THE PARABLE OF THE

SOWER AND THE SEED

Mark 4:1-9 (NKJ)

1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4 "And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

5 "Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

6 "But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

7 "And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.

8 "But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

In an honest forthright appraisal of the scriptures the Rev. Charles Spurgeon wrote in his autobiography: “The system of truth revealed in the Scriptures is not simply one straight line, but two; and no man will ever get a right view of the gospel until he knows how to look at the two lines at once.... Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other... and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other” (Charles H. Spurgeon, Autobiography Vol. 1: The Early Years. pp. 173, 174).  While the believer is not disturbed by the paradoxical nature of the scriptures, the disciple knows that the true depth is revealed when the paradoxes can be merged and brought together, and this can only be accomplished when the Son of God himself becomes the teacher, the mind of the disciple is opened, and the Mysteries of God are comprehended. 

Among the many paradoxes that Rev. Spurgeon saw as two lines of truth, is the seemingly opposing biblical statements that while believers are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, others appear to be preordained to fill a greater role as minister, prophet, and even a Disciple of Christ who Jesus spoke of as one of his brothers. What the Gospel states is that those who are called to fill a greater roll are judged in accordance with a higher standard than is those who are not. As it is written: "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:47-48 NKJ)

This same message is repeated by James, the brother of our Lord, when we wrote: "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" (James 3:1 NIV).  And in the same way the Lord again warned us in the Gospel of John: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2 NIV).

As Messianic followers, each of us must come to terms with what is perhaps one of the primary questions that confront all believers: Are all people subject to the same set of requirements?  When the Apostle states that all who call upon the name of the Lord are saved, does that also mean that those to whom much has been given, the same will be required regardless of what has been given? Contrary to what many today believe, the scriptures states that each of us are presented with a differing set of requirements by which we will be judged.  And what is that criteria?  What the Bible states is that not only is each one of us given our lot in life in accordance with a predetermined criteria, but what Yeshua taught was that those who failed to increase what is given to them, even what they have would be taken away and be given to those who had an abundance: “Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Matt 25:28-29 NKJ).  

One of the many paradoxes that confront the believer is explored in these biblical verses by the Wycliffe Commentary which writes: “Herein is the crux of the interpretation. If this reckoning is the judgment of the believer's works, then we apparently have a true believer suffering the loss of his soul because of the barrenness of his works. But that interpretation would contradict John 5:24. Or, if the unprofitable servant represents a mere professing Christian, whose real nature is thus unmasked, then it appears that the judgment of believers' works and the damnation of sinners occur together, although Revelation 20 separates these judgments by 1,000 years”.

What does John 5:24 say?  “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24 NIV).   What we must recognize is the fact that there is only a contradiction with respect to our interpretation of the word belief.   The Bible is very clear that those people who claim an allegiance to the Lord, and yet continue to live in the manner of unbelievers, are themselves self-condemned -- as seen in the words: “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21 NIV).   Thus, while it appears that those who are given little, less is expected -- it is in like manner true that to those who much has been given, they must not only bear spiritual fruit, but they are required to actually live in accordance with the Royal Law of God, and do the Will of the Father throughout every aspect of their lives.

The problem is that these verses, as in the twentieth chapter of the Revelation and many other places in the Bible, appear to declare two conflicting doctrines -- i.e., some state that believers get into heaven on the basis of their profession of faith, while other biblical passages clearly state that the believer will be held accountable for their deeds.   With regard to the requirement of works, in the parable of the sower and the seed Yeshua clearly warned believers that they are required to increase what has been given to them: “…multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times” what was initially received (Mark 4:8 NIV).   Yet, as the Wycliffe Commentary points out, John 5:24 is one of those all-inclusive verses which appear to generally state that all believers will be saved -- but who is a believer?  

From a biblical perspective the answer to this question is greatly dependent upon who we are -- what kind of life were we born into -- how faithful have we been with respect to our manifestation of the Word in our lives.  Thus, the scriptures teach: : “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability” (Matt 25:15 NKJ).   When we therefore pose the question as to what is required, what we often fail to see is the fact that some are born with greater abilities and opportunities than others.

When the Apostle writes: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7-8 NAS); what is being conveyed to us is that each of us is accountable for what has been given to us. 

What the parable of the sower dispels, is the notion of some Messianic Believers and Christians that it does not matter how we live once we have received the Word of God.  This misconception can be compared to a man who desires to plant a vineyard, and having procured the finest seedlings ever developed, attempts to plant these seedlings in a desert.   Regardless of the fact that we possess the most perfect seedlings ever known to man, when we live our lives in the manner of a spiritually barren wasteland, the vineyard that we envision can never manifest and become a reality.

In our quest to demonstrate this fact we must ask what the Bible states: In the parable of the sower (Mt 13:1-58; Mk 4:1-20; Lk 8:4-56), Jesus taught that the Word could only be fruitful when it was planted in the proper environment.   The Word that fell upon the ground at the side of The Way, could not become fruitful because Satan takes away what was sown.  And if we pose the question as to where was the seed sown?  The scriptures states “...the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15 KJV) -- thus we can see that Satan has the power to alienate us from our own true inner spiritual reality.  

And who are the people who can be likened to the Word sown on stoney ground?   The Bible says that they receive the Word with gladness -- in our own time they would be seen as people who proclaim that Jesus is their personal Lord and savoir -- they call themselves by his name -- and they profess to be the people of God.   But because they “have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended” (Mark 4:17 KJV).  

What does it mean to have no root?   When Yeshua taught that the Kingdom is within us (Luke 17:20-21), and that he is the true vine, we must understand that as the branches who are to flourish in the Word in this world, we must bear fruit: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2 NIV). 

The root of man is his connection to the Kingdom within the essence of his being.   If this root is healthy, then the Spirit and Knowledge of the Kingdom will flow from its inner Source to bring about the growth of the disciple.   If the believer clings to the doctrines and traditions of other men, then the Genuine Knowledge that can only be received from the Kingdom is negated, and the root that carries the life-giving Spirit and Truth is severed -- as seen in the words: "...my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit".

And who are those people who can be likened to the Word sown among thorns?   Again we see the problem being when these people cling to the things of this world -- i.e., its culture, doctrines and materialism -- anything that draws the consciousness of the believer away from the inner Kingdom, and fixates their attentiveness and focus of being in the outer world -- as seen in the words: “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19 KJV).

As we can readily see, the Bible itself warns that the Word cannot be planted anywhere we choose -- i.e., it cannot be planted by the side of The Way, upon the stony ground, or among thorns -- but rather, only in the environment of what Jesus calls the “good ground”.   When it is realized that the “good ground” is symbolic of our state of mind and body, then we must recognize that our whole conception of the teachings of The Way as a purely faith-based revelation is seriously flawed.

Again we see the paradox!  If all that was required was to have faith and profess the name of the Lord, then there would be no purpose in teaching the concepts found in the parable of the sower and the seed.   Moreover, we have the frightening declaration of the Lord to all who would call themselves his followers that: “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13 KJV) -- or, in the wording of a the modern language New Living Translation: “But if you can’t understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell?”

Those people who preach that the Word of God is universal to any and all environments -- or that the meaning of the Bible is plain, and can be easily understood -- simply do not comprehend the very first principles of what this verse of scripture proclaims to all who would call themselves the people of God.   Moreover, the Bible itself puts us on notice that only the people who are the good ground, are able to even begin to understand the true meaning of the scriptures -- i.e., “But if you can’t understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell?”

Contrary to what we choose to believe in our present time, what this parable tells us is that in the same way that we cannot plant seedlings from a fine vineyard in the desert -- among thorns -- or on rocky ground -- neither can we plant the Word of God in any cultural or doctrinal mindset.   How do we know this?   Because Jesus said that if we try, then we will be ignoring the very first principles of the Gospel -- and regardless of what we profess with our lips, we will remain spiritually unfruitful.

The Word must be planted in the “good ground” in order to grow.   Every teaching and concept that Jesus spoke must be envisioned as an essential truth that sprang forth from the biblical foundation that existed at the beginning of our Common Era.   In the same way that a seedling cannot exist apart from the ground within which it is planted, the Bible itself warns us that the purity of the Word cannot flourish within any culture or manner of thinking we attempt to transplant it into.   Unless the word that is preached to you is planted and nurtured within the “good ground” and the same biblical foundation as that which Jesus revealed it from, then it cannot be the genuine Word of God.

The spiritual concepts that are taught in this parable are of such an exalted magnitude, that they should be seen as the very starting place for all those who desire to know anything of any genuine import.   In order to live a life of genuine substance, the life of every child should be molded in accordance with the concepts revealed in this parable -- a parable that is so important to those in pursuit of all Knowledge, both secular and religious, that Jesus warned the people: “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13 KJV).   And to put this great biblical truth in the more modern language of the New Living Translation: “But if you can't understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell?”

You can’t!   If you fail to understand the meaning of this parable, then you can never comprehend a single truth of any great importance.   Moreover, I confirm this well defined biblical statement with respect to all of man’s endeavors in his quest to know himself and his true role in the vision of Creation.   It makes no difference if you are a man of faith, science, or philosophy, unless you understand the meaning of this parable in relation to your own life, then you can never know anything of a genuine value and significance.  

We are a people of very limited perception who dwell in a confusing world.   Any student of history must conclude that the most intelligent men throughout all ages have continually been wrong in their ideas pertaining to every aspect of life.   Both the world of science and religion in our own time are as little ships afloat on a sea of confusion.   The truly intelligent person must ask why?   Why has the mind of man dwelled in the darkness of this world for so long?   If the universe is indeed the work of a Supreme Being, then it is reasonable to ask where the answer to man’s great dilemma lies?

There is of course many who will say that the Gospel message was universal, and was put forth for all mankind to read, believe, and affirm their faith!   Many would like to believe this, but the scriptures themselves clearly reveal to us that it is the exact opposite which is true.   When Jesus taught the people, he spoke to the multitudes by parables, and only his disciples were instructed in a plain and straightforward manner.   What this means is that whoever listened to him teach heard stories about life that each hearer interpreted in accordance with their own understanding.   Fundamentally, then, what each person heard was often not a great revelation of truth -- but rather, very much within the limitations of their own patterns of belief.  

When Jesus was questioned as to why he taught in this manner, he very clearly said: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding” (Mark 4:11-12 NIV).   In view of the fact that what Jesus called the “secrets of the Kingdom of God” was not taught to the multitude of people who listened to him speak, the question that every believer today must ask is: Why would Jesus not speak plainly to everyone who would listened?

To begin, we must ask ourselves what a parable is?   Based upon church dogma, some people today erroneously believe that a parable makes a teaching more plain and easier to understand.   In demonstration of this misconception, in some modern Bible translations such as that used by the Jehovah's Witnesses, the word parable is rendered illustration.   Why?   Because this is what these religious organizations want to believe -- i.e., it affirms the validity of their quasi-Darwinist manner of thinking -- and it is beyond their comprehension to understand why Jesus would reveal to one group of people a different revelation than another group of people.    

The Bible itself declares this modern-day common assumption with respect to the parables to be false, and clearly states that just the opposite is true.   In explanation of the above words of Jesus, the Wycliffe Commentary writes that: “…the initiate was instructed in the esoteric teaching of the cult, which was not revealed to outsiders… The mystery of the kingdom in its ultimate development is the full-orbed message of the Gospel (Rom 16:25-26). The purpose of parables was to instruct the initiates without revealing the items of instruction to the ones who were without. This is in keeping with the Biblical principle that spiritual understanding is restricted to those who have become spiritual...”  

In our present-day preaching of the gospel, there is no room for the concept of an “initiate”!   Yet, we continue to alienate ourselves from a higher perception of the Word, so long as we fail to acknowledge that Jesus was not all-inclusive, and it was his disciples who were the initiates into what the Bible states are the Secrets of the Kingdom of God.   The key to understanding what is actually being portrayed in the scriptures, is when we open our eyes to what the Bible actually states, and we permit ourselves to become cognizant of the great truth that “spiritual understanding is restricted to those who have become spiritual”.   What does this rather astute observation in the Wycliffe Commentary mean to us today?   In Jesus’ own words what he plainly said was a truth that has its parallels in every aspect of our lives: The Sacred Knowledge of the Kingdom did not belong to everyone -- but rather, it belonged only to those who were found worthy to hear the higher revelations of truth.   The problem that inhibits our ability to fully understand this well-defined biblical Truth, is seen in the continual assertion that the worthiness of each person to hear these mysteries taught only to the initiates, was predetermined prior to their even being born -- which is a revelation that is simply beyond our doctrinal comprehension in our present time.  

The idea that only a small group of people would be taught the Mysteries of God -- and that they were chosen to hear these Mysteries at a time before they were even born -- is so troubling to the people of the simple faith, that the majority of modern-day Christians simply choose to ignore this paramount biblical doctrine.   They therefore not only close their eyes and hearts to the message of the Bible they claim to champion, but they sever themselves from the revelation of the indwelling Word they continually petition with their lips to bestow upon them.   

Very clearly, the concept simply makes no reasonable sense to their manner of thinking.   In our desire to see Jesus as the savior of all people, we are unable to accept what the Bible openly proclaims -- i.e., that Jesus came to call the few, and the calling of these few was predetermined before they were even born into that life.   In view of what the Bible actually states, our present-day belief that Jesus preached an all-inclusive doctrine is from a biblical perspective, a defective and flawed doctrine.   Moreover, those who read the Bible and continue to tell people otherwise, are simply lying to the flock of believers in order further the cause of traditional church doctrines, and ultimately maintain control over the congregations.

What each person must decide is in fact that same exact question that was set before the Sadducees and Pharisees when Jesus physically walked this earth -- i.e., whether you desire truth or tradition!   How important is this knowledge of predestination to our own personal salvation?   It is impossible for us to walk in The Way, and not understand why only a chosen few were taught the Mysteries of God, while the majority of listeners were given what the Apostle Paul calls the milk of the gospel.   It is impossible for us to be born again, and to be genuine followers of the Son of God, unless we understand and embrace this great spiritual fact.   In recognition of this indisputable biblical revelation, if we are to become serious followers of the Christ, we must first come to the realization that what we presently possess in the form of the modern Gospel message, is nothing more than what was given to the multitudes of the people at the time that Jesus preached the Word of God.  

In even a very casual reading of the Bible we can readily observe the existence of numerous instances where the Mysteries and Secrets of God are made reference to, but not one place where even a hint is given regarding the nature of these Mysteries that are not in any manner revealed to the reader of the scriptures.   Thus, we are clearly warned that those Sacred Truths which the Apostle refers to as the “meat”, or “solid food” of the Gospel message, is missing -- but in religious practice and the structure of our modern churches, there exists a great void in the message we preach -- a message that all but ignores the most important element of what Jesus taught.   Is this message important to us?   Once it is recognized that what the New Testament clearly proclaims is that believers today haven't got the slightest clue as to the nature of what Jesus said was the very life-giving teachings of the Word -- which teachings were concealed in the Mysteries that Jesus taught did not belong to the common hearer and believer of the Gospel message, and were reserved only for his faithful disciples in private.   Once this well defined biblical reality is acknowledged, it can then be said that the modern believer can rightfully be compared to an elementary school student who has quit school, and yet dwells under the delusion that they are educated.  

The problem is seen in the fact that in the process of reinterpreting the gospel in a very carnal and Pagan manner of thinking, the fourth-century Church of Rome severed the believer from advancing beyond the elementary level of spiritual education.   In fact, they killed anyone who even mentioned the Spiritual Gospel of Christ that the Apostle Paul wrote can only be perceived by men who have overcome their carnal nature, and have themselves become spiritual.   In order to explain away the many biblical references to the Mysteries of God that the political priests of the fourth-century Roman Church could not comprehend, they created dogma and doctrines that were based upon purely human perceptions of the Word.   Literally, they re-invented God, Jesus, and the gospel message, in order to make it compatible to the Pagan mindset and understanding.   In doing this, they threw away the Keys of Knowledge that opens the door to the inner Kingdom that exists within the mind of man, and set the church on a course that severed all Christians for the ages to follow from the very essence of the Word itself.   They did this for the exact same reasons as did the Sadducees and Pharisees before them -- i.e., in order to insert themselves between the believer and God, in order to maintain political control of the masses of people.

The present-day Christian world is evidence that believers could forever argue over what belief is true, or more true, but we would gain very little from this exercise in futility.   Once it is realized that what we are arguing over is what the Apostle calls the “milk” of the gospel, which equates to an elementary level of Christian understanding, the sincere believer must recognize the need to advance into the higher levels of instruction in the Word.

From the perception of our present-day understanding, what should be truly disturbing to the reader is the assertion that the few who were taught the Mysteries were chosen for this exalted position prior to even being born.   Moreover, in this assertion there is still another paradox that cannot be answered by the modern believer: If Jesus could teach the Mysteries to a chosen few -- and they could be comprehended by these few -- why couldn’t these Mysteries then be taught to all people?

The very recognition of this fact should invoke question in the minds of the reader -- and this question should bring about still another realization as to who would be deemed worthy to hear the Spiritual Gospel of Christ -- which Gospel Jesus called the Mysteries of God.   Contrary to the Good News that we preach in our churches today, in the very manner in which he taught, we must recognize that Jesus did not treat all people equal.   This is of the utmost importance because if we ourselves are to embrace a higher understanding of the Word, it is absolutely imperative that we understand why he was not all-inclusive as we are today, and did not teach all people as equals.   What the Bible very clearly states is that only his disciples were initiated into what Jesus called the “secrets of the kingdom”, while the multitudes of people that he spoke to were taught in parables.   Why?   Contrary to what is preached in our churches today, the Bible itself states that Jesus the reason he taught in this manner was to conceal the true meaning of what was being revealed to a very select few.   To begin to comprehend this very clearly proclaimed biblical fact, is to start the process of opening one’s mind to the higher revelation of the Gospel message.

Sincere Christians today are very much as the multitudes of listeners who were present when Jesus physically spoke the words that are recorded in our Bibles.   Like the modern Christian, the people who listened to Jesus speak very much believed they were hearing the revelation of the Word -- but what they were actually hearing was a teaching that was appropriate for the level of their own individual understanding.   In comprehending this fact, it is equally important to recognize that what the Bible very clearly affirms is that for their own spiritual well being, Jesus permitted them to believe this great misconception -- and unbeknown to the multitude of believers, this continues to remain true in our present day.  

Fundamentally, what we assert today is that what the Bible actually states is not fair!   We demand a universal and all-inclusive redeemer who will save all people who come to him through the preaching of the word and the church.   But is the Good News and the church today the same as that which was envisioned by the original disciples of Christ?   We would like to believe it is -- but everything we have learned has demonstrated the great flaw that exists in what we traditionally believe with respect to genuine Christian foundings.

To our own demise we therefore reject the very core teaching of Jesus that is contained throughout the scriptures.   Moreover, in the reinterpretation of the gospel, what the modern Christian believes today is that Jesus has changed his ways -- and, in a manner of speaking, they believe that he has repented, and seen the error of his ways.   Because we have recreated Jesus in the image of an all-inclusive redeemer, we reject the reality of the Bible, and embrace the doctrine that he no longer treats people today in the same manner that he treated his hearers at the time he appeared on earth.  

What is portrayed in the New Testament scriptures is not a system of belief -- but rather, one that describes the absolute need to evolve through the next stage of birth.   There are only two choices -- i.e., “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matt 7:13-14 NIV).   Having lost the Key of Knowledge, Christians no longer possess the means to open the “narrow gate”, and thus the road that leads to Life has been closed to them.   More than at any time in the past we now know that in the original Gospel that Jesus taught prior to its corruption by Rome, unless we walk in The Way, all other roads leads to destruction.

When Jesus taught the people the parable of the sower and the seed (Mt 13:1-23; Mk 4:1-34; Lk 8:4-15), what he conveyed was that only when man embraces the Word in purity and truth, and manifests the Gospel in their life in word, thought and deed, can they expect to reap the rewards of the Good News that Jesus revealed.   It is not a matter of faith and belief -- but rather, one of our experiencing the next stages of birth.   This means that a Jew who embraced the tenets of the Sadducees and Pharisees who preached dead works; or a Gentile who had the mindset of the Nations and embraced a religion of redemption; or a Samaritan whose walk with the Lord was stagnated because they did not possess a pure understanding of the Word of God; or a person who is as the majority of people, and live a sense bound life; or any one else that did not themselves totally surrender to the essence of Gospel thought, could not walk in The Way.   They could believe -- and their belief brought them grace so long as they at least tried to live in accordance with the written word -- but, as the Apostle himself warned, their belief or faith alone could not bring about perfection or completion.  

From the perspective of the Word: A child who attends school in the faith and belief that they will be educated -- without paying attention and actually doing the work -- with little personal interaction and involvement in the learning experience, will benefit little from the school environment.   Even though they are in attendance, and went through the physical motions of attending class and making an appearance, the necessary change and development of mind cannot transpire until the child begins to seriously apply themselves to what is being taught.  

With respect to the parable of the sower and the seed, perhaps even more important to the modern Christian is the warning of Jesus regarding the scriptures: “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13-14 KJV).   What this means is that, unless we read the scriptures through the mindset of the purity of the Word -- unless we are ourselves the good ground that permits the seed to mature and grow -- we will not be able to comprehend the true meaning of the scriptures.   These words are a warning to Atheists, casual believers, and even those who attempt to take a scholarly or intellectual approach to the Bible -- i.e., that without a total change of mind, there is no way that they will ever understand the true meaning of what is written.   Moreover, to the people of the simple faith these words are a caution that they will never perceive anything greater than the surface understanding -- i.e., the milk of the gospel -- until they release themselves from the shackles of manmade doctrines.

What Jesus warns us in the words: “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” -- is that unless we are willing to come to terms with the message of this parable, and become the good ground within which the Word is implanted, we are wasting our time when we attempt to understand the true meaning of the rest of the scriptures.   Therefore, from a biblical perspective, we cannot believe in any manner that we choose -- we cannot live in any manner that we choose -- and we cannot pursue either life or the Kingdom in any manner that we choose -- and still be able to comprehend the true meaning of the Bible.   These words represent a Gnostic manifesto as seen in the declaration that there is only One interpretation of the text of the scriptures which are written so as to conceal the Mysteries of God from the people who walk the broad-way of life, and that One interpretation can only be taught by the Anointing (Christ) of the Light.   The problem is that the Light can only reveal the Truth to those who are willing to live their lives in the Truth.

For the most part, the modern Christian Church -- a Church that, by its very institutionalized nature, cannot come to terms with what we now know about the true foundings of the religion that Jesus taught, has a number of serious obstacles to overcome.   The problem is that the Gospel was born in a spiritual bedrock that is totally alien to the manner in which we think and view God and Creation today.   The New Testament mandate that each one of us would have to change both our way of thinking, and manner in which we live, is a message that most modern Christians reject.   Why?   They simply do not believe what the Bible warns, regardless of the fact that this warning is one of the paramount teachings of the Bible.   They see the words -- they perceive what it says -- and then they say: It can't be talking about me!   It must therefore be making reference to someone else.

Fundamentally, the greater number of people who call themselves Christian embrace a feel-good philosophical Christ, and demand that God lowers His standards.   They do not desire to live in accordance with the Commandments of God -- they view such a concept as an unnecessary restraint upon their lives.   Because their religion is philosophical, they have adopted the doctrine that they are exempt from the requirement of works.   In order to alleviate the scriptural mandate for absolute change, they desire God to be all-inclusive, and accept them as they are on the basis that they believe and have faith in Jesus.   What they fail to realize is that this redemptive doctrine is native to Mithraism, which was the universal religion of Pagan Rome in the third and fourth centuries, and has little in common with the original Gospel of the New Covenant!