Saturday Scripture Study with Bibi: The Seed of God Within Your Heart

Hello, everyone! Thank you for joining me for another Saturday Scripture Study. During this study series we will be discussing the parables of Jesus. Last week, we talked about how Jesus used parables as part of his teaching lessons. His parables contain powerful messages that are just beneath the surface of the story. They help motivate us to dig deeper and learn how to better walk with Christ, Our Lord.

This week, we will continue our study of Jesus' parables by examining how the simple "seed" provided outstanding teaching illustrations, and encouraged growth of his kingdom.

Before we begin our study, let's pray together: God, you have made the heavens and the earth. You have revealed your beauty in creation and inspired the book that we are now about to study. Please help us now as we read together. Take us deeper into understanding more about you and your love for us. Amen.

From the earliest beginnings of time, until the industrial revolution changed this during the nineteenth century, agriculturally dominated economies were widespread throughout the world,  So, it's not too difficult to figure out that Jesus would refer to the farmers, fields, and vineyards around him for the inspirational material he used in his parables; especially the farmer and the seed.

Jesus' apostles continued this familiar theme throughout their New Testament epistles. In respect to the blossoming sectarianism at Corinth, Paul equated the work of men and God to working in the field (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). Paul wasn't trying to take the credit for himself. Neither did he encourage other believers to bestow kudos to any other man. Instead, it was God who arranged for the abundance in the barn. Yes, man should sow the seed and care for it in the soil, but in the end, there's nothing he can do to force it to grow.

As Christians, we should spread the gospel "seed." We should spread it in every direction as we go about our daily lives; at the same time, receiving "the implanted word, which is able to save souls." (James 1:21) Followers of Christ should also think of the gospel as seed, similar to that which can be bought at a store to start a vegetable or flower garden. However, though the seeds are unproductive while still in the package, they maintain their potency for a considerable length of time. Thus, seeds removed from a packet and thrown on the ground contain the capability to produce fruit.

Additionally, the apostle Peter further specifies the gospel message as life-giving seed (1 Peter 1: 23-25). For example, a tomato seed will most likely grow into a beautiful, green vine that blossoms and gives its red fruit. Afterwards, it withers and dies. But, this is not the case with the gospel seed. It grows lush flowers and perpetually produces fruit. Somebody sowed the seed in your heart; now share the blessing, Peter urges. 1 John 3:9 reminds us that that great gospel seed holds sway in the hearts of the devoted.

Pointing to Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:2-20; Luke 8:4-15, Jesus defines four types of hearts and their acceptance of the gospel seed, in comparison to other soil types. It's our job to sow the seed, allowing it to fall wherever it may. God will give the increase when it falls on good soil. Unfortunately, three of the four types of soil don't allow the seed to fully develop.

In Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32, the Lord places the tiny mustard seed between his thumb and forefinger for us to check out. The kingdom of heaven is imperceivable and takes up no physical space. Yet, it grows exceedingly larger than all the earthly kingdoms which eventually pass away.

Finally, Jesus Christ appeals to the natural enigma of agriculture in that man places the seed underground where he can't see it develop. Similarly, the kingdom starts slowly, growing gradually until it is ready to return to its Master.

Despite the fact that few of us earn a living as farmers anymore, Jesus' seed parables are still generously instructive because we all plant something at one time or another.

Questions:

1. When discussing the growth of the kingdom, Matthew 13:3 must never be overlooked. What is necessary for the kingdom to spread? Compare this to Romans 10:14-15.
2. Complete the following chart on the sower of seeds:

SEED FELL AMONG...            RESULT            SPIRITUAL EXPLANATION

a. wayside
b. stony places
c. thorns
d. good ground

3. Does the unlikelihood of finding good soil mean that we should give up and not sow at all?
4. If a man had never seen a mustard seed, he would certainly be unimpressed. The mustard seed is even less appealing than most seeds. In the lowly mustard seed, we see a reflection of our Savior's choice of entry into the world. Read Micah 5:2. What does it say about his birthplace?
5. What was Jesus' secular (worldly) occupation? His relative wealth and earthly honor? According to Isaiah 53:1-3, is he a proper comparison to the mustard seed physically?
6. What becomes of the little planted mustard seed? What becomes of the resurrected Christ?
7.Sometimes we regard certain individuals very unlikely to respond to the gospel and then they surprise us and obey it to become the godliest believers. What does this prove?
8. Compare this thought to the Lord's words in Luke 7:36-47. What habit of Jesus' shocked the Pharisees and even perplexed his own disciples?
9. According to this parable, is conversion an immediate lightning strike to the heart, or a gradual persuasion from logic and faith?
10. The gradual progression of the seed (blade, head, full grain) is a comparable doctrine to the apostle's in 1 John 2:12-14. What three stages of a man's spiritual growth are taught there?

Until next time...

May your week be blessed!

Bibi