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“Lesson 08 - The Weeds”
Lesson Eight
The Weeds
Matthew 13:1-23
Mark 4:13-20
Luke 8:11-15
In the film The Sower, Mr. Dement explains how “competition” from the weeds can choke out the good plants. This is an excellent perspective on the third type of soil. It is fertile, it has plenty of moisture and depth, and it allows the plants to take root. Yet it is not what the soil lacks but what it has in addition to the seed that is the problem.
The issue is that the weeds compete for the nutrients and light, and essentially take away the strength of the growing wheat plant. Furthermore, weeds often grow much faster than the wheat. If steps are not taken against them, they will swarm up over a crop and choke it out.
The Story:
Matthew 13: 7
7 And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:
An Explanation
Mark 4:18-19
18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the [d]world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Luke 8:14
14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
The Thorns in Our Lives
As Jesus explained, the weeds correspond to the worries of life, the deception of riches and pleasures, and the desires for things other than God. All these work together to keep a healthy plant from bearing fruit. It is as if the plant does everything but the one thing it is supposed to do. Instead, it
slowly stops growing and becomes ineffective. Of the three types of soils, this type is the one that has the most parallels in today’s church.
What are the worries of this life? Anything that causes us to lose focus on God’s provision for us, whether it is our work, our family, or our own lives. All of these things are good when looked at in light of the Kingdom of God, but on their own, outside of God’s word, they become a source of worry. Such concern is a debilitating factor, something that mortgages today on behalf of an uncontrollable tomorrow. As Jesus told His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” (Luke 12:22-23)
Questions:
- What are the thorns as outlined in the parable?
- List some of the “cares of the world” that we all confront today?
- What is at the top of your list and causes you the greatest difficulty?
- 1Jn. 2: 15-16 tells us not to love the world. Is that possible?
- How do we identify the things we should not love according to verse 16?
- How do we live in the world but not be consumed by it?
THOUGHT QUESTION:
There are many responsibilities we have in this life. Fathers need to support their families. Moms need to care for the needs of her children. We strive to secure financial security so we can enjoy a secure life. Can these responsibilities become thorns that choke out our spiritual relationship with God? Can we lose sight of our relationship with God and not even know it?
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