Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 6 Study # 1
June 30, 2020
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis:   The parable of the earth's production of the harvest indicates the Kingdom's fundamental nature: its existence is rooted in the function of the earth once the sowing has occurred.

Introduction:   In our studies of the parables of Jesus regarding the mystery of the Kingdom of the God, we have seen a significant parallelism between the accomplishment of fruitfulness in that Kingdom and the combination of the sower's "seed" and the condition of the places upon which the seed falls.

In our last study we saw that Jesus declared that a significant element in that fruitfulness is the attitude of the recipient of the seed toward the seed in terms of whether, or not, the seed would produce its fruit. We saw that Jesus gave a significant warning about whether the recipient of the "seed" (as the inspired Word of God) would actually produce an enduring fruitfulness, or not. The key to fruitfulness in that warning, Jesus said, was whether, or not, a recipient of the seed would select the proper instrument for measuring the words.

In that study it was my contention that the only legitimate "standard of measure" is this question: what do these words mean? All other standards pose limits upon the process that will eventually undermine it altogether.

This evening we are going to look into the follow-up parable.

• I. The Parable of The Farmer.
  • A. This is the first time the "large crowd" is told that Jesus is addressing a Significant Aspect of The Kingdom of The God.
    • 1. The lead-in of 4:26 omits the "to them" that followed the "He was saying" phrase that is found in 4:2, 11, 13, 21, and 24 (there are two other times it was omitted: 4:9 and 4:30).
    • 2. This is the first parable that actually uses the phrase "The Kingdom of The God is like..."
      • a. Jesus had told the disciples that He was talking about "The Kingdom of The God" in 4:11, but He had never told the large crowd that.
      • b. The "to them" phrases in 4:11, 13, 21, and 24 are all tied to The Twelve, not the multitude.
  • B. This is a natural follow-up for the crowd in that it is only the second parable to which they were exposed.
    • 1. The first "crowd-parable" was about a "sower" whose seed was fruitful only by reason of "the good earth" (4:8).
    • 2. This second "crowd-parable" is also about a man who "cast a sowing upon the earth".
  • C. This parable's focus is upon the earth's production of a harvest as a matter of the combination of a "sowing" and "the earth's own inherent characteristics".
    • 1. The production of a harvest is not the outcome of the man's awareness of the "how?" issues.
      • a. The man simply "casts a sowing upon the earth".
      • b. The man's actions after that action are those of a settled routine that has nothing to do with what is going on in his field.
        • 1) He is following his routine of normalcy: going to sleep at night and being awakened when night turns to day.
        • 2) He is totally ignorant of "how what is happening in his field is taking place".
          • a) The "how" concept is addressed by the statement: "as to manner, he himself does not know".
          • b) The denial of "knowing" to the man means that his "knowledge" is limited to the actual details of getting the "sowing" done.
          • c) The sphere of his ignorance is in the processes involved in the "sprouting" and "lengthening".
    • 2. The production of a harvest is all about "the earth producing fruit automatically".
      • a. It is the earth's "automatic" (automate) activity that produces the fruit.
      • b. The process of that production is detailed.
        • 1) First, the "blade".
        • 2) Then, the "ear" or "head".
        • 3) Then, the "full grain" in the "ear/head".
  • D. The farmer's next action.
    • 1. As soon as "the fruit has developed"...
      • a. He had nothing to do with any of the process.
      • b. But when the process was completed, he acted.
    • 2. He straightway sends in the sickle.
      • a. He does this "because the harvest has come".
      • b. His entire purpose for "the sowing" has been accomplished.
• II. The Significance of This Parable For The Crowd.
  • A. It emphasizes what the first parable made obvious: "fruitfulness" is the issue.
    • 1. There are reasons "unfruitfulness" occurs.
    • 2. But "fruitfulness" is the point.
    • 3. As soon as this "point" has been achieved, the sickle is sent in.
  • B. It emphasizes the absence of any need of the man who does the sowing for understanding of the process.
    • 1. The "seed" plus "the earth" is all the "sower" needs to know.
    • 2. This is not a denial of Jesus' focus upon His "sowers" and their need to know.
    • 3. It is the crowd that doesn't need to know anything but the fact that God's Word and a "Good" Earth will accomplish God's desire.
  • C. It puts the crowd on notice that God will not be satisfied with "fruitlessness" and that whether "fruitfulness" is achieved is all about being willing to receive the seed and let it do its thing.
    • 1. This is in complete harmony with Hebrews 11:6.
      • a. The only way God is ever pleased is when "faith" is present.
      • b. But "faith" is defined in terms of two matters of "content".
        • 1) God exists.
        • 2) He is a rewarder to those who "seek Him out".
    • 2. "Good earth" does not "refuse the issues of reward" ("reward" is the entire focus of the teaching of Paul in respect to the Judgment Seat of Christ).

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This is article #168.
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