And because…what? The plant had no root.
How come Jesus never said that moisture and sunlight were their problem? And why are trying so hard to add to Jesus' parable?
He did say it. Do you think I just made up the scorching sunlight? If I were to say "my tomato plants died because they got too much sunlight, got scorched AND it didn't have enough moisture in the soil" would you think it died just because of moisture?
I add nothing. Mark said the sun scorched the plants. Why do you argue agaisnt that? Other than you missed it, and accused me of making it up, I can't think of a reason.
The reason it is important to me is that it was important to Mark. Plus, it's true.
The reason it's important to us both is that the parables point out the power of our Triune God to save the Jews.
Plus, it meshes with James I think.
I think this parable (Jesus' 1st) was heard by His mother and brothers as they arrived that very day at Capernum as He began to explain His Messiah-ship to the disciples and his family.
Matthew 12:46 ... 13:1.
And while he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him. ... On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea ... [parable of the sower]. It seems improbable to me that his mother and James weren't there listening to Him.
Then we have James' letter:
Jas 1:11
For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits will wither away.
[not necessarily be un-saved, but wither away.]
I think the rocky soil represents the Jews that wouldn't except Jesus was the Messiah. They were given the word (seeded) yet hadn't been given enough root (moisture/Holy Spirit) so they couldn't process Jesus of Nazareth (the light of the world) as the Messiah (kind of like James and Saul, etc., pre-Easter). James, transformed post-Easter says this:
James 1:1-4
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Greetings! Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. [Seed, Roots, sunlight and good soil, All necessary for the perfect effect and complete maturity]
James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (think gift of the Holy Spirit and Messiah
), coming down from the Father of lights (Like sunlight
), with whom there is no variation or shadow (think of the shading by the thorn bushes
) of change. By his will he gave birth to us [seeded the soil producing plants] through the message of truth (The Word), so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
I think only soil #1 is lost. 2-3 are the Jews that couldn't except Jesus as Messiah. They bore no fruit but did grow from seed to plants, but it never says they weren't "saved".
James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness [ such as riches, deceits of the world, the thorn plants spoken of]
and wicked excess, welcome with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls. [without necessarily bearing fruit, merely flowers]
If i'm right and James heard Jesus' parable first-hand and is modeling it, at times, through-out his letter, what then do we make of an "i
mplanted message which is able to save your soul" spoken to the Jewish dispersion?
James 2:26 F
or just as the body without the spirit (moisture) is dead, so also faith without works is dead. [dead plants]
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness i
s sown in peace among those who make peace.
James 5:7
Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient concerning it until it receives the early and late rains.