- The Parable 比喻 (13:1-9)
Jesus told the story of the sower, who casts his seeds on various grounds. First, on the paths or roads, which are hard and impenetrable, leaving seeds exposed for the birds. Second, on the rocky grounds which have underlying beds of solid rock; germinated seeds cannot have deep roots but sprang upwards instead. Third, the seeds on thorn-infested grounds will eventually be killed by the competition for necessary nutrients. Forth, good soil is soft and loose, free from weeds, and have sufficient depth to support the growth of good plants.
耶稣阐述了一个撒种的故事——他在各种土地上撒了种子。首先，种子落在坚硬的路旁或道路，被小鸟吃了。其次，有落在土浅石头地上的，发芽后不能长根，所以向上发苗。再来，有落在荆棘里的，最终因不敌营养物质的竞争死了。最后，有落在松软的土里的，无杂草、土地够深，能使植物很好地成长。
- The Point 目的 (13:18-23)
The four soils represent four kinds of heart that hear the gospel. First, the hardened heart allows no penetration of the Word into his mind, leaving him utterly exposed to Satan’s attacks. This is clearly not a believer since he does not understand the Word. Second, the superficial heart has a rapid positive response to the gospel but with no real repentance, his faith is scorched when tested. Falls away is from skandalizō, which means to stumble, fall or scandalize. This is also not a true believer as John said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us (1Jo 2:19). Third, the worldly heart may profess faith, but love for riches and the things of the world soon chokes the gospel out of it. This third soil is infested with thorns that represent the man who is too worldly for the Word to take root and grow in his heart. This is also not a believer since there is no change of hearts and there are no fruits of repentance. His first love is for the things of the world and he is preoccupied with the world. Forth, the receptive heart is rightly prepared to hear and understand His Word. The ultimate mark of a genuine believer is the bearing of fruit.
四种土地分别代表了听到福音后的四种反应。首先，刚硬的心不允许任何话语的渗透，将其完全暴露于撒但的攻击。这显然是一个不信徒，因为他不明白圣经。第二，表浅的心对福音有快速积极的回应，但因没有真正的悔改，他的信心受到试验时就枯乾了。跌倒（skandalizō）的意思是绊倒或诽谤。这也不是一个真正的信徒，如约翰说：“他们从我们中间出去，却不是属我们的；若是属我们的，就必仍旧与我们同在”（约一2:19）。第三，俗世的心虽然宣称自己相信，但那颗对财富和世界的爱很快就会把福音丢弃。第三个土地充满了荆棘，代表这人陷于世俗太深，话语没有办法在他的心中生根发芽。这也是个不信徒，因为他心里没有任何改变，也没有悔改的果子。他钟爱世界，忙于世界。第四，这是一个准备妥当来聆听并明白神话语之心。一个真信徒的最终标志就是结果子。
- There are four soils represent four kinds of heart that hear the gospel. Which one do you belong? How do you know?
四种土地代表了听到福音后的四种反应。你属于哪一种呢？你又怎么知道？
- Please examine yourselves to see what is your first love – the world or the Lord?
请审查自己，看你心中所爱的是世界还是主？
- What kinds of fruit are you bearing to signify your salvation? Can you explain?
你结出的是什么果子，能验证你的救恩？你是否能解释？
