolize the devil coming to snatch away from their memory what they have heard. In Biblical Greek, Matthew used the term “the wicked one” with the definite article to refer to Satan. Mark uses the name Satan itself. Luke uses the term “the devil” with the definite article to refer to Satan.

It’s very likely that Matthew omitted the words recorded in Mark 4:13-14 and Luke 8:11. The original words spoken by the Lord Jesus might have been as follows:

Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the Word. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

In Mark 4:15 and Luke 8:12, the narrators for Mark and Luke summarized the Lord Jesus’ words from Matthew 13:19. Similarly, this pattern continues in the remaining Scriptures. We see that the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are not contradictory but complementary, providing readers of the Bible with more details about the events that occurred.

Matthew 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mark 4:16-17

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Luke 8:13

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

The seed falling on rocky ground represents the Word of God being preached to those who are seeking *God. They joyfully receive the Word. However, they are not willing to endure hardship for the sake of the Lord’s name, so when life becomes difficult or they face persecution for living according to the Word of God, they quickly abandon their faith. The being offended or falling away mentioned refers to the abandonment of faith, forsaking living by the Word of God, and returning to a life of sin to avoid hardship or persecution. A typical example is someone unable to endure the hardship of observing God’s holy Sabbath day. They return to working for a living on the Sabbath. They may switch to worshiping *God in organizations claiming to be of *God but not honoring the Sabbath day. However, doing so is even more sinful because they are disobeying *God’s commandments and worshiping *God according to their own desires, following false teachings.

Matthew 13:22-23

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Mark 4:18-20

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Luke 8:14-15

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

The seed falling among thorns also represents the Word of God being preached to those seeking *God. They receive the Word they hear. However, their hearts are preoccupied with worldly concerns rather than entrusting their lives to *God. They are concerned about wealth and are drawn into deceitful schemes used by wicked people to lure those who desire to become rich. They also crave other things in the world, such as pleasures and comforts in life. Consequently, over time, these pursuits prevent them from living according to the Word of God, resulting in a fruitless life. There will come a time when the Lord will cast such individuals away from Him. This is affirmed by the Lord Jesus Himself.

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).

And it is * God Himself who will cut them off from Christ:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:1-2).

The seed that falls on good soil is the Word of God preached to those who sincerely and earnestly seek *God. They are like the Prophet Jeremiah.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16).

They believe in *God, yearn for the truth, desire salvation, and long to be fully realized in the image and likeness of God. They are sincere and determined to live according to the Word of God. Therefore, their lives both deepen their understanding of the Word of God and lead more people to the salvation of *God. The numbers 100, 60, and 30 represent the degree of results of a sincere person living according to the Word of God after receiving *God’s salvation. It is not necessarily that they will understand the Word of God 100, 60, or 30 times more, nor is it necessary that they will lead 100, 60, or 30 others to accept the Gospel. Instead, these are just the maximum, typical, and minimum levels of results in understanding the Word of God and leading others to *God for someone fervently living according to the Word of God.

The level of results in the lives of *God’s people entirely depends on their fervent commitment to living according to the Word of God. One person may only live in this physical body for a very short time after accepting the Word of God, but the results are significant because they wholeheartedly live for *God, serving Him. Another person may live many years in this physical body after accepting the Word of God, but the results are minimal because they did not utilize their time to live for *God and to serve Him.

Living for *God and serving Him primarily involves nourishing oneself with His Living Word. It means reading, meditating on the Word of God day and night, and carefully obeying it, as the Lord has commanded.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

God Himself has exalted His Word above His name, so reading, meditating on the Word of God day and night, and carefully obeying it is the highest form of worship and honor to God day and night.

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalm 138:2).

We are thankful to *God for granting us the ministry to read and meditate on His Word together every day [2], [3], [4], [5]. We firmly believe that, throughout this time, all of *God’s people participating in this ministry have experienced personal growth in faith, in understanding the Word of God, in wisdom to navigate life’s situations, and in becoming more like Christ. But above all, there is the peace and contentment that God’s Word brings to those who live according to His Word. Even those who haven’t had time to record their reflections, if they daily meditate on the Word of God and read the reflections of others, are also nurtured by the Word of God and grow spiritually.

Mark 4:21-23

21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:16-17

16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Once again, the Lord Jesus used the parable of lighting a candle to speak about the necessity of the truth being revealed to everyone. Truth is also the glory of God, namely, the love, righteousness, and holyness of God. The glory of God is reflected in the lives of *God’s people.

The purpose of lighting a candle is to illuminate. Therefore, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, under a bed, or covers it with a vessel. Instead, they put it on a candlestick so that it may shine light throughout the house.

All truths about the Kingdom of Heaven will be preached to humanity, even though they are the mysteries hidden in past ages. Every divine mystery will be revealed in due time. However, there are some mysteries that will only be revealed in the Kingdom of a Thousand Years and in the Kingdom Everlasting.

On another note, the secrets of the human heart and the hidden deeds of each individual will also be exposed on the day of final judgment. As for the people of *God, all their sins will not be mentioned, for they have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. The Word of God affirms this.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12).

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:3).

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17).

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Revelation 1:5).

Thanks be to the Lord for the love and salvation bestowed upon humanity. Thanks be to the Lord for His Living Word, which has helped us understand *God and His salvation and has strengthened our faith in the Lord.

We conclude this lesson here.

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truths of God’s Word (John 16:13). May the Word of God sanctify us (John 17:17). May the Faithful *God of Peace Himself sanctify our spirit, soul, and body entirely, without blame (1 Thessalonians 5:23), at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Beloved Savior. Amen!

Pastor Timothy Christian Huynh
and Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/18//2024

Notes

[1] https://timhieuthanhkinh.com/chu-giai-sang-the-ky-01_26-31/

[2] https://t.me/thanhkinhhangngay

[3] https://t.me/HoiThanhSuyNgamLoiChua

[4] https://www.thanhkinhvietngu.net/suy-ngam-loi-chua/

[5] https://threesixteenfamily.com/suyngamloichua/