In my last article we explored the parable of the sower, particularly the seed that fell upon a rock. In this article I want to focus on the seed that fell by the wayside contrasting it against the seed that fell on good ground which is a picture of genuine salvation.
Let’s begin by reading the relevant verses in Luke 8
Vs 5 A sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed some fell by the way side and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Vs 11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God
Vs 12 Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved.
Vs 15 but that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
KEEP IT
Can you see how Jesus contrasts the seed that is devoured by birds or “taken away” by the devil against those who hear the word and “keep it” in their hearts.
Keep in vs 15 is katecho
Kat-ekh-o in the Greek and means to retain, hold fast, keep firm possession of
This reminds me of Proverbs 3
Vs13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding.
Vs18
she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every man that retaineth her.
Once having obtained wisdom, having heard the Word of God, it is our job to retain it.
Not allow it to be devoured by birds.
Only then can the seed send down roots and grow into a “tree of life”, that is, produce spiritual life in our hearts.
THE BIRDS
What do the birds represent in the parable of the sower?
Revelations 18:2
And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
We see here that birds represent unclean, that is, unregenerated people held captive to false religion. Babylon representing false religion.
Jeremiah 23:30
therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words, every one from his neighbour.
Vs 32 behold I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies...
The birds devour or steal the Word from peoples hearts by preaching lies.
Devour is katesthio Kat-es-thee-o in the Greek and means destroy, ruin or waste, so the Word of God is stolen in the sense that it’s true meaning is destroyed thus it is turned into a lie.
THE LIE
What was the first lie mentioned in the bible?
It was when the serpent spoke to Eve in the garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:3&4
(Eve said) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye die.
and the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die:
This is the ultimate lie and it’s rife in the church world today, that one can sin and not die, that one can claim to be Christian whilst committing wilful sin.
Any doctrine that makes place for sin, even in a subtle way, is dangerous and destructive to people’s souls.
Why? Because it “taketh away the Word from out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved”, meaning it prevents people from obtaining salvation.
Let me give you an example of what I mean in 1 John chapter 1.
The reason John wrote this letter was to remind people of the Word of God and warn them not to fall for the deception having crept into the church that one could be a Christian yet sin.
He said in vs 5
This is the message...God is light and in him is no darkness at all
You can’t get any more black and white than that.
Vs 6 if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth.
Don’t claim to be a Christian whilst committing wilful sin.
Vs8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Now despite what we just read in verses 5 & 6, many interpret verse 8 to mean that everyone sins and those who claim to be living above it are self-deceived.
On the contrary, John is warning those who say they “have fellowship” with God yet “walk in darkness” to acknowledge their sin, like David did in Psalm 51:3
For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
Only after having acknowledged, confessed and forsaken sin can one be forgiven and cleansed from ALL unrighteousness, that is, be truely saved.
Vs 9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Now let’s go to 1 John 2:1 a verse I once misunderstood.
My little children these things I write unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous.
First of all we see the purpose of Johns letter was that we “sin not” but can you also see how the second part of this verse is linked to verses 8&9 in the previous chapter?
“if any man sin we have an advocate with the father” describes an unsaved person coming to Christ and receiving forgiveness. It is not talking about a Christian committing wilful sin over and over again and being forgiven by God over and over again.
That would negate Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
Can you see how by misinterpreting 1 or 2 scriptures, conviction is turned down, the fear of God dissipates and enduring temptation is not so important anymore?
That’s what false doctrine does.
THE SOLUTION
How does one avoid birds and keep the Word in ones heart?
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. And his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Verse one tells one how to avoid birds.
Verse two is how to “keep” the Word and verse three is the result when one does.
Don’t...follow the advice of ungodly people, especially in spiritual matters
Don’t...stand in the way of sinners, meaning don’t identify yourself with them for in doing so you agrees with what they do and believe.
Don’t...sit in the seat of the scornful, meaning be careful who you assemble yourself with and who’s teaching you sit under. Scornful people not only make place for sin but they mock holiness and holy people.
These are the birds that will steal the word from out of your heart.
Do...delight in the law of the Lord, that means love truth. It’s imperative that we love truth above everything else.
2 Thessalonians 2:10&11 gives a warning to those who don’t love truth. It says that they’ll receive a strong delusion causing them to believe the lie.
Do...meditate on the Word day and night.
Literally retain it in your mind, commit it to memory, think about it, seek to understand it.
The tree described in psalm 1 is a picture of salvation, it’s what a Christian looks like, spiritually healthy, resilient and bearing an abundance of good fruit.
Let’s go to another portion of scripture similar to psalm 1
Jeremiah 17:5
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man..
Are you trusting in a man to deliver truth to you each Sunday morning?
I’ve been there. I relied way to heavily on a particular person to deliver truth to me and as a result I became spiritually lazy.
Lazy people are easily deceived.
The bible says on a number of occasions, be not deceived. This is our responsibility.
It also says in 2 Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth
This verse means what it says. God will not approve of us unless we seek to know and understand his Word.
Why is this important? Jesus is the Word. Therefore if we’re believing a misinterpretation of the Word do we really know Him? Are we really following the Jesus of the bible or a Jesus of our own creation or that of whom we listen to?
Jeremiah 17:7&8
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth our her roots by the river and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
In “keeping” the Word, one’s “roots spread out” meaning the Word becomes firmly established within one’s heart.
One will then bear fruit corresponding with that which is in ones heart.
Good fruit is a holy, righteous lifestyle that emanates God’s love.
This is the mark of a Christian, the evidence of being saved.
In conclusion,
For the seed, that is, the Word of God to take root in ones heart one must “keep it”.
Not allow it to be devoured or stolen by unregenerated men preaching false doctrine.
We keep the word by NOT trusting in men, rather trusting in the LORD.
Studying to show ourselves approved and and seeking to understand the Word.
A person who both understands and does the Word is like a healthy, strong, resilient tree bearing an abundance of good fruit.
Good fruit being the mark of a Christian, the evidence of salvation.
Let us each work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.
