October 5th~Good Soil

Luke 8:1-3


Mark 3:20-30

Matthew 12:22-45

Mark 3:31-35

Matthew 12:46-50

Luke 8:19-21 Mark 4:1-9

Matthew 13:1-9

Luke 8:4-8


Mark 4:10-20

Jesus discussed the sin that can never be forgiven, He prophesied His own death and resurrection, and He taught His first parable. After the Pharisees had watched Jesus exorcise demons, they claimed that He did so by the power of Satan. Once Jesus explained the absurdity of that claim, He went on to express the severity of it, because in crediting the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil, they had committed the unforgivable sin (Mark 3:20-30). “Many people reject Christ out of ignorance and will be forgiven by Him, but those who witnessed His miracles first- hand and still blasphemed the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven, for they had rejected the fullest possible revelation” (John MacArthur).

Next, many people today doubt that the story of Jonah, being swallowed by a big fish and surviving, was true. However, what they fail to understand is that Jesus not only confirmed the story but linked His death and resurrection to it. “For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40).

Finally, Jesus told His first parable today, that of the farmer who scattered seed (Mark 4:1-20). Parables were earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Their purpose was two-fold — to reveal and to conceal truth simultaneously. “Parables revealed the sacred truth by the power of analogy and illustration. However, they concealed the truth from the one who did not have the key to their hidden meanings. To such a one, parables were riddles or tales; and so, our Lord could give to His disciples the deepest secrets of His kingdom, while the others heard without understanding” (Merrill Unger).

When His disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables, He answered them, “I use these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders” (4:11). In other words, those who were supposed to hear and understand did; those who weren’t supposed to understand didn’t.

Daily Reflection

Telling parables is a lot like the farmer scattering seeds; the seeds fall on different types of soil — the footpath, the rocks, the thorns, and the fertile ground which produces a crop. People respond to the Gospel in different ways. Some people will not respond at all; they are the seeds that fall on the footpath. Some people will respond, but not for long; they are the seeds that fall among the rocks. Still others will wrestle with the Gospel but will let it be crowded out by the attractions of the world; they are the seeds that land among the thorns. Finally, a few people will accept the seeds and bear fruit; they represent the good soil.

Why do you think people respond differently to the same message? Shouldn’t everyone rejoice when they hear the good news of salvation?

Have you received the seeds of the Gospel?

Which soil are you? The way to tell is to ask this question, “Am I bearing any fruit?” What does your answer reveal to you?

BiAY.org | Day 278 — 87 Days to Go