The Seed Sown Among Thorns - Mark 4:18

Mark wrote how Jesus questioned His disciples, “Know you not this parable? and how then will you know all parables?” Jesus continued, “The sower sows the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended”, and in chapter four and verse eighteen of his book, Mark shares how Jesus began to tell His disciples about, “they which are sown among thorns” where we read:

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

The verse reads, “And these are they which are sown among thorns;” Mark began with the words, “and these are they” or “and the following are the people” “which are sown” which means “who are like the seed which is scattered and cast forth” “among thorns” which means “towards and unto the bramble and thorny bushes”. Mark shared how Jesus next referred to the people to whom God's word was presented who were like the “bramble bushes”.

The verse goes on to say, “such as hear the word,” Mark continued with the words, “such as hear” or “those who understand, perceive and comprehend” “the word” which refers to “the speech, utterance, decree and mandate of God”. Mark shared how Jesus said the people who have the “thorny ground” like hearts actually “perceive and understand” God's word.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how each of these agrarian examples of Jesus referred to the different “soils” or “hearts” in which God's word is “sown”. In this example, the “soil” or soul of the people hearing God's word was like the “seed” cast into a “thorn bush”. God desires to have a relationship with every person, and when He shares the explanation to what the people who have “thorny” hearts are like, those reading His words should pay particular attention and yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells what, “chokes the word”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".