Post by Cindy on Nov 16, 2015 10:58:08 GMT -5
As in that day, so today, there are four kinds of hearts and they respond to God’s message in four different ways.
The hard heart (Mark 4:4, Mark 4:15) resists the Word of God and makes it easy for Satan (the birds) to snatch it away. Soil becomes hard when too many feet tread on it. Those who recklessly “open their hearts” to all kinds of people and influences are in danger of developing hard hearts (see Prov. 4:23). Hard hearts must be “plowed up” before they can receive the seed, and this can be a painful experience (Jer. 4:3; Hosea 10:12).
The shallow heart (Mark 4:5–6, Mark 4:16–17). This heart is like thin soil on a rock, very typical to Palestine. Since there is no depth, whatever is planted cannot last because it has no roots. This represents the “emotional hearer” who joyfully accepts God’s Word but does not really understand the price that must be paid to become a genuine Christian. There may be great enthusiasm for several days or weeks; but when persecution & difficulties begin, the enthusiasm wanes & the joy disappears. It's easy for fallen human nature to counterfeit “religious feelings” & give a professed Christian a feeling of false confidence.
The crowded heart (Mark 4:7, Mark 4:18–19). This heart pictures the person who receives the Word but does not truly repent and remove the “weeds” out of his or her heart. This hearer has too many different kinds of “seeds” growing in the soil—worldly cares, a desire for riches, a lust for things—and the good seed of the Word has no room in which to grow. To change the image, this person wants to walk the “broad way” and the “narrow way” at the same time (Matt. 7:13–14); and it cannot be done.
The fruitful heart (Mark 4:8, Mark 4:20). This heart pictures the true believer, because fruit—a changed life—is the evidence of true salvation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:19–23). The other three hearts produced no fruit, so we conclude that they belong to persons who have never been born again. Not all true believers are equally as productive; but from every genuine Christian’s life, there will be some evidence of spiritual fruit.
Each of the three fruitless hearts is influenced by a different enemy:
the hard heart—the devil himself snatches the seed;
the shallow heart—the flesh counterfeits religious feelings;
the crowded heart—the things of the world smother the growth and prevent a harvest.
These are the three great enemies of the Christian: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1–3). The Bible exposition commentary
The hard heart (Mark 4:4, Mark 4:15) resists the Word of God and makes it easy for Satan (the birds) to snatch it away. Soil becomes hard when too many feet tread on it. Those who recklessly “open their hearts” to all kinds of people and influences are in danger of developing hard hearts (see Prov. 4:23). Hard hearts must be “plowed up” before they can receive the seed, and this can be a painful experience (Jer. 4:3; Hosea 10:12).
The shallow heart (Mark 4:5–6, Mark 4:16–17). This heart is like thin soil on a rock, very typical to Palestine. Since there is no depth, whatever is planted cannot last because it has no roots. This represents the “emotional hearer” who joyfully accepts God’s Word but does not really understand the price that must be paid to become a genuine Christian. There may be great enthusiasm for several days or weeks; but when persecution & difficulties begin, the enthusiasm wanes & the joy disappears. It's easy for fallen human nature to counterfeit “religious feelings” & give a professed Christian a feeling of false confidence.
The crowded heart (Mark 4:7, Mark 4:18–19). This heart pictures the person who receives the Word but does not truly repent and remove the “weeds” out of his or her heart. This hearer has too many different kinds of “seeds” growing in the soil—worldly cares, a desire for riches, a lust for things—and the good seed of the Word has no room in which to grow. To change the image, this person wants to walk the “broad way” and the “narrow way” at the same time (Matt. 7:13–14); and it cannot be done.
The fruitful heart (Mark 4:8, Mark 4:20). This heart pictures the true believer, because fruit—a changed life—is the evidence of true salvation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:19–23). The other three hearts produced no fruit, so we conclude that they belong to persons who have never been born again. Not all true believers are equally as productive; but from every genuine Christian’s life, there will be some evidence of spiritual fruit.
Each of the three fruitless hearts is influenced by a different enemy:
the hard heart—the devil himself snatches the seed;
the shallow heart—the flesh counterfeits religious feelings;
the crowded heart—the things of the world smother the growth and prevent a harvest.
These are the three great enemies of the Christian: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1–3). The Bible exposition commentary
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