Luke 8:1-15

Kingdom Hearts

Paul J. Bucknell

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Luke 8:1-3 Intro | 8:4-8 Insights | 8:4-8 Gardening | 8:9-10 | 8:9-15 Explanation | Fatherlessness | Good crop

Luke 8:9-15 (Continued)

Purpose of Luke 8:1-15: To help us rightly approach God’s Word so that we can bear a rich crop. We are not focusing on the four categories as much as seeking to understand our own responses towards God’s Word and have a heart described to rightly receive God’s Word even as the good soil received the seed.

C) An Explanation of the Kingdom of God (Luke 8:9-15)

11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 “And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” (Luke 8:9-15 nasb)

The good soil (8:15)

Our focus should be on the seed that grew and bore a hundredfold crop. This is what we want. “And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” I told you this gets very personal. Your choice to obey God’s Word will prosper you. You have a choice to put God’s will and others ahead of your selfish preferences. This decision will keep popping up when you read or hear His Word because this is the mirror that helps us see who we are and what God wants.

Please observe the blessing that follows those who obey the Word of God–they grow to maturity and bear fruit. The same is true with a seed. If you told me that this little seed will grow big and bear a lot of fruit, it sounds like a big story, but when we have observed it happen again and again, you actually want to plant a garden and profit from this mysterious principle. The same is true spiritually.

Jesus says there are three things that rightly prepare the heart for such a harvest. The heart that responds has “heard the word in an honest and good heart.” In other words, they want to hear God’s Word. They do not use devious schemes to get ahead in life or grab another’s girl. Nothing like that. Honesty deliberately dodges deceit. Honesty puts others ahead of oneself while dishonesty places oneself before others.

They have a good heart, seeking God’s wisdom and ways and are eager to incorporate into their lives. Where we fail to live according to God’s Word, then our lives begin to suffer. (I am not stating that all suffering comes from disobedience but much does. Some comes through pruning, which is only making us more effective, fruit bearing.) But when we eagerly seek God’s wisdom and Word, then we eagerly adopt it–this sets us up to marvelously reap from His Word.

Conclusion for Luke 8:1-15

This simple parable unfolds many truths.

(1) God’s Word is needed and to be trusted. The most important is the fact that God causes great fruit from hearing and obeying God’s Word. We do not need to experience things to know things, but can trust His Word and therefore avoid the evil. You miss out on nothing.

(2) God’s Word leads to salvation. Watch out for the struggle to believe in Christ for salvation. Jesus is not just another god to adopt for security but the Lord of the universe demanding our soul, heart and mind. The heart of the gospel is that God has given His Son to love us. Love is the backdrop of salvation.

(3) Responsiveness to God’s Word must continually be monitored. Believers constantly face the struggle with what are you going to do with the Word of God. Do you really want the Word of God? Most of Christian growth is composed of learning to hear and obey the Lord. Read the Bible more and you will grow more. If you sense the Word not connecting with your soul, repent and confess any known sin and humbly ask Him to teach you as you again eagerly seek His Word.

This concludes this section on the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:1-15). Powerpoints, audio and video can be found on our New Testament Training Library (see below).

Luke 8:1-3 Intro | 8:4-8 Insights | 8:4-8 Gardening | 8:9-10 | 8:9-15 Explanation | Fatherlessness | Good crop

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Rev. Paul J. Bucknell