The Third Soil of the Heart: The Choking Weeds - Five Thorns to Avoid
Let us examine the third soil of the heart and what happens when the Word of God is sown into it.
In this third soil of the heart, the seed of the Word of God fell among the seeds of thorns and both began to grow in this fertile soil. This word "thorn" in the Greek means a thorny plant, a bramble bush, briers, and thistles.
Israel in Bible times had a great variety of these thorny weeds throughout its land. Giant thistles, growing to the height of a man on horseback, frequently spread over regions once rich and fruitful. Prickly roses abound on the lower slopes of Hermon.
Thorns are carriers of spiritual disease and allow rebellion, lust, and idolatry to ride into the human heart.
The First Thorn: The Cares of This World. (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). The Greek word for "cares" in these verses means an anxious worry that distracts and divides the mind. These anxious worries and cares are indicative of a heart that does not trust God.
Unrepentant sin is a major cause of anxiety in the heart. Anxiety, worry and fear are sin, and should have no place in the heart of a christian.
The Second Thorn: The Cares of This Life. The second thorn in the Parable of the Sower is "the cares of this life." The same Greek Word is used for "cares" so these are still anxious worries that divide and distract the mind and agitate the heart with fear, but it is a different category of cares.
Jesus perfectly illustrates these anxious cares in the Sermon on the Mount and commands these worries have no place in the heart of the child of God.
The Third Thorn: The Deceitfulness of Riches. Millions of people have been corrupted, ruined and destroyed by the deceitfulness of riches. Riches can turn the heart away from God quicker than almost anything on earth.
John Wesley said wealth had destroyed the godliness of more people than other things. This thorn illustrates the eternal truth in the Sermon on the Mount that "where your treasure is there your heart be also" (Luke 12:34).
The Fourth Thorn: The Lust for Other Things. The fourth thorn in the Parable of the Sower are "the lust for other things."
Lust is excessive desire that has gone overboard and adrift from the heart of God that seeks self-satisfaction, self-gratification and self-pleasure as its ultimate thrill ride. Lust has no perception of eternity and no realization of its deadly consequences to the heart.
The Fifth Thorn: The Pleasures of This Life. The fifth and final thorn in the Parable of the Sower is the "pleasures of this life." The Greek word for "pleasures" is "hedone" which means delight, pleasureable, sensation, and sensual pleasures. Hedone is an unrestrained pursuit of anything that over stimulates the senses, stopping at nothing to gorge the body's sinful inner cravings.
Tim Rowe, the author, has a doctorate of jurisprudence and a bachelor's degree in biblical studies, history, and classics. He is the president of Goodness of God Ministries and lives with his wife and son.
Showing posts with label Parable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parable. Show all posts
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Tuesday - The Sower & the Seed - Luke 8:4-15 - 2/21/17
Jesus often communicated spiritual truth through parables - short stories or descriptions that take a familiar object or situation & give it a starting new twist. By linking the known with the hidden & forcing listeners to think, parables can point to spiritual truths. A parable compels listeners to discover the truth for themselves, & it conceals the truth for themselves, & it conceals the truth from those too lazy or prejudiced to look for it. In reading Jesus' parables, we must be careful not to, read too much into them.
Why would a farmer allow precious seed to land "by the way side," upon rocks, or among thorns? He is using the acceptance method of hand-seeding a large field - casting it by handfuls as he walks through the field. That some of the seed produced no crop was not the fault of the faithful farmer or the seed. The yield depended on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. It is our responsibility to spread the seed (God's message), but we should not give up when some of our efforts fail. Remember, not every seed falls on good soil.
God told Isaiah that people would hear without understanding & see without perceiving, & this is what happened to Jesus. The parable of the soil was an accurate picture of the people's reaction to the rest of his parables.
Wayside people, like many of the religious leaders, refused to believe God's message. Hard-rock people, like many in the crowds who followed Jesus, believed his message but never got around to doing anything about it. Thorn-patch people, overcome by materialism, left no room in their lives for God. Good-soil people, in contrast to all the other groups, followed no matter what the cost.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
Why would a farmer allow precious seed to land "by the way side," upon rocks, or among thorns? He is using the acceptance method of hand-seeding a large field - casting it by handfuls as he walks through the field. That some of the seed produced no crop was not the fault of the faithful farmer or the seed. The yield depended on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. It is our responsibility to spread the seed (God's message), but we should not give up when some of our efforts fail. Remember, not every seed falls on good soil.
God told Isaiah that people would hear without understanding & see without perceiving, & this is what happened to Jesus. The parable of the soil was an accurate picture of the people's reaction to the rest of his parables.
Wayside people, like many of the religious leaders, refused to believe God's message. Hard-rock people, like many in the crowds who followed Jesus, believed his message but never got around to doing anything about it. Thorn-patch people, overcome by materialism, left no room in their lives for God. Good-soil people, in contrast to all the other groups, followed no matter what the cost.
Reference summary used from the Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Welcoming All People ... 1/19/2014 Sunday School Lesson
Isaiah 14 . North . Stars of God . Kings of the Nations . Submit yourself . Promises . Humble yourselves . James 4 . Elders . Christ . Feed flock of God . Chief Shepherd . I Peter 5 . Praise . Lord . Sing Praises . Jerusalem . outcasts of Israel . Psalm/Tehillim 147 . Praise(Hallelujah) . Jew first - Gentile/Greek . Romans 2 . Parable . man - wedding - highest room - lowest room . sit down - lowest room . Come - Great Supper . Kingdom of God . hospitality . highways - hedges - compel them - Luke 14
The Sunday School Lesson is shared from: Luke 14:7-18a, 22-24 (Background Scripture: Luke 14:7-24; Devotional Reading: Psalm/Tehillim 147:1-11) for 1/19/2014.
1/6/2002 ... Good News For All Nations ... Isaiah 60:1-3; 6:1-6 ... (Isaiah 61:1-11) .. The year of the Lord's favour (Isaiah 60:1-22) Jerusalem's future Glory
3/15/1987 Evangelist Billy Graham preached on TV from Luke 14:17 'Come' ... for I watched him on this date & wrote it in my Bible.
The Sunday School Lesson for 1/26/2014 is shared from Luke 16:19-31 (Background Scripture: Luke 16; Devotional Reading: Luke 19:1-10).
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Chief Shepherd - Jesus/Yeshua
Parable ... an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.
Hospitality ... pleasant or sustaining environment, cordial welcome
Luke 14:7-24 ... teacheth humility: to feast the poor: under the parable of the great supper, sheweth how worldly minded men, who contemn the Word of God, shall be shut out of Heaven.
Luke 14:7-14 ... Places at table
The parable of the great supper ... Luke 14:15-24 ... The Later Judaean Ministry (Luke 9:51-19:27)
10/7/2001 ... Purpose of Parables (Matthew 13:1-13, 34-35) understand & confusion. (10-12a & 12b-13) .... Matthew 13:1-52 ... Teaching: The Kingdom of Heaven
Acts 8:26 ... Angels, Offices of Good Angels, Ministering Spirits
Acts 8:29 ... Other Nations; The Conversion of the Gentiles; The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized
Luke 14:7-11
Verses 7-10 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of the New Life; Humility, Required
Verse 11 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of The New Life; Humility, Rewarded
Luke 7:7 (Matthew 8:8) ... Luke 7:8 (Matthew 8:9) ... Luke 7:9 (Matthew 8:10) ... Luke 7:10 (Matthew 8:13)
(Luke 14:7-11, 12-14, 15-24 ... Reference Scriptures in the Sunday School Book )
Verses 12-18a
Verses 12-14 ... The Outward Man; The Sustenance Of the Body; Feasting, Directions
Verse 14 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Resurrection Of The Body; Held to by Most Of The Jews
Verse 15 ... Eschatology/Last Things; Heaven; The Blessedness Of Heaven; But Eating Of The Tree Of Life
Verses 16-18 ... Other Nations; The Conversion Of The Gentiles; Christ's Parables Illustrating the Call of the Gentiles, The Great Supper
Verses 22-24 ... Other Nations; The Conversion Of The Gentiles; Christ's Parables Illustration the Call Of the Gentiles, The Great Supper
Luke 7:22 (Matthew 11:5) ... Luke 7:23 (Matthew 11:6) ... Luke 7:24 (Matthew 11:7)
(John 5:29; I Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 11:35; Revelation 20:5-6)
Monday - January 13, 2014 - The Danger of Self-Exalation - Isaiah 14:12-20
The oracle (a person/priest through whom God uses to speak) concerning Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-14) ... Oracles on Foreign Nations (Isaiah 13:1-27:13)
Tuesday - January 14, 2014 - Humble Yourself before the Lord - James 4:7-12
Exhortations to wholehearted devotion (James 4:7-10) ... Judging one another (James 4:11-12) ... Sins, Social & Spiritual (James 2:1-5:6)
Wednesday - January 15, 2014 - God Gives Grace to the Humble - I Peter 5:1-7
Exhortation to the Elders & their Younger Brethren (I Peter 5:1-5) ... An General Exhortation to Submission to God ( I Peter 5:6-11) ... Final Exhortations & Greetings (I Peter 5:1-14)
Thursday - January 16, 2014 - God Gathers the Outcasts - Psalm/Tehillim 147:1-11
HIS Power & HIS Love ... Psalm of Supplication: Relative to public worship; Psalm of Adoration: Of God's Power, majesty, & glory
Friday - January 17, 2014 - God Lifts the Poor & Needy - Psalm/Tehillim 113
Our God's Glory & Grace ... Psalm Of Adoration: Of God's goodness & mercy/Of God's power, majesty, & glory
Saturday - January 18, 2014 - God Shows No Partiality - Romans 2:1-11
Th failure of the world (Romans 1:18b-3:20) ... The Gospel For The World: 'The Righteous-By-Faith Shall Live' (Romans 1:18b-8:39)
Sunday - January 19, 2014 - Honor & Disgrace - Luke 14:7-18a,22-24
Reference Scriptures shared from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Edition Bible, KJV Special Arrangement New Testament, Zondervan Bible Commentary, & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary 10th Collegiate Edition
The Sunday School Lesson is shared from: Luke 14:7-18a, 22-24 (Background Scripture: Luke 14:7-24; Devotional Reading: Psalm/Tehillim 147:1-11) for 1/19/2014.
1/6/2002 ... Good News For All Nations ... Isaiah 60:1-3; 6:1-6 ... (Isaiah 61:1-11) .. The year of the Lord's favour (Isaiah 60:1-22) Jerusalem's future Glory
3/15/1987 Evangelist Billy Graham preached on TV from Luke 14:17 'Come' ... for I watched him on this date & wrote it in my Bible.
The Sunday School Lesson for 1/26/2014 is shared from Luke 16:19-31 (Background Scripture: Luke 16; Devotional Reading: Luke 19:1-10).
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Chief Shepherd - Jesus/Yeshua
Parable ... an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.
Hospitality ... pleasant or sustaining environment, cordial welcome
Luke 14:7-24 ... teacheth humility: to feast the poor: under the parable of the great supper, sheweth how worldly minded men, who contemn the Word of God, shall be shut out of Heaven.
Luke 14:7-14 ... Places at table
The parable of the great supper ... Luke 14:15-24 ... The Later Judaean Ministry (Luke 9:51-19:27)
10/7/2001 ... Purpose of Parables (Matthew 13:1-13, 34-35) understand & confusion. (10-12a & 12b-13) .... Matthew 13:1-52 ... Teaching: The Kingdom of Heaven
Acts 8:26 ... Angels, Offices of Good Angels, Ministering Spirits
Acts 8:29 ... Other Nations; The Conversion of the Gentiles; The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized
Luke 14:7-11
Verses 7-10 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of the New Life; Humility, Required
Verse 11 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of The New Life; Humility, Rewarded
Luke 7:7 (Matthew 8:8) ... Luke 7:8 (Matthew 8:9) ... Luke 7:9 (Matthew 8:10) ... Luke 7:10 (Matthew 8:13)
(Luke 14:7-11, 12-14, 15-24 ... Reference Scriptures in the Sunday School Book )
Verses 12-18a
Verses 12-14 ... The Outward Man; The Sustenance Of the Body; Feasting, Directions
Verse 14 ... Eschatology/Last Things; The Resurrection Of The Body; Held to by Most Of The Jews
Verse 15 ... Eschatology/Last Things; Heaven; The Blessedness Of Heaven; But Eating Of The Tree Of Life
Verses 16-18 ... Other Nations; The Conversion Of The Gentiles; Christ's Parables Illustrating the Call of the Gentiles, The Great Supper
Verses 22-24 ... Other Nations; The Conversion Of The Gentiles; Christ's Parables Illustration the Call Of the Gentiles, The Great Supper
Luke 7:22 (Matthew 11:5) ... Luke 7:23 (Matthew 11:6) ... Luke 7:24 (Matthew 11:7)
(John 5:29; I Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:11; I Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 11:35; Revelation 20:5-6)
Monday - January 13, 2014 - The Danger of Self-Exalation - Isaiah 14:12-20
The oracle (a person/priest through whom God uses to speak) concerning Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-14) ... Oracles on Foreign Nations (Isaiah 13:1-27:13)
Tuesday - January 14, 2014 - Humble Yourself before the Lord - James 4:7-12
Exhortations to wholehearted devotion (James 4:7-10) ... Judging one another (James 4:11-12) ... Sins, Social & Spiritual (James 2:1-5:6)
Wednesday - January 15, 2014 - God Gives Grace to the Humble - I Peter 5:1-7
Exhortation to the Elders & their Younger Brethren (I Peter 5:1-5) ... An General Exhortation to Submission to God ( I Peter 5:6-11) ... Final Exhortations & Greetings (I Peter 5:1-14)
Thursday - January 16, 2014 - God Gathers the Outcasts - Psalm/Tehillim 147:1-11
HIS Power & HIS Love ... Psalm of Supplication: Relative to public worship; Psalm of Adoration: Of God's Power, majesty, & glory
Friday - January 17, 2014 - God Lifts the Poor & Needy - Psalm/Tehillim 113
Our God's Glory & Grace ... Psalm Of Adoration: Of God's goodness & mercy/Of God's power, majesty, & glory
Saturday - January 18, 2014 - God Shows No Partiality - Romans 2:1-11
Th failure of the world (Romans 1:18b-3:20) ... The Gospel For The World: 'The Righteous-By-Faith Shall Live' (Romans 1:18b-8:39)
Sunday - January 19, 2014 - Honor & Disgrace - Luke 14:7-18a,22-24
Reference Scriptures shared from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Edition Bible, KJV Special Arrangement New Testament, Zondervan Bible Commentary, & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary 10th Collegiate Edition
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
More than Words ... June 16, 2013 Sunday School Lesson
Genuine Worship . Worship . Cliches . Words . Prayer . Parable . Fasting . Isaiah . Jeremiah . Zechariah . Gospel of Luke . Warnings . Prophecies . Sunday School Lesson
The lesson for June 16, 2013 is shared from Isaiah 29:9-16a (Devotional Reading Luke 8:9-14). Unit I. The Prophet and Praise.
My Sunday School Lesson is coming from the Books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Isaiah for the week of June 16, 2013. I am sharing it early this week for I am in Vacation Bible School this week.
Isaiah 28-33 are a group of prophecies against Samaria & Judah, in which the prophet condemns the policy of relying on Egypt for help, and describes the overthrow of Sennacherib and the deliverance of Jerusalem.
The Assyrians and Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1-12)
The certainty of God's plans (Isaiah 29:13-24)
Isaiah 29:9-10
"Genuine Worship" vs "Words/Cliches"
Verses 9,10 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Reprobation
Reprobation ... a person who is condemned by God, hardened in sin
(Isaiah 29:1-8; Isaiah 51:21 - Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)
Verses 11-14
Verses 11,12 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Reprobation
Verses 13,14 ... Duties To God; Prayer; Conditions of Acceptable Prayer, In Sincerity .... Fallen Man; Sins Against Our Neighbor; Hypocrisy
Worship . Integrity . Obey God
"Genuine Worship" vs "Words/Cliches"
Worship to God alone (Exouds 20:1; Deuteronomy 5:7; Luke 4:8; Revelation 19:10)
(John 4:24; Psalm/Tehillim 139:3; Psalm/Tehillim 139:1-4)
Verses 15,16 ... Fallen Man; Sins Against God; Impeaching His Attributes, His Knowledge
(Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 45:9)
Luke 8:9-14 (The parable of the sower)
Luke's later ministry (Luke 8:1-9:50)
Luke (Lucas/Lucilius/Lucanus) the beloved physician, companion of the apostle Paul. Luke was probably a Syrian and Gentile of Antioch, and may have been converted by the apostle Paul.
Luke 8:9-14
Verses 9,10 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Individuals Elected
Verses 11,12,13,14 ... Scripture; Duty To Know & Obey Scripture; Hearers Cautioned
Verse 11 ... Scripture; Promulgation of Scripture; Instruction in Scripture
Promulgation ... decree, news, make known to the public
Monday - June 10, 2013 - Fruitless Worship - Isaiah 1:10-17
Jerusalem. present and future (Isaiah 1:!-5:30)
Judah's sickness (Isaiah 1:2-31)
Tuesday - June 11, 2013 - Worshipping Our Own Achievements - Isaiah 2:5-17
The day of judgment (Isaiah 2:1-22)
Wednesday - June 12, 2013 - Lives Untouched by Religious Observances - Isaiah 58:1-7
Judah after the return (Isaiah 56:1-66:24)
The Return of the Exiles (Isaiah 40:1-66:24)
Thursday - June 13, 2013 - Refusing to Listen - Jeremiah 13:1-11
Enacted Warnings (Jeremiah 13:1-27)
Prophecies Concerning God's Actions At Home & Aboard (Jeremiah 1:1-45:5)
Friday - June 14, 2013 - Tuning Out God - Zechariah 7:8-14
Questions about fasting, and answers (Zechariah 7:1-14)
Saturday - June 15, 2013 - Receiving the Word - Luke 8:9-15
Sunday - June 16, 2013 - Hearts Far from God - Isaiah 29:9-16a
Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Edition Bible, The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, Zondervan Bible Commentary, & Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder
The lesson for June 16, 2013 is shared from Isaiah 29:9-16a (Devotional Reading Luke 8:9-14). Unit I. The Prophet and Praise.
My Sunday School Lesson is coming from the Books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Isaiah for the week of June 16, 2013. I am sharing it early this week for I am in Vacation Bible School this week.
Isaiah 28-33 are a group of prophecies against Samaria & Judah, in which the prophet condemns the policy of relying on Egypt for help, and describes the overthrow of Sennacherib and the deliverance of Jerusalem.
The Assyrians and Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1-12)
The certainty of God's plans (Isaiah 29:13-24)
Isaiah 29:9-10
"Genuine Worship" vs "Words/Cliches"
Verses 9,10 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Reprobation
Reprobation ... a person who is condemned by God, hardened in sin
(Isaiah 29:1-8; Isaiah 51:21 - Reference Scripture in Sunday School Book)
Verses 11-14
Verses 11,12 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Reprobation
Verses 13,14 ... Duties To God; Prayer; Conditions of Acceptable Prayer, In Sincerity .... Fallen Man; Sins Against Our Neighbor; Hypocrisy
Worship . Integrity . Obey God
"Genuine Worship" vs "Words/Cliches"
Worship to God alone (Exouds 20:1; Deuteronomy 5:7; Luke 4:8; Revelation 19:10)
(John 4:24; Psalm/Tehillim 139:3; Psalm/Tehillim 139:1-4)
Verses 15,16 ... Fallen Man; Sins Against God; Impeaching His Attributes, His Knowledge
(Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 45:9)
Luke 8:9-14 (The parable of the sower)
Luke's later ministry (Luke 8:1-9:50)
Luke (Lucas/Lucilius/Lucanus) the beloved physician, companion of the apostle Paul. Luke was probably a Syrian and Gentile of Antioch, and may have been converted by the apostle Paul.
Luke 8:9-14
Verses 9,10 ... Works Of God; The Purposes Of God; Individuals Elected
Verses 11,12,13,14 ... Scripture; Duty To Know & Obey Scripture; Hearers Cautioned
Verse 11 ... Scripture; Promulgation of Scripture; Instruction in Scripture
Promulgation ... decree, news, make known to the public
Monday - June 10, 2013 - Fruitless Worship - Isaiah 1:10-17
Jerusalem. present and future (Isaiah 1:!-5:30)
Judah's sickness (Isaiah 1:2-31)
Tuesday - June 11, 2013 - Worshipping Our Own Achievements - Isaiah 2:5-17
The day of judgment (Isaiah 2:1-22)
Wednesday - June 12, 2013 - Lives Untouched by Religious Observances - Isaiah 58:1-7
Judah after the return (Isaiah 56:1-66:24)
The Return of the Exiles (Isaiah 40:1-66:24)
Thursday - June 13, 2013 - Refusing to Listen - Jeremiah 13:1-11
Enacted Warnings (Jeremiah 13:1-27)
Prophecies Concerning God's Actions At Home & Aboard (Jeremiah 1:1-45:5)
Friday - June 14, 2013 - Tuning Out God - Zechariah 7:8-14
Questions about fasting, and answers (Zechariah 7:1-14)
Saturday - June 15, 2013 - Receiving the Word - Luke 8:9-15
Sunday - June 16, 2013 - Hearts Far from God - Isaiah 29:9-16a
Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Edition Bible, The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, Zondervan Bible Commentary, & Reader's Digest Oxford Complete WordFinder
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