Careful Listening (Luke 8:1-21).

Luke 8:4–21

In this story Jesus tells a large crowd, including his disciples, a parable about hearing and listening to God’s word. A farmer sows seed that falls on different soils. Some seed falls on the path; but is trampled and eaten by birds (8:5). Some seed falls on rock; but withers without moisture (8:6-7). Some falls among thorns that choke the plants. Other seed falls on good soil and produces a hundredfold crop (8:8). Then Jesus calls out, “He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Ironically, Jesus gives his disciples the ‘knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom’, but they fail to understand. Jesus spoke in parables to conceal his message from his enemies, but do his own disciples have ears to hear?

That Jesus told parables so some would see but not see; and hear but not understand complicates the story (6:7, 8:10). Luke tells us the Pharisees and others came to hear Jesus only to discredit him. To them Jesus ate and drank with ‘tax-collectors and sinners’ so he was a glutton and drunkard (7:34). Even those in the Nazareth synagogue wanted to kill Jesus when he talked about God working through Elijah and Elisha among Gentiles (Luke 4:29). Parables made his message unclear to his enemies, but even his own disciples were confused about Jesus’ plans and purposes. Ironically, even the ‘great’ John the Baptist was uncertain about Jesus (7:18-19). Jesus spoke in a kind of code which confused his disciples, but they further sought Jesus’ explanation. Clearly, a Jesus would later say, genuine disciples are to ask, seek, and knock until the door of their understanding is opened (11:9).  

Jesus explains that the seed is God’s word (8:5, 11). Those on the path hear but the seed fails to penetrate path and is taken away by birds. The devil or Satan, who leads the ‘world astray’ (Rev. 12:9), removes the word from the heart, so they don’t believe and be saved. The seed on rock grows but withers for lack of moisture (8:6). These people receive the word with joy, but having no root when tested they fall away (James 1:12). Other seed falls among thorns which grow up and choke the plants (8:7). These people hear, but life’s worries, riches and pleasures hinder the work of the word and they fail to mature (8:14, John 16:33, 1 John 4:4).

Jesus tells his disciples that are forces and obstacles that seek to undermine the work of the word in the heart. The devil removes the seed on the path (2 Cor.4:4); blinding minds so they don’t believe the gospel. Others joyfully receive the word only to fall away when tested. Then there are the ‘thorns’ of life’s worries, riches and pleasures which choke the word. These forces and the devil obstruct the work of the gospel to undermine belief. Difficulties, hardships as well as the worries, riches and pleasure of life work to hinder spiritual maturity.

In contrast, Jesus talks of the good soil of a ‘good and honest heart’ (8:8, 15). Those who hear and retain God’s word end up persevering under temptation and produce a hundredfold crop. Others are overcome by temptation. For them the devil, as well as ‘good and bad times’ undermine the work of the word in the heart. What’s the difference? Ultimately, we need a ‘heart transplant’ (Luke 6:45, Ezekiel 36:26, John 3:3-8). We need the internal transformation by the Spirit. Jesus give us your heart… we pray! 

Then Jesus exhorts his followers by saying that no one lights a lamp only to hide it under a jar or bed. A lamp is to give light to others (8:16). Consequently, Jesus’ disciples are to be what Israel was intended to be ‘a light to the nations’ (Isa.49:6, Mt. 5:14). For Jesus everything would be exposed and brought out into the open (8:17). Therefore Jesus exhorts his disciples to be ‘careful how they listen’. Those who ‘hear and understand’ will receive more (8:10), but those who don’t really listen will have even what they think they have taken away (8:18).  Jesus’ followers are to hear his word, seek to understand it, retain it and persevere in faith. Moreover, those practice Gods’ word are intimately related to ‘King Jesus’. This is confirmed when Jesus’ mother and brothers are unable to see Jesus due to the crowd. When Jesus was told of this, he concludes by saying, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (8:19-21).

So what’s the point? Jesus is forming a new people around himself. They hear Jesus’ word as God’s word, and they seek Jesus’ explanation. They persevere in faith, overcome when tempted and by practice they produce a crop one hundred times what was sown. Many in Jesus’ day were expecting a king who would overthrow Herod and expel their Roman oppressors. Jesus was bringing about his kingdom primarily through his word. Yet, when Jesus preached in his hometown synagogue, his word was trampled on and snatched away. Simon the Pharisee was interested enough in Jesus to invite him for dinner. But when Jesus received the adoration of a disreputable woman, Simon’s interest withered (Luke 4, 7). Jesus’ kingdom comes through the seed of the word and our hearts are the soil. Do we have ears to hear? What sort of soil are we? Do we listen carefully and put it into practice (8:8)? LORD, enable us to persevere and produce a hundredfold crop! Amen?

(See 2 Corinthians 4:6, Luke 11:9, James 1:5)