One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear Him: “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When He had said this, He called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Luke 8:4-8
Let’s look at the overall pattern in the order of these pericopes for a moment:
Time for you to take a step back and look at the big picture. Remember Mark is the first gospel and Matthew and Luke largely use Mark’s material but depart from it when they see fit. Matthew and Luke are also using shared material of their own which some chose to see as evidence of a written document that Matthew and Luke both had access to, called Q. I believe the shared material comes from oral tradition which has been memorized by the those passing it on. Is Luke familiar with all this material or not? Did he know of it? Why doesn’t he use it all?
What about the way he has ordered his material? Take time to look at the organization of the material and ponder it for a while.
Meet you back here in Galilee for the next Gem.
I chose to become the person, the person that I’m looking for is looking for.
Ian Vail
If you want honesty, be honest. If you want a caring person, be caring. If you want humility, be humble. If you want ____, be it.
Ian Vail
Words can either kill or give life, how do you use yours?
Irwan Rosali
Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all our hard work is not what we get for it, but what we BECOME by it.
Sidney Mohede
Wherever you are; be there.
Ian Vail