Be Careful Where You Fall - Luke 8:4-15

Introduction: Several interpretations of this parable have given over the years, by many good men. Explain. If we hold to most of these interpretations, we appear to be teaching a lack of security, as many of these explanations related the passage to the N.T. church.

Looking carefully at this passage immediately shows us that the Lord Jesus is speaking to Jews and only Jews, in a Jewish culture. When studying a passage of Scripture we must always find out who the writer is, who the audience is, and attempt to define the context or setting of that writing.

If we view this passage as written to and referring to the Jews, it suddenly makes more sense to us. Jesus, of course explains the passage, as we read through verse 15.

See this passage a message to Jews, and as a reflection of their attitude and responses to the Lord and His prophets, as well as to the Word which the Lord gave them, and the passage will have more understanding.

Example: All the Jews left Egypt at the same time, but each of them fell into one of the categories that Jesus mentions here. When the Jews reached Jordan, they were to cross over, but each of them demonstrated qualities of faith or lack of faith, which caused them to provoke the Lord, and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

Their attitudes and responses to God demonstrated their lack of faith and trust in the Word which the Lord had given. This is no different than when we examine our own attitudes and responses to the Lord. Let’s take a look at levels of attitude and personality which was described by Jesus.

THE LORD’S SEEKS TO BRING HIS CHILDREN TO HIMSELF (THE LORD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS PEOPLE) - 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed (the Word of God, Verse 11)

THOSE WHO ARE TENDER INITIALLY, BUT NEVER REALLY BELIEVED - and as he sowed, some fell by the way side (Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved, Verse 12); and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

THOSE WHO LISTENED, BUT IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX, UNTIL THINGS BECAME DIFFICULT - 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; (They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. Verse 13)

THOSE WHO BELIEVED GOD, BUT THE ISSUES OF LIFE BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN BELIEVING - 8:7 And some fell among thorns; (And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection Verse 14) and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

The Period of the Judges: (Sin, Suffering, Supplication, Salvation) shows Israel’s temptation to fall away). Also, when the Jews left Egypt, they rejoiced at their freedom and new prosperity, but immediately failed by murmuring against Moses and bickering amongst themselves.

THOSE WHO BELIEVED, WHO HAD EVERY INTENTION TO FOLLOW GOD AND DO HIS WILL AND COMMANDMENTS - 8:8 And other fell on good ground, (But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, Verse 15). and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.