A Sower Went Out to Sow His Seed - Luke 8:5

Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus, “went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable”, and in chapter eight and verse five of his book Luke shared how, “much people were gathered together” where we read:

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side;

and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

The verse reads, “ A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side;” Luke began with the words, “a sower went out” or “one who scatters seed emanated, departed and proceeded” “to sow his seed” which means “to scatter seed that he owned”: “and as he sowed” or “and as the seed sower distributed his seed”, “some fell” which means “a portion of the seed descended and lit” “by the way side” or “along the traveled road”. Luke shared how Jesus began telling His parable by referring to a “seed sower” or “farmer” who began to “distribute” “seed”, and some of the seed fell on the “traveled path”.

The verse goes on to say, “and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.” Luke continued with words, “and it was trodden down” which means “and the seed that fell along the traveled road was trampled under foot, treated with rudeness and insult and spurned with insulting neglect”, “and the fowls of the air” or “and the birds in the heaven or sky” “devoured it” which means “consumed and destroyed the seed”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “seed” sown along the traveled road was not only “trampled upon and neglected”, but also was eaten by “birds” as it lie upon the path.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see the first of Jesus' examples within His parable. Jesus spoke of a “sower” or “farmer” who “scattered his seed”. Distribution of the seed went in various places as we shall see, however, Jesus made note of the “seed that fell upon the traveled road” or “along the way side” first. This seed was exposed to people who trampled it with their feet or to the birds who ate the “seed” before it germinated. Jesus will tell us what the “seed” represents in the next few verses, but suffice it for now to understand that God distributes His word of the gospel throughout the world, and sometimes it is “neglected, abused or taken away”. God wants every person to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when He sows that seed within their heart, the wise person responds by yielding their life to Him.

Next time we see Luke shares how Jesus says some of the seed, “fell upon a rock”, 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".