'And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’” Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold (Mk, 4:10-20).”
It is necessary to have faith in order to accept and understand Jesus’ teaching and the deeper, hidden meaning of the parables. True discipleship is hearing the word of God and keeping it. Those who refuse to believe will be confused by the parables and misinterpret the kingdom of God. Isaiah foretold of the rejection of Jesus’ teaching by the chosen people (Is. 6:9-10). Jesus’ teaching was to be spread to all. He came to forgive sins and reconcile mankind with God through repentance, so it would seem as if the original meaning of the quote from Isaiah was lost. There are basically two types of soil/disciples - those who hear the word, act on it and bear fruit, and those who reject the word and do not bear fruit. The parable gave three obstacles to belief and bearing fruit – Satan (v.15), persecutions (vv. 16-17) and worldly concerns (vv. 18-19). All three of these were stumbling blocks for the early Church but the true disciple heard the word, accepted it and bore much fruit in spite of obstacles.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to hear and understand your word and the wisdom to seek the deeper, hidden meaning of your teaching. Increase our desire to serve you in spite of our trials and strengthen our faith so that we may accept your word and act on it. This we pray trough Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments