10] When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. [11] He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

The parable of the sower is a familiar story among Jesus’ parables, but the purpose of His parables perhaps not so well known or understood. This is where we part company with Jesus in His attitude to followers. 

If we were Jesus, we would want as many people as possible to follow us. We would make it as easy as possible to gather disciples, even lowering the standard if necessary to attract people to our cause.

Not Jesus! He was after quality, not quantity. His stories were intended to sort out the “sheep” from the “goats”. He was not interested in gathering casual followers or freeloaders. Following Him was serious and costly, as His disciples would discover when they were left to carry the torch for Him.

So, what did He mean by His explanation? First, the story itself was significant. Only approximately one quarter of the farmer’s seed fell into suitable soil. Three quarters of the seed was wasted and unproductive because the ground was either too hard, too stony, or too overgrown with weeds.

For the disciples, this meant that they should not anticipate a harvest from every seed they sowed. Most of their labour would be wasted. They should not expect anything else.

On the contrary, as in Jesus’ ministry, so in theirs, the very 
preaching of the message would harden the hearts of those who refused to believe.

“…But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

Jesus made it as difficult as possible for people to believe in Him so that those who followed Him would do so because they were convinced that He was who He said He was and that following Him meant all or nothing.

How different from much of today’s preaching! People are invited to follow Jesus for what He can do for them.. and when He doesn’t, they fall away or follow from a distance because He disappointed them.

What Jesus said sounds as though He didn’t want people to be forgiven. I think He meant that His forgiveness was not cheap. He did not want to dispense forgiveness that cost Him His life to people who would treat His gift lightly.

So, what do we gather from this parable and its interpretation?

Following Jesus is a serious and all-consuming business. To the would-be disciple, it means dying to self daily, setting aside all selfish and self-centred desires to love and obey the Master. When we receive Jesus as Lord, we commit to Him as our Supreme Authority.

Perhaps Francis Ridley Havergal’s well-known hymn says it best…

1. Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Author: Frances Ridley Havergal
Source: https://www.hymnary.org