A Refreshed Look at the Parable of the Sower

2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mark 4:2-9 (NIV)

Many times, I,like so many Christian teachers, use this to force the listeners to identify which part they fit. I am reading a Bible Study as well as a book by McLaren (The Secret Message of Christ) and have been rocked by the spiritual truths Jesus is saying here.

Jesus most likely wanted each of the listeners to identify what part they are, but most importantly He wanted the listeners to REFLECT and realize each listener is all parts of this parable at different times. Maybe it is time for us to rethink the way we read the parables and other parts of scripture. Rather than looking for a single absolute conclusion, let us ponder the spiritual truths and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Remember, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear [spiritually]"