THE PARABLE OF THE SEED GROWING OF ITSELF

-Mark 4:26-29

-The main point:  Jesus reveals that the kingdom would steadily grow as a result of the

  power of God.

-Mankind has been involved with the spread and growth of the kingdom through the

  preaching of the word.

          -Rom 10:13-17

          -Matt 28:18-20

-However, we must remember that the power is in the word and the growth comes from

  God.

          -Rom 1:16

          -Heb 4:12

          -1 Cor 3:6

-Our job is to sow the seed and work to provide it with the best environment and soil

  possible.  However, remember the seed contains the power to grow of itself.

-In regards to “For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself” in verse 28, C.E.W. Dorris

  said in his commentary, “We are not to suppose that Jesus meant to say that the earth

  had any productive power of itself, but only that it yields its fruits, not by the power of

  men.” (p109)

-An additional note:  I’m not sure that we should try to give special representation to the

 harvest in this parable.  As noted previously in our study, the harvest is emphasized in

 the Parable of the Tares and the Parable of the Dragnet.  The emphasis here is on the

 growth of the seed.  As Barnes stated it, “Every parable contains circumstances thrown

 in to fill up the story, which cannot be literally interpreted. In this, the circumstance of

 sleeping and rising cannot be applied to Christ; and in like manner, the harvest, I

 suppose, is not to be literally interpreted.”