Today I read one of Jesus’ parables and I’ve just seen something I’ve never seen before. This is amazing considering that I’ve read this passage many, many times during the last 15 years!
Firstly I’ll quote the whole passage (in italics) then I’ll explain what I’ve seen about the 4 types of people. For those who don’t normally read the bible please bear with me! I’d be very interested to hear your comments or thoughts about this too.
‘Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard Satan cometh immediately, and taken away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. Mark 4:3-20
I know the above passage is lengthy but its important. It describes the 4 types of people in this world.
The first type of person is not a believer in Jesus Christ (not a Christian). They will hear something about God and immediately dismiss it or explain it away for numerous reasons.
The second type of person becomes a Christian, however they turn away from God when their life doesn’t improve in their eyes, for example, they don’t feel happier, they might struggle financially or with their relationships. They might feel that life is too hard being a Christian and feel that God isn’t helping them. This person, according to Christ, has no depth and no foundation to their faith so they fall away. I was thinking today that this type of person may still indeed be attending church but is going through the motions even though their faith has died – so Christians be warned!
The third type of person also becomes a Christian and sadly many people currently in the church, including myself, may fall in this category. I previously thought when Jesus said the ‘thorns grew up and choked the word’ that he was describing a ‘plant’ that dies or in others words is like the second type of person – someone who turns away from God. However today I realised the rest of the sentence says ‘and it becometh unfruitful’. So the ‘plant’ is actually still alive but not bearing any fruit for God. They are too wrapped up in things that occupy their own world. Like the second type of person, this is also a grave warning for people who call themselves Christians.
The fourth type of person is a believer in Jesus Christ and bears fruit for God. I could go on to describe what ‘bearing fruit’ means but that would have to be another new discussion. But briefly I think non-christians are actually very good judges in seeing through the ‘real’ and the ‘fake’ when it comes to Christianity. And yes, if you were wondering there are not actually 4 types of people – there are only 2, those who do not belong to Christ (the first 3 types) and those who do belong to Christ (the 4th type).
Anyway, tell me what you think.
