THE SEED GROWING IN SECRET
Lesson 3
Mark 4:26–29
This parable is found only in Mark’s gospel. It teaches a very important truth and is not to be confused with several other parables which Jesus taught concerning seed which produces a harvest.
In distinction from the parable of the sower, the emphasis does not fall on the sower nor the seed. The sower has cast his seed on the earth in the past. The Lord now deals with the present germination and growth of this seed until a harvest is attained.
There are some who conclude that this parable shows a farmer who neglects the seed which he has cast into the earth . This is not true. There is no neglect—the story teaches the necessity of infinite patience until the laws of God have run their course.
How the Kingdom Comes
Jesus introduces this parable by telling the people who were listening to Him: “So is the kingdom of God.” None of the other parables which our Lord uttered are introduced in quite this way. This parable will, therefore, give a picture of a certain aspect of the kingdom of God. This is the kingdom in which they are interested, and they had better listen carefully how this kingdom manifests itself. This kingdom of our God has been in the process of coming for a long time. They, and we, had better listen closely to this parable so that we may realize the laws which operate in the coming of that kingdom. God had already given His promise in the garden of Eden and reiterated that promise in various ways throughout the Old Testament—and still it has not come! Jesus now comes on the scene. They want to make Him King! God the Father had worked carefully throughout the ages. They will now experience that the Son works in the same way. He sowed the seed in tears while He was here on earth. The time will come when He will gather the sheaves with rejoicing (Psalm 126:6). But, others must not seek to set the time for Him. He tells those who are healed to keep quiet. He counsels those who would make Him a king now, to desist. He will set the time, but, the harvest will come!
The Growing Seed
The picture which is drawn in this parable is of a farm er who has sown the seed and then does nothing to it until harvest. Instead, he sleeps and rises night and day (night mentioned before day in true oriental fashion) and goes about other work but does not bother about the seed which he has sown. We must also bear in mind that the growing season in Palestine is short. Little field work, such as cultivating, had to be done. Most crops were ready in four months. H e does not leave that field alone because he is not interested in it; he realizes that when he has prepared the seed-bed, has sown the seed, nothing more can be done because the earth brings forth of itself-automatically, says the text. He does not know how it does it—this is the law of God laid down in nature! If he should seek to find out if the seed is sprouting; or if he should seek to find out if the plant could grow faster; he would kill the plant! He must leave it alone in order to obtain the harvest which he desires!
Indeed, he doesn’t know how the earth is able to bring forth by itself. He is standing before the mystery of life! The seed, though it looks dead, has the germ of life within it. In the earth this germ of life is stirred, it comes to greater expression. If he disturbs the small shoot which comes out of the kernel of seed, he kills it. If, later, it doesn’t grow fast enough to suit him, he pulls it up, he kills it. He knows he must leave it alone. In James 5:7 the Apostle teaches the same thing. The seed is in its rightful place. The former and latter rains must go over it. It has to receive the proper amount of sunshine. Then, and then only will a harvest be assured.
As the laws of nature operate, so do those of the kingdom of God, says Jesus. He has caused the seed to be sown. He has spoken the word Himself in the very beginning. Later He sent the prophets to declare His word. His truth was made known in all the symbolism found in Israel. Now He is speaking through His Son. He will still send Apostles and others to proclaim the word—to sow the seed. The harvest will come! If God works, who can stop that work? The Spirit of God has worked silently throughout the ages causing the seed to germinate, to grow, to give promise of a great harvest to come. The earth brings forth of itself! Time is going to bring forth of itself when it has received the life-containing word and it is brought into its proper environment! Israel had looked for the harvest for at least 6000 years. Another 2000 have now been added. Peter must tell the people to whom he is writing that God is not slack concerning His promises (2 Peter 3:6). They are growing very impatient. Paul warns his readers that it is not so important who does the sowing, or who does the watering, but the most important Person is the One who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:7)!
Stages of Growth
The growth of the grain comes in stages. First is the blade, then the ear then the full grown grain in the ear. When it is in the stage of the blade, for example, it is not ready to be harvested. Of course, everyone knows these things in the sphere of nature—but so is also the kingdom of God! There is even a growing under ground before it appears above ground. Much time is required before the seed has died and the plant has gone through all its stages and finally the time for harvest has come. The people of Jesus’ day were impatient. Why could they not have Him as king now? Even the apostles thought the time was ripe for the establishment of the kingdom when He was risen from the dead. Each time the answer is: Wait. Wait upon the Lord. He seems to work very slowly, but He does very thorough work.
The Harvest
Everything in this short parable points to the harvest. It is indeed a marvel how seed will grow in the earth, but that is not the end of the matter. The important thing is always, the harvest. On this earth there may be a crop failure so that there is not a harvest. That, however, is excluded in Christ’s teaching in this parable. In the kingdom of God the harvest is assured. The work which the Triune God has performed from the earliest day to the end of the world will not be without result. He will bring in His harvest. He shall come with joy bringing the sheaves into His storehouse. When the end of time has come and all the “full grain in the ear” is ripe, He will send His sickle into the harvest. The time of harvest is very important. A day too early there are too many unripe kernels. A day too late too many kernels have already fallen on the ground. Timing is so important! The great “Harvester” knows the exact time. The day of harvest has come, the day for which everyone waited, the day for which all the labors were performed, that day has come. Then straightway He sends the sickle. Now there is no time to be lost. This is the day of days. The harvest is sure and it is bountiful!
Is this parable given to teach us how the laws of God operate in nature? Jesus is not giving a course of instruction in agriculture to the people who are here listening to Him. He is concerned that they shall learn to understand the nature of the kingdom of God. He uses various illustrations to make clear to them how the kingdom of God operates and how it will come. Let this people, and all who bear this parable later, realize that. He is here instructing the church of Jesus Christ in some fundamental principles. They must be taught that the principles which are normal in the natural realm are also true in the kingdom of God.
Faithful, Hopeful Sowing
Throughout the ages, and especially in our time, the church is concerned with methods of approaching people in order to bring them into the kingdom of God. One method is discarded because the results are not what were expected and others are adopted which will fail in a short time. This is not a question of methodology. It is a question of faithfulness! Sow the seed. Sow it faithfully! Leave the growth to God! God doesn’t count so much as weigh! Quality is always preferable to quantity! It must become clear to the church that she is only able to do so much and must then wait for God to finish the action begun. The church has her task. That task has been spelled out very clearly in the Bible. She must preach the word. She must administer the sacraments. She must exercise discipline. She must “mother” those who have come to the faith. Then she must be willing to wait patiently for the time of God to come. This is the way a harvest is assured!
Not only is this true regarding the church, this is also true regarding individuals. A parent must sow the word in the life of his child. Everything must be done which is humanly possible for that seed to come into an environment which is conducive to bringing forth a harvest. However, the time comes when there is no more to be done in the sense that life and growth are not in the hands of the parent. He must now leave it in the hands of God. As the farmer prays daily for a harvest, so the parent also prays daily for the fructifying power of the Spirit of God. But, he must not seek to do the work of God!
This takes an enormous amount of patience much more than we usually have. However, we may not go contrary to the laws which obtain in the kingdom of God. Many errors have been made in this area during the years. We must listen carefully to the master instructor, Jesus Christ, when He teaches us by means of parables concerning the nature of the kingdom of God. Much of it is out of our bands! We would like to have it in our hands, but He builds His kingdom . Only in His way is a harvest assured!
Questions for discussion:
1. Would you say that this parable agrees with the words of the prophet Zechariah (4:6) that it is not by power nor by might? Is that the way t he kingdom comes? 2. What is the task of the church? Does the church attempt things today which do not belong to her mandate? Is this harmless or dangerous? Explain. 3. A parent would like to see how far the Spirit’s work has progressed in his child. Is this wrong? 4. What happens to our view of the covenant on the basis of the teaching of this parable? When it is said that, “A child of so many prayers cannot be lost,” is this true? 5. Is patience more difficult in the realm of the kingdom than in the realm of nature?
THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT
Lesson 4
Matthew 18:23–35
This parable is of an entirely different kind than the two we have discussed. This must be borne in mind to come to the proper interpretation. In the parable of the sower, our Lord gave His own interpretation and emphasized almost every part of the parable. The parable of the seed growing in secret is also virtually self-explanatory. The kingdom of God is like that which you find in nature, says Jesus. This parable is more easily misunderstood. The king forgave-and then revoked his forgiveness! Can this ever be charged to God? Such questions rise again and again. In order to safeguard ourselves from wrong and strange interpretations we must listen carefully to the things which were said just before this parable was spoken.
The Setting
Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem for the last time. He is going the way to the cross. There is a debate going on among the disciples as to who will be the greatest in the kingdom of Jesus. This is not a proper question when the cross will be the central point of the kingdom! To show that their question really has no proper place, Jesus sets a little child before them and tells them that they must become as little children to enter His kingdom.
He then teaches them forgiveness. Everything possible is to be done in order that there “be nothing between” brethren. His children are always to be ready to forgive. Peter then asks his famous question: How often shall I forgive my brother? Seven times? Jesus tells him he must forgive seventy times seven times. It is in this context that He now speaks this parable.
Forgiveness is not common to this world. It is based on love. This world doesn’t really know what love is.
God is love, and the world doesn’t know God! There is indeed a love shown among the people of this world toward those to whom they are closely related, a mother’s toward her child, for example. But, when the Bible speaks of loving enemies, the world doesn‘t understand what it is speaking about. If someone sins against me—it isn’t a question of how often I will forgive him, but rather, whether I will forgive him! That unforgiving worldly attitude is still far too prevalent among God’s people. This parable will instruct regarding love.
The Debtor
Our Savior is the Master Instructor by means of parables. This parable is a work of art. Jesus draws the contrasts effectively and beautifully. A king is contrasted with a servant, and a huge debt with a paltry sum. The teaching becomes clear when one carefully follows Jesus’ reasoning. The king mentioned is the typical oriental despot. He has power over life and death and holds the life and welfare of his subjects in his hand. As king he will also be able to sit in judgment in the last part of the parable. The amount this servant owes is stupendous. It is always foolish to try to set a present-day value on these sums named in Scripture because the values are so changeable. But, 10,000 talents, whether of silver or of gold is one of the largest sums used in Scripture. The Book of Revelation speaks of 10,000 times 10,000. A talent was about the largest piece of money used. Only 29 talents of gold were used in the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 38:24). T he costly temple which Solomon built used 3000 talents of gold and seven thousand talents of silver (I Chron. 29:4–5). This indicates clearly that the debt owed by this servant was indeed overwhelming.
The question naturally comes to mind: Who can be so deeply indebted to another? Only a “servant” who has high position so that he can collect taxes which belong to the king. This king would now reckon with his servants! This man is brought to him—he doesn’t come willingly because he knows how great the debt is and is afraid. The king orders him and his family and his belongings to be sold. This is, of course, not to pay up the enormous sum owed because it would not begin to approximate that figure. But, it is punishment for debt! Such punishment was common in that day, especially among the gentiles. Even in Israel people were sold because of debts they owed, but the laws of Israel forbade them to become slaves and on the year of jubilee they were to be set free. Nothing unusual takes place here.
However, when this servant realizes what is happening, he falls to his knees, beseeches his lord for time and promises to pay the entire debt. This would be an impossibility. No matter how hard the man might work, no matter how many years would be given him, such a debt simply becomes larger with time because of the interest! There is no possibility that he will be able to keep this promise.
The King’s Mercy
The king realizes this. He now goes far beyond what his servant had asked. He doesn’t ask repayment but forgives that entire debt! It is as though it had never been. It is erased! It is marked paid in full! That is forgiveness! We speak about this matter too lightly. He forgives out of his compassion.
There is nothing in the servant to move the king toward forgiveness. He is kind and is moved with compassion. He is merciful. Having experienced this forgiveness on the part of the king, this servant should also be filled with a spirit of compassion. He should now exhibit a forgiving spirit to anyone who would owe him anything. Surely, one who has received mercy should be able to show mercy. Surely, one who has been forgiven much will love much. But, this man is the exception.
The Unforgiving Servant
This servant now finds a fellow-servant. Notice, here the relationship is entirely different than between the other two. There it was a king-servant relationship here it is servant-servant. While his own debt was almost incalculable, his fellow servant owes him only 100 shillings—a very small sum. No man owes another man a great sum! Instead of being moved with compassion toward this poor man he takes him by the throat. He chokes him and demands immediate payment. How is it possible? This poor man using the same words he himself had used to the king, asks for time and promises that he will pay him all. This is true! He will be able to do it! But, he has no patience with him and casts him in prison.
The other servants of the king have come to know what has transpired. News travels fast. Especially such astounding news that the king has forgiven him ten thousand talents. Now they see what this man has done to his fellow-servant. We do not read that they are angry, but that they are exceeding sorry! They let the king know what has happened.
The Judgment
Once more the man is brought into the presence of the king. But, now the situation is quite different . Now he is greeted by the words, “Thou wicked servant!” It was required of him that he should show some of the spirit of the king to his fellow servant. He did the opposite! As a result, he is now cast into prison, into the inner prison. He is given over to the tormentors. This is the only time this expression is used in Scripture. The catholic church has seen in this a reference to purgatory. He is not only kept in ward, he is severely punished. This is to go on until he has paid all. That will never happen!
There are many pitfalls in the interpretation of this parable. We must realize that every part may not be explained. Even though Jesus says at the close that His heavenly Father will do as this king has done, it does not mean that He will ever revoke the forgiveness He has once granted His children. The other servants bring the deeds of this servant to the attention of the king. They represent no one. No one has to bring anything to the attention of our God.
The main point of this parable is to teach men to forgive one another, which has been made possible through the forgiveness they have received of their God. Must I forgive my brother seven times? This is the answer.
The Forgiven Must Forgive
The answer is given in a graphic way in order that we realize how important it is that we have a forgiving spirit. Christ taught us to pray: “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Seemingly this needs elaboration. Jesus now teaches in unmistakable language how important it is. If we do not forgive one another, God will not forgive us.
But, is this the picture of the child of God? Is the child of God like this servant who refuses to forgive a fellow-servant? Do we act as though we are not the recipients of grace? We may resemble David when he had sinned against Bathsheba and her husband. He was indeed a child of God, but, when Nathan told him the parable of the rich man with many sheep and the poor man with one lamb which the rich man stole; David said: Such a man is worthy of death! Where was his demonstration of the grace which he had received? That grace must be renewed to us again every day. If it is not, we look more like the world than the people of God.
The picture of the debt which our Lord gives us in this parable is also telling. There are those who believe that our debt cannot be great seeing we are the children of God. These understand neither the law nor themselves. Our debt is enormous! Our sins are more than we can count. “Ten thousand talents” does not overstate our indebtedness. At the same time, the amount owed us is small. It is scarcely worth mentioning. It is spoken of in the parable as “a hundred shillings.” We think others owe us so much! This makes it difficult for us to forgive. This parable puts things in proper perspective.
Let no one be amazed at the enormity of his debt to his God or the smallness of the debt which his fellowman owes him; let us always stand amazed at the mercy and grace which has forgiven us all of our debt! We cannot pay. We need not pay. He paid it for us! Let us then forgive seventy times seven times. Long before we have reached 490 we will have lost count and will keep on forgiving. If we do not forgive those who sin against us, the God and Father of Jesus Christ will not forgive us! If we take this parable to heart it will bring a reformation in the church!
Questions for discussion:
1. Can we ever understand a part of the word of God without taking the context into consideration? What would happen to the explanation of this parable if we did not emphasize the prior teaching in this chapter? 2. Why is forgiveness difficult for a person to practice? What do you think of the Christianity of a person who refuses to speak to his fellowChristian? 3. How great is our natural debt before God? What happens to our theology if we consider our indebtedness smaller than it really is? Do some do this? 4. Is our asking for forgiveness often the real desire of the soul or is it more often the usual way of concluding our prayers? Do you think we would be able to forgive others more easily if we felt the need for forgiveness? 5. Can people jeopardize their eternal welfare by their lack of love and consideration for fellow believers?