Mark 4:3 (AV)
Hearken¹; Behold,
there went out a sower to sow:
¹) Give attention to, consider what is (or has been) said
From other translations:
Give attention to this! Behold, a sower went out to sow. [AMP] "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [ESV] "Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. [MSB] Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: [KJV] "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. [NIV] "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. [NLT] "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. [NKJV]
Now let us see what this verse is telling us.
From the following verses we can understand that though the same doctrine of the Gospel is sown everywhere, it does not give the same results because of the condition of the heart of men.
Hearken
This word he probably spoke with a loud voice, to stop the noise and hurry of the people, and get their attention.
Before starting to tell parables, Jesus calls people to listen carefully: ‘Hear’. Then He takes them in mind so that they can accurately visualize the picture He has outlined: “Behold.”
The first parable is about the seed that a sower sowed (Mark 4:3-8). The article ho, (de) for sower ‘can best be rendered in Dutch with’ a ‘, because this is a general picture (cf. vs.4:’ the way ‘and’ the birds’ and Mark 4:5: ‘the (too) stony place’). The explanation of the parable is given by the Lord Jesus a short time later (Mark 4:13-20).
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The parable of the sower continues to fascinate us as often as we hear it.
The picture is well known. Yet Christ demands our double attention. The imperative sounds twice: hear, see. Something special is happening here.
When the earth has been plowed and the clumps are broken up, the sower goes to scatter the seed in the field in the joyful expectation of the harvest. Certainly when sowing is done, it is not yet harvest time. But it is not about the sowing but about the harvest. After all, it is the same in the kingdom of God.
▪︎ But before the harvest comes, quite a few things have happened.
▪︎ The birds roam the field looking for the grains that are exposed.
▪︎ Seed has fallen on stony places and the sun burns away all that is not deeply rooted.
▪︎ The weeds grow on its old soil and displace the tender plants from the good seed.
It is a miracle in itself that after all this, there is still a harvest.
That miracle comes from God.
For we can sow, and we can plant, and we can water, but the Lord must make it grow.
What a miracle that the Lord is preparing the field of human hearts, and after the seed is sown there, He makes it grow so that fruit may come. With you too?
Sowing is of great importance.
It is so important, that you have to let go of everything for it.
He is the great Sower who has gone out from the Father into this world to preach the gospel.
He spreads His seed widely, and seeks out people who think they are excluded.
He comes to each of us for that one purpose: to sow.
The Word must touch your heart and bear fruit.
He constantly meets us like this.
Throughout our lives we are called by Him to His salvation.
It is terrible, when after so much work it doesn’t bear fruit in our hearts.
Therefore hear and see.
The Christ is the great Sower.
But He also calls people to His service.
His Word falls into their hearts first. When that seed bears fruit, they go by faith to testify of Him who called them out of darkness to His light.
They become sowers who go out into the field of the world.
That is the secret of church and missions.
But it is also becoming visible in families.
And it is also noticeable at school and at work.
Are you seeing opportunities to share the Word of God?
Does the love of Christ urge you to bear witness of Him?
The world is like a field, unruly, vast and empty.
Nothing grows up for the Lord if the Gospel isn’t spread.
That is precisely why: “Go out and preach the gospel!”.
This is now more than ever necessary.
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Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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Amen. May God give me more Grace and Favor as I share His good news to the world.