“To you it has been given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God;
but to those who are outside,
all things come in parables”
(Mark 4:11)
These are the words of Jesus…
After speaking to the multitude
Teaching them many things…
In parables…
One of which was about “The Sower”
And the people with Jesus
Along with His Disciples
Are now asking about that parable
“And He said to them,
“To you it has been given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God;
but to those who are outside,
all things come in parables, so that
‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear
and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ” “
(Mark 4:11 – 12)
Jesus is quoting from the prophet Isaiah
And at first this seems very harsh…
It is almost like God is stopping people
From understanding the truth…
But if you study this passage
You will discover that there are eight
References to this passage in the Bible
Four in the Old Testament
Isaiah 6:9 – 10
Isaiah 43:8
Jeremiah 5:21
Ezekiel 12:2
And four in the New Testament
Matthew 13:14
Luke 8:10
John 12:40 and
Romans 11:8
If you look up those passages
You will discover that these words
Refer to people who are stubborn
And hard hearted towards God
People who have rebelled against God
Our churches are full of people
Who are not all OPEN
To the things of God…
The parable of “The Sower”
Is testimony to this…
The four types of soil refer perfectly
To the people in church
Some are just “passing through”
Some are “excited” but soon disappear
Others “are long standing”
Yet bear no fruit
But there are those who “flourish”
Bearing a harvest “thirty, sixty,
And even one hundredfold”
So which are YOU?
Are you IN – 30, 60, 100?
Or are you OUT – one of the other 3?
3 TYPES of soil…
If Jesus is IN you
You will know…
And you are indeed IN…
Even if you find yourself OUTSIDE…
Just cry out to Jesus
And He will accept you IN…