Christ Jesus told this parable in Matthew 13: 3-23; Mark 4: 3-25; Luke 8: 5-18. In summary, a Sower went out sowing seeds. Some fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on rocky ground without much soil so were scotched by the sun and withered away. Some fell upon thorns and were choked by them. Some fell on good soil and yielded bountiful grain, some hundredfold, sixtyfold and thirtyfold.
What is the biblical reference to the yield? What is the soil? What other factors obstructed the expected yields? We pray that the Lord will lead us in our discussions to his glory.
What is the expected yield?
For clarity, Galatians 5: 22-26 say but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.
The ten commandments of God in Exodus 20: 1 – 17 also elucidates the yield. We can contrast the same with Galatians 5: 19-21 where fruits of the flesh are mentioned. Philippians 4:8 says finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Everything worthy of God’s glory is therefore the fruit or yield.
Matthew 5: 13 also says you are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. The yield thus refers to our usefulness in righteousness. Matthew 3: 8 says bear fruit that befits repentance. Matthew 17:16; 20 say you will know them by their fruits. Christ Jesus wants our yield.
What is the soil for the grain?
The soil or the ground for the grain is our hearts. Hebrews 10: 16-17 say this is the covenant that I make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds, I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more. God’s seed or grain is the word of covenant for our redemption from sin if we apply ourselves to it. The soil of our hearts should be able to sustain the growth of the world not only for feed but to give spiritual shelter to others.
Matthew 13: 31-32; Mark 4: 32 say the Kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. In the Old Testament, based on the fertile soil of Moses’ heart, God fed and nourished the Israelites in the wilderness with mamma. Exodus 16: 15 says when the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, what is it? And Moses said to them, it is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.
We shall not go hungry with a good soil in our hearts. Jesus says in John 6: 35, I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Our hearts must allow the word to grow and to fruit or to yield to the glory of God and thereby nourish our souls.
What factors affected the grains?
The grains did not suffer from only the soil texture but together with other elements such as activities of birds, humans, the scorching sun, choking thorns, just to mention a few. We are debilitating elements against the survival, growth and fruiting of the word of God. It is not too late to change in order to fruit the word of God in our lives and in the lives of others wherever we are. We must stop subjecting God’s word and purpose for our lives to ridicule, obstruction, persecution, frustration, vilification or any other condition which does not allow the free operation of the Holy Spirit to take seed in our lives.
We are best judges of our situations and activities if we will be honest and sincere before the Holy Spirit. 1 John 1:8-9 say if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged. 1 Corinthians 2: 15 says the spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 11: 31 says but if we judge ourselves truly, we should not be judged.
The Lord Jesus Christ is giving us the opportunity today to judge ourselves so he would not judge us. John 5: 22-23 says the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. We honour Jesus Christ when we listen to his voice and judge ourselves in holiness and righteousness before him. The Lord leads us in truth to be our own judges of our lives.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to judge our own lives in truth so we may not be judged. We have in many ways obstructed your seed of the word of life from growing and yielding fruits in our hearts. We ask for your pardon and grace to live right. Wash our sins in your blood and cleanse us by your Holy Spirit. Come into our hearts and stay with us. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
