In this passage of Mark there are two parables of a seed. One is of it growing and the other of a mustard seed. Today we look deeper into the parable of seed growing.

One could easily conclude this parable to be of the obvious. But… what about its personal application and implication? A seed of any kind needs to be planted. Holding it in one’s hand will not allow it to produce a fruit or vegetation. Leave it to the birds does not grow a crop. But where one plants it matters greatly. There is a cartoon caption of a person who planted grass seed in his new yard. The second caption is him staring at a yard with little to no grass but the cracks in his driveway have sprouted nicely. This is spurious growth. That is not central to this parable.

(New American Standard Bible – Mark 4:26-29)

²⁶ And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; ²⁷ and he goes to bed at night and gets up daily, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. ²⁸ The soil produces crops by itself; first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. ²⁹ Now when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Does the seed plant itself? Does it find fertile ground on its own? Does it know when it is in season to plant and grow? How does it get from the seed bag to the ground? Each of these questions has but one answer. What we do know is that the seed did not begin in a plastic or burlap  bag. Planting anything is a personal option. One must decide to purchase then plant any seed on prepared ground. Plants have their personal requirements for good growth.

This passage begins with “the Kingdom of God.” The word “kingdom” is basileia in the Greek. It is the same in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew and Luke) as in this passage in Mark. One probably imagines a piece of property when considering a kingdom. However, the word basileia has additional meanings. The Greek word for “kingdom” is basileia (βασιλεία). It can mean a kingdom, palace, queen, princess, reign, or royal status or power.

“The soil produces crops by itself” Seldom is it understood that we are commanded only to plant the seed, i.e. a witness of what God has done for us. The ground (souls) it falls on is either ready or rubble; NOT to be productive or accepting. This does not mean to be judgmental and witness only to those who we think may be fertile ground. Remember in the parable of the different soils, the planter in Matthew 13:1-8 tossed the seed on many different ground conditions. All the seed that fell on soil did not produce a maximum crop… 60, 80, or 90 fold.

In witnessing terms, this phrase means that some who are witnessed to will be like the seed in this parable. The seed is THE WORD OF GOD. We are not commanded to expect nor to harass one(s) we witness to, to decide to accept Christ. This has the same result as a seed that falls on rocky soil. It is the Word of God (the soil) that brings forth the fruit or crop. But… we are commanded to share/plant the seed. One might recall a Sunday when the minister or evangelist will sing “Just As I Am” until someone finally comes forward or raises his or her hand. These converts tend to be shallow. They wither when the heat (sun) comes on them.

The line of this verse that follows the sowing of the seed is… first the stalk, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Here is a danger point in the new life of a believer. Jesus called it discipleship. In our life we have heard or heard of new converts who are given responsibilities at a church way before they have matured as believers. How dare we do that! Only the “head” of the eventual fruit or grain may have been established. This parable is clear. Only after time of discipleship then the mature grain in the head. The new convert needs to be protected from weeds and nourished. Only after it matures is it ready to serve.

Bonus:

The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13)

^{Matthew 4:47} “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, ⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2024