PART II: PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM
CHAPTER 3
Introduction
The parable of the Growing Seed is found only in Mark. There are four parables dealing with sowing seed:
(1) The Parable of the Soils,
(2) The Growing Seed,
(3) The Wheat and Weeds and
(4) The Mustard Seed. This parable is found only in
Mark 4:26-29.
The Story
Jesus presents a well known farm story. A farmer sowed seed. The seed sprouted and grew in a way the farmer did not
understand. The plant grew, matured and the grain was harvested:
He [Jesus] also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and
day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil
produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he
puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29, New
International Version).
The Interpretation
The Primary Sower of good seed is always Jesus. However, in this parable it is the believer who is the secondary
sower, that is, the believer sows in obedience to the Lord. The seed is the Word of God. As the natural seed has
life within itself, so the Word of God has life when anointed by the Holy Spirit.
The ground represents the human heart, a malformed mass. The seed takes the heart and forms it, that is, it grows
according to the plan in the seed. The plant that now represents the believer grows "automatically." The Greek
word AUTOMATE, translated "All by itself," is the word from which comes our word, "automatic." [Ralph G. Turnbull,
Gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT (Grand Rapids:
Baker Book House, 1961), THE GOSPEL OF MARK, by Ralph Earle,
ThD, p. 37].
The harvest may represent the conversion of the sinner or the harvest at the end of the age. Both are biblical and
both fit the parable.
Central Truth
Morgan comments,
The central matter in this little parable is that of growth. Sowing is recognised. Harvest is also recognised, but the teaching concerns the process between the sowing and the harvest. [G. Campbell Morgan, D.D., THE PARABLES AND METAPHORS OF OUR LORD (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Company, 1943), p. 164].
Ralph Earle comments,
The lesson of this parable is that we must trust the Word of God, when faithfully sown, to take root and grow automatically. [Ralph G. Turnbull, gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1961), THE GOSPEL OF
MARK, by Ralph Earle, ThD, p. 37].
Therefore, we conclude that
GOD'S WORD WILL TRANSFORM EVERY RECEPTIVE HUMAN HEART
INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST.
Conclusion
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians
6:9, New International Version).
Let us not be weary in well doing. Let us continue to sow the seed of God's Word, knowing that the Holy Spirit is
causing it to grow, unseen, in human hearts!
END