THE GOSPEL: Parables of Light & Growth!

Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Mark 4:24-25)

As we learned when we started the study on parables, "Jesus did not code His teaching to prevent some people from understanding, since all equally would understand the imagery. But the parables themselves, ... revealed the true nature of their responses and their real decisions. Those committed to the Kingdom of God would seek and find further understanding. But those uncommitted would reject the teaching as unintelligible." (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Teaches in Parables! Why?)  In the above scripture, He's explaining again the difference in wisdom of men vs. the wisdom of God. These are the proverbs ... Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:1-7 NLT)

Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:21-23) “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” (Luke 8:16-18)

People always talk about seeking to know the "truth" and wanting to know "all things".  People are constantly on a quest to find something, whether knowledge, wealth, peace, etc. Well, God's ...word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Jesus said,  “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12); and He also said about us who believe in Him, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14) Being Christians, we are filled with God's Holy Spirit, and "...the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you [promises Jesus]." (John 14:26)

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29) In the study of the wheat and the tares, we learned that we are the "sower" and the Word of God is the "seed". (see THE GOSPEL: Parable of the Wheat and Tares) Now Jesus is explaining that we share the Word of God, but we don't really know how the Word "grows" in other people.  That's why Jesus taught, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned... " (Luke 6:37-38; Matthew 7:1-2; see THE GOSPEL: Don't Judge; Be an Example)

God is instructing us to just do our part, the assignment He's given us, plant the "seed", share the Word of God with any and everyone He allows us to.  After that, we aren't to worry about whether anyone believes us or not, whether we convinced them or not, whether they will accept salvation or not, whether they will change or not, etc. The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. We couldn't save our own selves, let alone anyone else. For the earth yields crops by itself: For God says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. [Exodus 33:19]” (Romans 9:15)

After God has taken care of the "growing" part, softening the "ground" of the hearers heart, so that they will accept the Word, accept Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord, then He expects us to help them, because the harvest has come. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38) As laborers, we are to help new believers that we "harvest", by helping them to understand the Word of God: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT) But we also are to be an example in the way we live: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)  We are to represent Christ in such a way, that eventhough every Christian starts ...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (I Peter 2:2); the goal is that we all grow to maturity, able to eat "solid food", because ... solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
 
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34-35) And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. (Mark 4:33-34) Yes, there were certain things God kept secret from the foundation of the world. But thank God, through Christ Jesus, ...there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”