Luke chapter 08 (a)

The parable of the sower appears again. Comparing with that in Matthew 13 and in Mark 4, we can find that it lacks the differences of 30x, 60x and 100x fruits and also has details more different to the other two.

The four types of sower are the same: along paths, on rocks, among thorns and on good soil. In the case of on rocks, it said:

6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Comparing to the reason of withering in Matthew and Mark, it said:

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.(Mt13.6; Mk4.6)

In Matthew and Mark, the reason is to lack root and not to bear the sunsine. (Review: someone of us has once shared that sunshine should be good for our faith, but if we didn't root firmly, we would not be able to recieve the grace of sunshine.) But here, it mentioned another aspect. The plants withered because they had no moisture. So if we explain "moisture" as the watering of Holy Spirit, then we can consider the importance of our spiritual experiences in pray. Do we experience God in our pray? Are our spirits moisted by Holy Spirit? Or do we thirst for more being watered?

In the case of among thorns, it said:

14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 

Comparing to that in Matthew:

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. (Mt13.22)

but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.(Mk4.19)

The meaning of thorns in the three verses is the same: worries, riches and pleasure in the world. But Luke further pointed out that they are choked by these things because "they go their way" so that "they do not mature". So, how do we make our faith mature? That would be go on God's way and being fruitful (as what Matthew and Mark said).

Finally, in the case of on good soil:

15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

They hear God's word with a nobel and good heart adding reaining and perservering while those on the rock just receive the word with joy(ver.13). It reminds us that a faith only basing on joy is insufficient. It also needs our efforts to keep God's word in mind, to persevere it in sufferings and finally still produce a crop. That's why Jesus encouraged us to "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.(Lk13.24)"

Following the parable of the sower is the parable of the lamp. (Review: I have once shared this parable in Mark 4.21-25, where the meaning of lamp is our good behaviors because it is used to explain the differences among 30x, 60x and 100x fruits. The better we behave in front of people, the more fruitful we are.) Here, the lamp refers to God's word which should be put in front of our steps but not under the bed. That's why in ver.18 reminds us to "consider carefully how you listen", otherwise, we will even lose those we 自以為 understand:

18 [...]Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.