"Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear."

This afternoon I skipped around the Synoptic Gospels, comparing the presentation of the parable of the sower among them. Of course, the parable is essentially the same in each Gospel. One of the first things I noticed was the difference in the yield mentioned by Jesus. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus says that the seeds that fell on good soil yielded thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. It is interesting that Luke only mentions the yield of a hundredfold. I read this and wondered in which tier of yield I would place myself. Have I yielded thirtyfold or the abundance of a hundredfold? I admit I got hung up on this point. Then I wondered whether the amount of yield was critical to applying the parable. Perhaps that's why Luke dispensed with the tiered yield system in his account. What is the point of the parable? Seed planted on good soil produces yield. I guess the crucial question is whether I'm good soil, rocks, or thorns.

As I read Luke's account of Jesus' explanation of the parable, something jumped off the page. Luke 8:13-- "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe it for a while, and in time of testing fall away." Have you known people like that? Were you ever that person yourself? Matthew's version adds some interesting details (13:21): "... and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away." Luke's account is a bit vague. These people receive with joy, believe for a brief time, but "in time of testing fall away." Two things stand out in Matthew's account. The first is the word "immediately." The second thing I noticed was that the trial mentioned occurs "on account of the word." This changes the nature of the parable for me. Jesus was talking about people who face trials because of Him and immediately abandon Him. Of course, this reminds us of the truth that following Jesus sometimes means enduring suffering, pain, and sacrifice.

Mark's account of the parable of the sower closes with the following (4:20): "Those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit..." John MacArthur's comment on this passage is: "Three Greek present participles mark continuing action. Believers, in contrast to unbelievers, hear God's word because God allows them to hear it. They 'accept' it--they understand and obey it because God opens their mind and heart and transforms their lives." What an extraordinary blessing it is that God has allowed us to hear it! I pray that we'll go forth this week with transformed minds and lives.