Sermon Tone Analysis

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Quick Outline

vs. 1-3 introduced to three specific women as well as “many others” who are supporting Jesus in his ministry.

vs. 4-8 the telling of the parable of the sower: four soils… only one soil has plant the flourishes

vs. 9-10 Jesus gives a rationalization for the use of parables (parables bring to the surface those who really want to hear… the die hard fans… the ones who will pay to go to the convention)

vs. 11-15 the explanation of the parable of the sower

vs. 16-18 The light of a lamp is a picture of the disclosure of what is hidden and a warning to hold onto what is disclosed

vs. 19-21 Jesus says his closest relatives are those who hear his Word and put it into practice.

The Gospel:

Jesus has been going from town to town to “proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God”.

By the time Jesus wraps up his ministry of 3 years we have a clear picture of that proclamation: Jesus is the rescue for humanity if they will just trust in him.

Jesus came to give light and life.

He had many things to say but at the center of it all was a call to believe in him and let him be the King.

These 21 verses put on display the extension of a theme: the divided response.

Verses 1-3 show us a personal examples of the fourth soil — good soil — that bears fruit.

Verse 19 - 21 has Jesus emphasizing that his true family are those who properly respond to the message of the kingdom: those who hear and listen.

Between these bookends we have the parable of the four soils.

Let’s recall these themes from chapter 7 for just a minute...

The people who listened to John’s message and rejoiced when Jesus affirmed John’s ministry

The sinful women who is forgiven and wiping the feet of Jesus

In this chapter there is a very clear emphasis on the idea of hearing and listening.

(8:8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21)

George Whitefield named his sermon on this text “How to hear a sermon”.

Tim Keller suggests that this parable gives us three tests to determine whether or not we have truly heard the gospel message.

Keller suggests that this parable gives us three tests to determine whether or not we have truly heard the gospel message.

Soil #1 - First test… beware of listening to the message of Jesus with a hard heart.

It is possible to be in contact with the Word of God on a regular basis and yet it hasn’t penetrated the heart.

A theoretical understanding of Jesus message isn’t enough.

You and I need to have a personal experience with the truth.

Soil #2 - Second test… Beware of listening to Jesus message with a shallow heart.

These people saw Jesus as a service provider.

They listened to Jesus message out of self-interest.

They viewed themselves as sufferers and not sinners.

Your main problem is not that you are a sufferer.

Your main problem is that you are a sinner.

Soil #3 - Third test… Beware of listening to the Word of God with a divided heart.

They are committed to Christ, but they are also committed to other areas.

Things are crowding Christ out.

You agree with the message of Christ, but because of the duplicity in your life there is no room for fruit.

The Psalmist prays “Lord unit my heart”.

We have to interpret this parable in the immediate context first and then identify universal principles that might apply to us.

Jesus was note necessarily classifying people’s eternal state.

He is describing his immediate audience.

And there are those in the gospel narrative that fit into all four categories.

And we know from the testimonies of those in the first century that there were some who were initially hard hearted and later converted.

This parable is also recounted in and .

Each rendition has a slightly different emphasis.

emphasizes “The Kingdom of God cometh by hearing… Take head how you hear”

The rendition concludes with this statement “those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit"

In the version we are looking at from we read in verse 15 “hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience”.

Since we are in the book of Luke let’s look at the six qualities connected to the good soil from verse 15.

hearing the Word

holding it fast

in an honest heart

in a good heart

bearing fruit

patient

Hear the Word

This word “hear” is the primary greek word for “hearing”.

It is found 436 times in the NT and it is translated “hear” at least 160 times.

It also is translated heard, listen, and understand.

“Describes the act of hearing or listening to a person with emphasis on the accurate understanding of that which is spoken.”

In Galatians and Hebrews there is a reference to the “hearing of faith”.

This is the idea of responding with faith as soon the listener hears the message.

Has someone ever asked you “did you hear me?”

What they really mean is “did you listen to what I said?”

The “Word” is the greek word Logos.

This refers to the full expression of God.

The full message…

What is necessary for this phrase to take place is?

The capacity to comprehend and understand something that is communicated The message must be delivered in a comprehensible way (same language as the listener) The message must be relatively complete, not missing large chunks

The capacity to comprehend and understand something that is communicated

The message must be delivered in a comprehensible way (same language as the listener)

The message must be relatively complete, not missing large chunks

This is the doctrine of special revelation vs. general revelation.

Hearing God’s Word includes reading the Bible, listening to the audio Bible, listening others read the Bible…

What is God’s Word?

What is God’s special revelation?

Jesus is the special revelation of God.

Our primary source for encountering Jesus Christ is the 66 books of the Bible.

the 66 books of the Bible.

Application Thoughts

I think of myself as good soil.

But am I really giving time for the “hearing the Word” experience?

If it is this dynamic power that can produce change in my life and I think of myself as good soil wouldn’t I want to be spending more and more time getting the seed into my life?

This is a single greek word “kateco”.

It appears 19 times in the NT.

It is translated: hold fast, keep, posses, seize, take and continue believing.

Example Uses

Predicator

Test all things

hold fast

what is good

me in all things and

keep

the traditions just as I

Object

then you begin with shame

to take

the lowest place