Isaiah 55:10-13; 2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9; St Luke 8:4-15
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
A Sower went out to sow His Seed. This Sower of this week’s parable is the Master of the vineyard from last week’s parable. They are both Jesus. Once more the reign of God is the action of a man; the reign and rule of God is the activity of the Man Jesus Christ, who goes out to hire laborers for His vineyard or goes out to sow the Seed of His Word, which alone creates and sustains saving faith.
He goes. He does. He initiates and works. This is the direction of Divine action. This is what theologians call Divine monergism. God alone regenerates, by His Spirit through His Word, that is, the Seed, in those who hear the Gospel where and when it pleases Him. This is in opposition to synergism, the false teaching that argues that the human will cooperates with God’s grace in order to be regenerated. This is what St Paul is teaching when he writes to the Ephesians, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it [faith] is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8-9). And to the Romans, Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ (10:17).
All of this is to say that this parable is about the action and activity of Christ and His Word, which when read and preached, creates and sustains saving faith. This parable is not about you. Its not about determining what type of soil you are. You are all four! Its not about you worrying that you have doubt and anxiety and cares of this life pressing in on you so you must not be the good soil; you must not be a true Christian. I’ve heard, and no doubt you’ve heard, this parable preached that way. And that is false!
This parable is not about you evangelizing in the right places or taking a spiritual gifts inventory to determine your soil type. This parable is about the Sower and the Seed, not the soils. Jesus doesn’t take a demographic study or initiate a strategic plan for witnessing to the most receptive people to return the proper dividends. He simply sows! A sower went out to sow his seed. You’ll sing in a few moments, “The sower sows; his reckless love scatters abroad the goodly seed, intent alone that all may have the whole loaves that all men need” (LSB 586:3).
Again, like last Sunday, the parable shows forth the grace of God in Christ Jesus. He pays workers who do nothing a full day’s wage. He “wastes” His seed on those who don’t produce. But this is the very nature of the kingdom, of the reign of God in Christ Jesus who came unto His own, but His own received Him not. Who died for people who mocked and rejected and killed Him. Who, while we were yet sinners, died for us. He did that. Alone. He sends forth His Word, which goes out from His mouth, and does not return to Him void. It succeeds in the purpose for which He sent it.
And I know what you’re thinking, “How can you say that Pastor?” I know that many of your children and grandchildren have abandoned the faith. I know that if you were to look at your confirmation picture you won’t recognize most of the faces. Of the 25 confirmed maybe two are still going to church. (Pause) Each year we receive names of incoming students who are self-identified Lutherans. About 50-60 or so at Butler. In each class. From all over the country. I reach out to all of them, letters, emails, tabling - about 200-250 students - how many come to church? How many stay? This is not meant to be a pat on the back for you. Not a “Yeah, good job, you’re the good soil, you’re here.”
Neither is this meant to be defeatist. The Word does what it says. It does not return void. It accomplishes His purpose. The Word works. “Though some be snatched and some be scorched and some be choked and matted flat, the sower sows; his heart cries out, ‘Oh what of that, and what of that?’” (LSB 586:4). The Lord desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). He grieves for your family and friends perhaps even more than you.
But the Word works. Notice that all the soils hear the Word. Every one of them. They all receive it. Some soils receive God’s Word and it results in the strengthening of faith. Some receive His Word and it results in the hardening of their hearts. But it is always one or the other. The Word of God always does something. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
What does this mean? Luther was sort of fond of referring to Satan as “God’s devil.” He tempts and afflicts Job, but only at the Lord’s allowance. He has a limited power. He is not our Lord’s equal. We’re not dualists. St Paul refers in to his thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Satan, which was given him by God! With the purpose of keeping him from becoming conceited.
And then he lists all his weaknesses and defeats. He boasts in his failings! Shipwrecks and beatings, imprisonments and stonings, hunger and thirst, danger all around. We have to admit that the greatest missionary the world has probably ever known was kind of a failure. That’s just how it works. That’s how the Church looks like from the outside and even sometimes from the inside. These are the devil’s birds and rocks and thorns that attack and snatch and seek to choke out faith and the implanted Word from the hearts of those who hear. The Church suffers them. All Christians suffer them.
Not very uplifting, I know. This parable, preached rightly, is not a best-life-now, prosperity Gospel message. Its the hard truth of the theology of the cross; your life as a Christian, called by and in Christ to bear your cross daily and follow Him. The Seed is the Word of God. It does the work. The Word transforms the soils, rocky and trodden and thorny, to be good and bear fruit. And He uses these very same toils and troubles to do it. As the tract sang, O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; You have been angry; oh restore us. You have made the land to quake; You have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer us! (Ps 60:1-2,5).
Your right hand. That’s an Old Testament way of referring to the Messiah, to the Christ. Like the creed, seated at the right hand of the Father. Give salvation by Your right hand. Save us by your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord! For He is the Word which has gone forth from the mouth of the Lord which does not return to His Father empty handed, but accomplishes the purpose for which He was sent, that is, your salvation.
Jesus is the Sower. He is also the Seed. He is the Word made flesh which was sown on the Stone Pavement as He stood trial before Pilate and was taken away by the devil. Jesus is the Word that was sown on that rocky hill called Golgotha where He sprang up on the Cross and withered away. Jesus is the Word that was sown among the thorns of the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees, who competed with Jesus out of love for the world. And it was by sowing Himself on our wretched sol, by dying and rising, that He made a little plot of good soil; His beloved Church, people who are saved for His sake, by His Word. He was reckless with His life and His love. He would rather His Word be rejected and trampled and snatched and scorched that or us poor sinners to be without it. For you, beloved, as His bounteous harvest.
You have ears to hear. Keep on hearing. For faith not only comes by hearing, faith is sustained by hearing. The Word is not only the seed, but also the rain and the snow, says Isaiah. God sends water from above to bring life to His saving Word. The Augsburg Confession says it this way, “So that we may obtain saving faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given. He works faith, when and where it pleases God, in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake” (AC V).
That is the reason Satan attacks you - for the sake of the Word. And it is the self-same weapon you have against his attacks - the Word! For though you are constantly attacked and assaulted and assailed by the devil, the world, and your flesh, you have His Word. It does what it says. The Word forgives your sins and strengthens you in saving faith unto life everlasting. The Word, joined to water, plunges you into Christ’s death and resurrection for you. The Word, joined to bread and wine, His Body and Blood, delivers to you Bread from heaven, satisfying your angry heart. His grace is sufficient for you, dear ones. His power is made perfect in weakness.
You have been given ears to hear by the hearing of the Word. Keep on hearing the Word. By His Spirit, who works in the Word, the Lord will strengthen your heart to grasp and accept it, cling to it, and persevere in it. May God grant it for Jesus’ sake.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
A Sower went out to sow His Seed. This Sower of this week’s parable is the Master of the vineyard from last week’s parable. They are both Jesus. Once more the reign of God is the action of a man; the reign and rule of God is the activity of the Man Jesus Christ, who goes out to hire laborers for His vineyard or goes out to sow the Seed of His Word, which alone creates and sustains saving faith.
He goes. He does. He initiates and works. This is the direction of Divine action. This is what theologians call Divine monergism. God alone regenerates, by His Spirit through His Word, that is, the Seed, in those who hear the Gospel where and when it pleases Him. This is in opposition to synergism, the false teaching that argues that the human will cooperates with God’s grace in order to be regenerated. This is what St Paul is teaching when he writes to the Ephesians, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it [faith] is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8-9). And to the Romans, Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ (10:17).
All of this is to say that this parable is about the action and activity of Christ and His Word, which when read and preached, creates and sustains saving faith. This parable is not about you. Its not about determining what type of soil you are. You are all four! Its not about you worrying that you have doubt and anxiety and cares of this life pressing in on you so you must not be the good soil; you must not be a true Christian. I’ve heard, and no doubt you’ve heard, this parable preached that way. And that is false!
This parable is not about you evangelizing in the right places or taking a spiritual gifts inventory to determine your soil type. This parable is about the Sower and the Seed, not the soils. Jesus doesn’t take a demographic study or initiate a strategic plan for witnessing to the most receptive people to return the proper dividends. He simply sows! A sower went out to sow his seed. You’ll sing in a few moments, “The sower sows; his reckless love scatters abroad the goodly seed, intent alone that all may have the whole loaves that all men need” (LSB 586:3).
Again, like last Sunday, the parable shows forth the grace of God in Christ Jesus. He pays workers who do nothing a full day’s wage. He “wastes” His seed on those who don’t produce. But this is the very nature of the kingdom, of the reign of God in Christ Jesus who came unto His own, but His own received Him not. Who died for people who mocked and rejected and killed Him. Who, while we were yet sinners, died for us. He did that. Alone. He sends forth His Word, which goes out from His mouth, and does not return to Him void. It succeeds in the purpose for which He sent it.
And I know what you’re thinking, “How can you say that Pastor?” I know that many of your children and grandchildren have abandoned the faith. I know that if you were to look at your confirmation picture you won’t recognize most of the faces. Of the 25 confirmed maybe two are still going to church. (Pause) Each year we receive names of incoming students who are self-identified Lutherans. About 50-60 or so at Butler. In each class. From all over the country. I reach out to all of them, letters, emails, tabling - about 200-250 students - how many come to church? How many stay? This is not meant to be a pat on the back for you. Not a “Yeah, good job, you’re the good soil, you’re here.”
Neither is this meant to be defeatist. The Word does what it says. It does not return void. It accomplishes His purpose. The Word works. “Though some be snatched and some be scorched and some be choked and matted flat, the sower sows; his heart cries out, ‘Oh what of that, and what of that?’” (LSB 586:4). The Lord desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). He grieves for your family and friends perhaps even more than you.
But the Word works. Notice that all the soils hear the Word. Every one of them. They all receive it. Some soils receive God’s Word and it results in the strengthening of faith. Some receive His Word and it results in the hardening of their hearts. But it is always one or the other. The Word of God always does something. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
What does this mean? Luther was sort of fond of referring to Satan as “God’s devil.” He tempts and afflicts Job, but only at the Lord’s allowance. He has a limited power. He is not our Lord’s equal. We’re not dualists. St Paul refers in to his thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Satan, which was given him by God! With the purpose of keeping him from becoming conceited.
And then he lists all his weaknesses and defeats. He boasts in his failings! Shipwrecks and beatings, imprisonments and stonings, hunger and thirst, danger all around. We have to admit that the greatest missionary the world has probably ever known was kind of a failure. That’s just how it works. That’s how the Church looks like from the outside and even sometimes from the inside. These are the devil’s birds and rocks and thorns that attack and snatch and seek to choke out faith and the implanted Word from the hearts of those who hear. The Church suffers them. All Christians suffer them.
Not very uplifting, I know. This parable, preached rightly, is not a best-life-now, prosperity Gospel message. Its the hard truth of the theology of the cross; your life as a Christian, called by and in Christ to bear your cross daily and follow Him. The Seed is the Word of God. It does the work. The Word transforms the soils, rocky and trodden and thorny, to be good and bear fruit. And He uses these very same toils and troubles to do it. As the tract sang, O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; You have been angry; oh restore us. You have made the land to quake; You have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by Your right hand and answer us! (Ps 60:1-2,5).
Your right hand. That’s an Old Testament way of referring to the Messiah, to the Christ. Like the creed, seated at the right hand of the Father. Give salvation by Your right hand. Save us by your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord! For He is the Word which has gone forth from the mouth of the Lord which does not return to His Father empty handed, but accomplishes the purpose for which He was sent, that is, your salvation.
Jesus is the Sower. He is also the Seed. He is the Word made flesh which was sown on the Stone Pavement as He stood trial before Pilate and was taken away by the devil. Jesus is the Word that was sown on that rocky hill called Golgotha where He sprang up on the Cross and withered away. Jesus is the Word that was sown among the thorns of the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees, who competed with Jesus out of love for the world. And it was by sowing Himself on our wretched sol, by dying and rising, that He made a little plot of good soil; His beloved Church, people who are saved for His sake, by His Word. He was reckless with His life and His love. He would rather His Word be rejected and trampled and snatched and scorched that or us poor sinners to be without it. For you, beloved, as His bounteous harvest.
You have ears to hear. Keep on hearing. For faith not only comes by hearing, faith is sustained by hearing. The Word is not only the seed, but also the rain and the snow, says Isaiah. God sends water from above to bring life to His saving Word. The Augsburg Confession says it this way, “So that we may obtain saving faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given. He works faith, when and where it pleases God, in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake” (AC V).
That is the reason Satan attacks you - for the sake of the Word. And it is the self-same weapon you have against his attacks - the Word! For though you are constantly attacked and assaulted and assailed by the devil, the world, and your flesh, you have His Word. It does what it says. The Word forgives your sins and strengthens you in saving faith unto life everlasting. The Word, joined to water, plunges you into Christ’s death and resurrection for you. The Word, joined to bread and wine, His Body and Blood, delivers to you Bread from heaven, satisfying your angry heart. His grace is sufficient for you, dear ones. His power is made perfect in weakness.
You have been given ears to hear by the hearing of the Word. Keep on hearing the Word. By His Spirit, who works in the Word, the Lord will strengthen your heart to grasp and accept it, cling to it, and persevere in it. May God grant it for Jesus’ sake.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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