2.1 THE PARABLE

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.

4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

(because it had no moisture - Lk.8:6)

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

(and it yielded no grain - Mk 4:7)

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was

sown.

(Growing up and increasing and yielding thirty fold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold - Mk 4:8)

9 He who has ears, let him hear."

2.2. RULES LAID DOWN

This parable was interpreted for us by the master himself. In so doing he laid down the basic principles of interpreting his parables of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. We have seen that these principles are:

1. The symbols are to be identified by the Bible itself.

2. Then it is to be interpreted in the context and relevance called for by the algorithm.

In order to show that his was the method employed by Jesus, we will for the present forget the interpretation as given by the master. We will employ the principles to reinterpret this parable and then compare the results.

We will first of all try y to identify the various symbols used in the parable.

2.3 THE SOWER AND THE PERIODS OF SOWING

Nowhere in the Scripture (Except in one place which is disused below) the Lord, the Word or the Son of Man is symbolized as a sower. In the one place of exception God says, "I will Sow" and this refers to the coming of Jesus and of the anti-Christ. Both should come out of the Jews. Thus in Jer. 31:27 it says,

27 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of beast.". Thus since Jesus is the seed - the Word the sower is God himself . Others who are in the world going about sowing are his servants.

The scripture clearly says that God is the provider of the seed and the bread. Both symbolizes Jesus , the Word of God.

Is. 55: 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

Again in 2 Cor 9: 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

The sower therefore is the servant of God who carries the seed - the Good news of Jesus when applied to the Kingdom of Heaven. Similarly the sowers of the Kingdom of Darkness are those who carry the seed of the devil - the good news of the worldly freedom; "bow down and worship me, I will give you all these" (earthly glories) The sowers here are then Christians for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Notice that the sower went out to sow. It is his business to sow. It is the business of every Christian to be a sower. Whenever he goes out whether in business or in pleasure, he carries with him the seed. We are his witnesses.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Ex. 23:10 "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,

11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.

This law is repeated again in Lev 25:4-7

This stipulates the period of sowing in the Kingdom of Heaven. Six periods of Church Age starting from the Ephesus Period (corresponding to the Apostolic Age) till the Philadelphian Church Period (corresponding to the Evangelical Church Age of the Pearl of Great Price) will be the period of sowing the seed. The period of Grace ends with it. There will be no Word of God preached in the following period - The Laodician Church Age corresponding to the dragnet tribulation time. The land will lie fallow. There will be no sowing or gathering. But it will still be a period of fruitfulness, grown out of the result of earlier witnessing. The fruit will be collected and used up as it is yielded.

Lev. 25:5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.

6 Whatever the land yields during the Sabbath year will be food for you--for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you,

7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

While the land is having rest, sower is having Sabbath.
Ex 20:12 Six days you shall work, but the seventh day you shall rest

This is a period of rest for the sower at the end of the sixth Church Age. The believers are then taken up with the Lord and remain with him till his coming back, when the sowing restarts.

1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

2.4 THE SEED

We have already seen that Jesus is the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, the Word of God, is like the seed, which given proper conditions in a soil could sprout, grow to maturity, and give rise to abundance of fruit. The provider of the seed is God himself.

The King James Version of 1 Jn 3:9 reads like this: Whoever born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed (Jesus/The Word) remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1 Peter 1:23 says: 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

and it ends up in verse 25 as: "that word is good news which was preached to you.’

The word seed is generally used to denote progeny throughout the Bible. Thus

Gen 22:17 I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven

18 And in thy seed shall all nations of the world be blessed

referring here to Jesus as the seed of the woman.

In King James version semen is rendered as the seed of copulation. This seed evidently is the potent power of creation. Thus the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven is the seed of the begotten Son of God, the living Word or the potent power of all creation, and the written Word of God.

2.5 THE GROUND

Ground in general symbolizes the world, the human heart or man himself - his body and soul (excluding the spirit). Evidently man is taken out of the dust of the ground (Gen 2:7). When man sinned, the ground was cursed (Gen 3:17-19). Following this symbolism, the prophets exclaimed

Jer. 43 This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done-- burn with no one to quench it.

and

Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

We have four kinds of grounds. Again the number four appears in connection with the world. This is true of the all sowing periods. But it was essentially the experience of the Apostolic Period. The Church was born on the day of Pentecost in AD 30. The Apostolic age lasted till 100 AD with the death of John. Let us now try to classify the ground.

2.6 THE SEED THAT FELL ON THE WAY

This is the word that was heard by the people who go in the way of the world. Hearts that are engrossed in the world and in its pleasures only. Jude 11 says: They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error..... Remember Cain was the first tiller of the ground and the first builder of the City. He was a murderer in his heart even before he hated and killed his brother out of sheer jealousy. These are the people Pro. 1: 13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

What happens to the seed that fell on the way?

They were simply swallowed up by the birds. Birds since they ate up and destroyed the Word of God , evidently describes the powers of darkness. We will have occasion to expand on the identification of this in detail later. It is sufficiently established here for the context.

2.7 THE SEED THAT FELL ON ROCKY GROUNDS

Rock is used in the scripture as something indicative of harness, firmness or anchorage. Thus we have verses like "He is my rock and my salvation" (Ps. 62:2) "The wise man built his house upon the rock." (Mat. 7:24-26). Jesus says to peter "Upon this rock, I will build my church." It refers to God as one who never changes - the rock of ages. "The rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he."(Deu. 32:4) "You were unmindful of the rock that begot you and you forgot the God who gave birth to you" (Deu.32:18) In the same sense other gods are also referred to as rock "Then he will say, Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge...?" (deu.32 37) "There is no rock like our God." ( 1 Sam 2:2) Christ is the rock that followed Israel through the wilderness. (1 Cor 10:4)

In general therefore rocky ground signifies hardened heart - hardened either through faith, prejudice, tradition or habit. But as long as the ground is not dug up or fallowed the roots cannot go deeper.

As a symbol of cutting open the heart, the ceremony of circumcision was given to Abraham and to his seed. (Jer 4:3) This was a preparation of the ground for the sowing of the seed through Jesus and the word of God. So we see that the first church was actually born among the Jews.

What happened to the rocky ground? In the shallow soil the word gave rise to a plant, But when the sun came up it withered away because its roots were not able to go deeper to get water. Luke says "because it had no moisture." Sun in the scripture unlike books of other religions) does not represent anything good. It is represented mostly as a natural power created by God to provide times and seasons. Then in other places it is considered as down right satanic because of the relation with worship of gods of heaven. Thus Ezekiel was taken by the spirit to show the abominations committed by Israel. :Behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the people and the altar were about twentyfive men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces towards the east, worshipping the sum towards the east. Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O Son of Man? Is it too slight a thing...?" (Ez 8:16-17)

(Does your congregation insist on worshipping towards the east? Can you explain it? Is it too slight a thing?) Because of this association we see the sun smitten and vial poured out on the sun at the time of Judgment. (Rev. 8:12 and 16:8) At the crucifixion the sun was smitten (Luke 23:44-45) Notice also that the new earth has no sun (Rev. 21:23) But sun is necessary for the healthy growth of a plant provided there is enough water and moisture available. So also trials and temptations are necessary for exercise and healthy growth of the Christian. But without the roots - the spiritual mainstay to draw water, he will just wither away.

Water in the scripture symbolizes the quickening spirit and the word. In John 4:13,14 Jesus speaks of the living water that he gives. "He who believes in me as the scripture has said - "out of his heart shall flow rivers of living waters." Now this he said about the spirit, which those who believe in him were to receive. (Jn 7:38-39)

Luke’s mention of the moisture is of interest. The roots of a plant are of tremendous strength. They can easily break through the rocks provided the plant can be kept alive on them by constant provision of moisture. By providing constantly the atmosphere of spirit and fellowship even the rocky grounds can yield fruit. The trouble often is that the sun removes the moisture on the surface soil fast. The great need of Christian Fellowship especially at the times of hardships, trials and temptations cannot be over emphasized. The moisture is provided to the younger plants by the older plants. Deforestation we know is the basic cause of desertification.

2.8 THE SEED THAT FELL AMONG THE THORNS

Thorns are the outcome of the fall of man. It is the crop of the development of the ego - the selfishness. "Cursed in the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field." (Gen 3:17-19) Because of his selfishness, he begins to worry about his own existence apart from the rest of the brethren. So the world brings forth thorns and thistles for him - toil, care and worry. Thorns are the problems of human existence in the atmosphere of competition. In Sanskrit it is the ocean of Samsar. In the hustle of strife the word is choked out with no time for the Church, no time for prayer; at most it will remain as a Sunday Churchianity and it yield no grain (Mk. 4:7)

It is interesting to note that our Lord wore a crown of thorns on the cross. Along with the sins, he carried my cares. "therefore do not be anxious saying - What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the gentiles seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well." (Mt 6:31-33)

2.9 THE SEEDS THAT FELL ON THE GOOD GROUND

From the description of other grounds, the good ground is

- That which is plowed and broken,

- That from which the rocks and the stones are removed so that the roots can reach down for water.

- That from which thorns and thistles are weeded out

Here the word will sprout, grow into maturity and bring forth flowers and gives abundance of harvest. As Mark puts it "Growing up and increasing and yielding..." (Mk 4:8) Each plant in its turn provides in the likeness of God, ‘seed for the sower and food for the eater."

Now compare these identifications of symbols and the interpretation as a whole with those which Jesus himself have given us. Do they not clearly show that our methods are correct?

Evidently even the naive critics were able to find in this parable the experience of the early Church. (That is supposed to prove that Jesus never gave those parables and the interpretation for them.) That is exactly what Jesus was telling - the problem the church at the Apostolic Age faced were the birds, the rock and the thorns. Yet the good ground gave forth abundance.

2.10 A CHANGE OF PLAN

On the mount of Olives, Jesus asked his disciples not to leave Jerusalem, for they were not provided with the seed. So they remained in Jerusalem, gathering together and praying. On the Day of Pentecost in AD 29, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were gathered there ten days after the ascension of Jesus. Rightaway they began to witness and proclaim Jesus. The sermon of Peter that day recorded for us in Acts 2: 14-40 forms the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven in words. That day 3000 believed and were baptized.

The early believers expected Jesus to come back for them very soon - in their life time. So they lived a communal life expecting it.

Acts 4: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all..

As years rolled by petty quarrels arose within the commune and a certain amount of administration became necessary. They selected seven men to oversee distribution of food. Three and a half years elapsed since the resurrection of Jesus - since the man child Jesus was taken into heavens and it was time for Jesus to Descend to start the millennial period. Thus Stephen looked up heaven and sees the glorious vision and declared before the High Priest and the rulers of the Jews, the message of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Acts. 7:56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

But the Jewish hierarchy rejected their messiah

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.

By stoning Stephen the Jewish nation finally rejected their messiah. So gentile dominion was allowed to run its full course. And witnessing was given over to a new people - both the Jews and the Gentiles - now called Christians. From then on, the Holy Spirit was given to both the Jews and the Gentiles alike. Jesus probably knew of this eventuality. hence after the resurrection when the disciples asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" he replied "it is not for you to know..." (Act 1:6-7)

This change in plan in Heaven required the building up of a team of sowers until the fullness of time for the second coming. The Kingdom message has to be translated into concepts understandable to the Gentiles. So a new Apostle, who never lived with Jesus while the master was on the earth, was recruited. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, an eminent scholar with a doctorate in Philosophy and Law, a pupil of Prof., Gamaliel - one and only Rabbi who earned the title of Raban. He was commissioned, prepared for the job, shown the secrets of the Kingdom of God by transporting him into Heaven and was sent out. He became Paul - a Gentile name - the missionary to Gentiles.

2.11 THE SOWING OF THE SEED

The book of Acts describes the early expansion of the new faith into Jerusalem, from Jerusalem into Judo, Samaria and the neighboring places and from Antioch into Rome. After the rejection of Jesus by the Jews at the trial of Stephen, the gentiles came into the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. The seed of this was laid at the stoning of Stephen in Saul of Tarsus who witnessed this stoning. He later became the Apostle Paul - the apostle to the gentiles. Peter also became very active in proclaiming the message to the Gentiles after his specific calling and confirmation to this effect. A very reluctant Peter finally went along with the calling. Paul understood the three major missionary journeys covering Asia Minor, Syria, Macedonian and Greece. On his return to Jerusalem, the Jews arrested him in the temple premises on charges of desecration. Paul being a Roman citizen appealed to Caesar. This gave him the opportunity to witness before the celebrities of the royal families and the Roman Court. Most scholars believe that Paul was freed by Caesar and was engaged in more work in Rome before he was again arrested and executed. Paul had several active colleagues like Barnabas - the brother of Mary, and john Mark - son of Mary and Silas. later they went on casting the seeds of their own.

Peter also traveled very extensively after the period of persecution of Christians in Jerusalem. He visited Antioch, Corinth and perhaps Rome (for which we have no clear historical evidence) It is believed that Peter was finally crucified with his head down at the time of the persecution of Nero.

We have very little information about other Apostles except through the traditions of the Churches. some of these traditions are very reliable. But it is difficult to verify them by secular sources.

Andrew is said to have spent his last years in Scythia - north of the Black Sea. A book entitled "Acts of Andrew " probably written around AD 260 claims that he spent most of his time in Macedonia until his martyrdom at Patras.

Barthelomew also known as Nathaniel was probably the only disciple of Noble birth, being of royal family of Ptolemy of Egypt. Nathaniel went to India where he was killed by King Astriagis.

James, the son of Alphaeus, also known as James the Less, probably a cousin of Jesus, went to Persia and was crucified there.

James the son of Zebedee, brother of John went as a missionary to Spain. Roman Catholic tradition says that he was buried in Santiago.

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved most was probably a cousin of Jesus. At the foot of the cross John took charge of the responsibility of caring of Mary, mother of Jesus. He spent most his time in Asia Minor, ministering to the churches there with his residence at Ephesus, the capital of the Roman Province of Asia Minor. During the persecution of Domitian he was exiled into the island of Patmos where he received his Revelation of Jesus Christ. later he was released and returned to Ephesus and died of Old Age. He is the only Apostle who died in bed and the last one too. With his death the Apostolic Age comes to an end.

Judas (not Iscariot) according to historian Eusebius was sent to King Abgar of Mesopotamia where he healed the ailing King. He remained in this land till his martyrdom. But other traditions claim that he went to Persia afterwards where he was killed with clubs and stones by the magicians of the City of Suanir.

Mediaeval Greek tradition says that Matthew went to Parthia and Ethiopia and was martyred at Nadabah City in AD 60.

Philip one of the first foreign missionaries went to France, Russia, Asia Minor and even to India. Bishop Polycrates, the Bishop of Antioch (AD 194) says that Philip was buried in Hierapolis.

Simon the Canonite of the Zealots Party is one of the few whose later ministry is claimed by several countries. Coptic Church of Egypt claims that he taught in Egypt, Africa, Great Britain and Persia. According to Nicephorous of Constantinople "Simon born of Cana of Galilee who was surnamed Zealots, having received the Holy Ghost from above, traveled through Egypt and Africa, the Mauritania and Libya preaching the Gospel. And the same doctrine he taught to the Occidental Sea and the Isles of Butanias."

Thomas, the twin, the doubter and the courageous one traveled through Arabia Felix (Yemen) and then to India where he established several Churches and was martyred in Mylapore in Madras, South India.

The replacement of Judas Iscariot, Matthias who was elected by casting of lots is the least known because he does not appear in the later drama. some identify him as Zaccheas. Tradition has it that he was martyred by the cannibals of Mesopotamia.

Though these thirteen people who are often termed as Apostles, the scripture indicated that there were many others who are considered as Apostles. Among these active workers were Luke - the traveling physician who wielded much influence among the aristocracy.

The extent of these missionary pursuits could be understood only when we realize that these people covered the entire known world of that period. In fact they covered even the fabled lands of Britain and India. Strabo the official geographer of the Roman Empire (who was commissioned by Caesar Augustus in AD 18) knew nothing of England. On India, he wrote, "The reader must receive the accounts of this country with indulgence. Few persons of our nation have seen it; the greater part of what they relate is from report." These thirteen men have gone even unto the ends of the earth sowing the seeds.

2.12 WRITING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

In the early Church the witnesses who had been with the Lord, who heard Jesus, saw him and knew him preached the message of Christ. But as the believers increased and were scattered all over the world, it became necessary to put these testimonies in writing. Matthew and John were disciples. Matthew wrote the Gospel from the point of view of the Jew - Jesus the Messiah. John wrote for the Gentile world - Jesus the incarnation of the word. Mark was the private secretary of Peter. As a boy he had seen and Known Jesus. His mother was Mary, the sister of Barnabas and his home was the Church in Jerusalem in its inception. He presents Jesus as the Son of God. Luke was a traveling Physician who became involved. So he did some real research and his investigative journalism produce the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of Apostles. The other books in the New Testaments were written by early church fathers like Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John. The last book was written by John. They were all written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the message of the Person of Jesus Christ. These now form the seed.

2.13 THE EPHESUS CHURCH

As time went on, as the eschatology was not realized as expected, as persecution set in, Satan entered the Church and religious ceremonies. Insistence of Mosaic Law, emphasis on good works etc. were brought into the church. These rocks and stones delayed the growth of the church as a whole and some of Paul’s letters were written to counteract these teachings. The fast growth of the Church required organizational structure in order to obtain order and discipline within the church. Some of the letters were written to clarify the Christian stand in questions of morality, discipline and order in service, problems of Christian living in a non-Christian community. These were written so that thorns may not choke the plants. The young churches were quite successful in these matters. Jesus in a letter in the Revelations through John writes to this church period known as Ephesus Church. The church administration was taken over by the elders or bishops. Naturally some bishops began to act as priest - a distinct laity. Early Christians considered themselves as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people" (1 Pe 2:9) So they resented any appearance of priestcraft. This is termed as Nicolaitan heresy. Nico means over comer or ruler, and laity means lay people. Jesus commended the Ephesus Church for this. A more detailed study of this letter the reader is referred to my articles on the seven churches.