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A Good Field with the Seed of the Word

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[Mark 4:20]

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it,

and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

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In the time of Jesus, the Jewish nation was a barren land where most of the country had difficulty growing crops properly.

Because of this, the Israelites had to set up farmland at the foot of the mountain.

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Farms were not well organized.

There were roads made naturally by people. In some places along the road, thorn bushes grew on the side of the road. Other places along the road were like rocky gravel.

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The Israelites who farm in this land have a method of sowing that is unique.

Prior to sowing, the farmer plows up the rough land.

This is to ensure that the seeds are well planted in the ground.

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Then spread and scatter the seeds as much as possible.

The seeds are scattered here and there.

Then the farmers plow again to get their seeds deep into the ground.

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These sown seeds begin to grow here and there.

But when the seeds fall on the road, the birds come and eat them before they sprout.

The seeds are sown, but they are eaten by the birds before they grow.

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The seeds that fall on the stony ground begin to sprout with force,

but because of the stones, the seed cannot take root and therefore die.

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The seeds that fell on the thorns grew well at first, but they did not grow for a long time.

The thorns grew up and choked the seeds and the seeds eventually died.

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But seeds planted on good ground grew very well.

The seeds grow very crisp because there was moderate moisture and good sunlight.

That's why the seeds grow well and have lots of fresh and good fruit.

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This is Jesus' message. Upon hearing this, the disciples asked,

“Jesus, please explain to us what this means.”

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Jesus told His disciples that the seed is the Word of God and the ground

is the heart of the person who accepts this Word.

Many people listened to the Word of God, but he explained that the result

is completely different, depending on the mind of the person receiving it.

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First of all, the meaning of the birds who ate the seeds fallen on the road was

that of the man who heard the Word of God,

but soon the devil came and took away the sprinkled word of God.

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The seed that fell on the stony ground means the person accepts joyfully at the moment

when he hears the word of God, but the word is not rooted in his heart.

Such a person is one who forgets the Word and falls immediately

when suffering difficulties and hardships.

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The seed that fell on the thorn bush, refers to a person who hears the word

but is tempted by worldly worries, temptations to riches, and many other worldly things. That person does not understand the Word and fails to produce the fruit of faith.

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Finally, the seed that fell on good ground means a man who hears God's word,

remembers it, acts according to it, and grows faith.

Jesus explains that this man is the one who yields 30 times, 60 times,

and 100 times the fruit of God's Word.

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Jesus today told this parable and said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

We, the people of God, must receive the Word with humility when the Word of God is heard in our ears.

And we must do our best to live according to that word.

This is the image of a man like a good land!

I hope that all the friends who always think and act in the Word of God and make a lot of good fruit.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)