4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.
Unwilling, unrepentant, unchanged, stone cold – words that could be used to describe the hearts of those Jesus refers to in the above verses from the Parable of the Sower. Later in this chapter, when Jesus gives the meaning of the parable to His disciples He states:11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Luke 8:11-12 (NIV)
This is scary to me because we are each held accountable for what our ears have heard and our eyes have seen. In our country we are so blessed to have such a great wealth of depth and knowledge of God’s Word from the pulpits, commentaries, books and the likes. We are exposed to Truth over and over again. We often are guilty of stopping up our ears, not changing and turning from our ways thereby trampling the Truth underfoot. The gospel always demands decision. This reminds me of Jesus’ words In the Sermon on the Mount that may help shed more insight into this same matter:6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Matt 7:6 (NIV)
We also run the risk when we entrust holy sacred things to unholy people of having them trample them under their feet and then turning and tearing us to pieces! This is exactly what Jesus incurred from the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of His day. We have no right to think that the types of relationships Jesus encountered should be any different from what we encounter in our day. Their reaction broke the heart of our Savior. We are told: 37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matt 23:37 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary expounds on this verse: “In a final lament over the city of Jerusalem, Jesus stated His desire for that nation. Jerusalem, the capital, represented the entire nation, and people there had killed the prophets and stoned those sent to them (cf. Matt. 23:34; 21:35). He longed to gather the nation together much as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. The nation, unlike chicks that naturally run to their mother hen in times of danger, willfully refused (you were not willing) to turn to the Lord. They were responsible to make a choice and their choice brought condemnation. The result was their house was left... desolate, or alone.” Paul echoes the same feelings over the rejection of Truth by his fellow Jews: 1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Romans 9:1-4 (NIV)
Paul had deep anguish of heart over the rejection of the gospel by the vast majority of Jews. He echoes this same tenderness in 2 Corinthians regarding the redeemed who were being led astray from the Lordship of Christ: 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Cor 11:1-3 (NIV)
“Instead of resisting (cf. James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9) the devil’s inducement to disobedience Eve listened and succumbed (Gen. 3:1-6). The serpent enticed her by his cunning (panourgia, “trickery”; cf. 2 Cor. 4:2). The devil’s representatives in Corinth (11:13-15) were also seductive. They should have been spurned (cf. 6:14-15) but instead were tolerated (11:4). Worse still, if the church like Eve obeyed the lie they would be guilty of disobedience to God and disloyalty to Christ, whom they were single-mindedly to love and obey. (Sincere renders the Gr. noun haplot¢tos, “simplicity in the sense of single-mindedness”; cf. 1:12).”—Bible Knowledge Commentary Jesus has commanded all of His followers to go and make disciples because, as Paul states: 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)
“He who has ears, let him hear.” Matt 11:15 (NIV)