There is a key parable that unlocks the rest of the parables!
Parables are given to illustrate Truth and conceal Truth. The same story would hide Truth from those who are not ready to obey and reveal Truth to those who are. It is the mercy of GOD to withhold insight, to withhold revelation, from the people who are not ready to obey.
Increased revelation brings increased accountability and responsibility, therefore increasing their judgment.
Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 4:
13 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
Jesus just marked the parable of the seed and the sower as the key that unlocks all other parables. Understanding this parable, positions you to understand the rest.
Why is this parable the key? When you understand that The Word of GOD is not something that just is spoken, The Word of GOD is actually a Person. Stewarding a Word is stewarding a relationship. Instead of analyzing a specific Word, we surrender to a specific Person.
14 The sower sows the Word.
The seed is The Word of GOD.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
Jesus explained in Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom, and does not understand It, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received Seed by the wayside.
Understanding is what enables Seed to penetrate soil. The word understand actually means learning that takes place through the five senses. What it says is that what GOD says has to be brought into practical human experience or it is laid open for the enemy to steal.
For example, we can hear the message of “caring for the poor”; we can agree and say Amen, but if it is not brought into personal experience, the Life of that Word will actually be stolen. The Seed has to bring us to action.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
Difficulties and tribulations arise, i.e. wake up, for the sake of the Word that was spoken into your life. The Word over your life needs to be opposed; it needs opposition. Why? It is because you need options. If you don’t have options, there is no basis for reward. Think about it.
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 11:
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Our diligence is rewarded.
If you have no root in yourself, it means that your “soil” is insufficiently nourished to allow The Word to root deeply in you.
Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in his epistle 1st Peter chapter 2:
2 In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life—
Immature believers are easily intimated by the tribulations and persecutions that will come. They allow the opposition to prevail versus standing on The Word that they have. Their roots are plucked up along with The Word that was sown. Once you have given over to the opposition, you have undermined The Word you have and have given authority to the inferior.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and It becomes unfruitful.
The word cares is made up of two words: the word divide and the word mind. The cares of this world are those things that divide the mind… being doubleminded.
James warns us by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:
5 If any of you lacks Wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Riches are deceitful… they lie. They are useful tools but horrible masters. If your eyes are focused on money, the revelation of The Word cannot penetrate your heart. The result will be darkness within you. You cannot worship two gods at the same time.
GOD has given each of us the authority to choose what we’re going to feed our soul with, The Word or worldly cares, riches, and desires for other things. You choose! Don’t consider things that are unnecessary. Don’t entertain ideas or thoughts that are draining, and you are constantly fighting a battle you weren’t designed for.
When you lend your authority to an inferior thing, it chokes the all-powerful thing which is The Word of GOD,
Finally, in Mark 4:
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear The Word, accept It, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Jesus summarizes the key parable:
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear, for as you do, more understanding will be given to you. And according to your longing to understand, much more will be added to you. For those who listen with open hearts will receive more revelation. But those who don’t listen with open hearts will lose what little they think they have!
This is the key to your spiritual maturity.