The “seed” figuratively represents the Word of God according to Luke 8:11. There are two types of spiritual seeds – God’s seed of truth and Satan’s seed of lies. The “field” has two meanings – a person’s heart and the world/church on a larger scale (Matthew 13:38). Jesus compared the seed to the Word because just as a physical seed is the source and origin of life, so too is God’s Word the spiritual seed that gives eternal life when planted in a person’s heart. At his first coming, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:27 by sowing both the good seed (truth) and allowing Satan to sow the bad seed (lies) among believers. The lesson emphasizes the importance of nurturing the good seed of God’s Word in our hearts, while discerning and removing any evil seeds sown by Satan. Our spiritual growth depends on which seed we allow to take root. The lesson lays the foundational understanding of the parable of the sower/seeds before going into more detailed explanations in future lessons.

 

Study Guide SCJ Bible Study

Our very first parable in detail, so hope and pray that you are excited for that. In fact, we’ll learn two parables today.

So over the course of the parables, over the next few months, we’ll learn over a hundred different parables. So we’re going to really dive in at this time.

Secret of Heaven: Figurative Seed and Field Part One

When you’re in church and you hear about ‘the seed,’ what does it mean?

When the concept of sowing the seed is mentioned in God’s church, how should we interpret it?

There are many possible answers, aren’t there? Can ‘the seed’ embody all of these interpretations? Is it possible that everyone is correct? These are the crucial questions we should be contemplating today. Does ‘the seed’ hold a specific meaning? Today, we will affirm that it indeed has a definitive interpretation, not based on individual perceptions or feelings.

But rather, it’s based on the teachings of the Scripture. First, we will explore the various meanings attributed to ‘the seed.’ Then, we will examine its significance as presented in the Scriptures.

Seed = The Word of God

Field = A person’s heart on a small scale and on a large scale, it represents The world. So, a person’s heart and the world. That’s what a field is. 

So, the seed is the word of god. And the field. Is a person’s heart where the word is placed. And on a large scale, the world and we’ll learn today about which world jesus meant when he referenced this.

Main Reference:

This parable is especially critical in the time we are currently living in. Let’s analyze it step-by-step. First, Jesus states “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.” If asked to describe heaven, one might simply say it is like a man planting good seeds in a field. However, without understanding what the “seed” and “field” symbolize, this analogy remains unclear. Jesus spoke this way so that when the true meaning is revealed, we comprehend the nature of heaven more fully. By the end of this lesson, God willing, we will have a better grasp of what the kingdom of heaven is like. 

So what does the “seed” represent in this parable? Let us examine this for greater understanding today.

This passage explains the meaning of the parable. The seed represents the word of God. That is the clear meaning to keep in mind as we examine this. 

The farmer plants the word into the field. This farmer acts rightly, while the enemy spreads the opposite message in that same field.

As we study the parables, here is the framework we will use in each lesson to comprehend the meaning:

First, we will review the core meaning, starting with the title and then the interpretation. Next, what is the main reference verse? Finally, we will explore the physical characteristics to aid our understanding.

Figurative Seed

1.- Physical Characteristics: Seed

The physical characteristics of seeds were designed with the intent to teach us spiritual truths about God. By examining the physical traits of a seed, we can gain insight into God’s nature. Today’s lesson will explore the physical qualities of seeds, and what they reveal about God’s divine purposes and plans. The goal is to understand how seeds reflect God’s deliberate creative design to illustrate spiritual realities.

This verse carries great meaning. It will serve as our main verse for the parables. I will reference it repeatedly. God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power, and his divine nature have been clearly displayed through the very things he has created. It’s like a fingerprint embedded in creation. As we comprehend the physical traits of the parables, the deeper symbolic spiritual significance will also become clearer. 

With that established, let us closely examine the seed. What are some of the physical features of a seed?

1.- Grows: small, nutrients

2.- Origin (source) of life

Every living thing on this planet starts its life as a seed. Whether it be humans, animals, plants, or even germs, all life begins as a seed. Seeds are the origin and source of life. They represent the genesis point from which all organisms grow, develop, and reproduce to create new life.

3.- Reap what you sow

The concept of genetic inheritance plays a crucial role in understanding the figurative and spiritual seed. When we sow an apple seed, we naturally expect an apple fruit. It is not possible to sow an apple seed and anticipate an orange. This principle reflects the way God created the world, establishing specific genetic codes within each seed.

In the same vein, when a father procreates, he typically produces a son, sharing many of his physical characteristics. This is because the source code of life, genetics, or DNA, is contained within the seed. As a result, the father will produce offspring with similar features, whether a son or a daughter.

This concept of “a seed bears after its own kind” extends beyond physical characteristics. It also applies to the figurative and spiritual seed. Just as a physical seed carries the genetic information for a specific plant, so too does a figurative or spiritual seed carry the essence of its source.

Understanding this principle helps us grasp the deeper meanings and implications of figurative and spiritual seeds, allowing us to comprehend their significance and how they shape our lives.

2.- Seed: Spiritual Meaning

Jesus said something important here. He stated that if one does not understand this parable about the seed, then they cannot properly understand any of the other parables. 

The parable of the seed is foundational. That is why it is the first parable presented. As discussed in class, if you do not grasp the meaning of the seed, no other parable can be fully comprehended.

The seed represents the core, fundamental concept that unlocks understanding of all the other parables.

The farmer sows the word. Sowing seed represents preaching and spreading God’s word. As Luke 8:11 explains, the seed is symbolic of the word of God. When we see a concept repeated across multiple Bible verses, it helps confirm the intended meaning.

There are many verses comparing seed to God’s word, but none comparing it to money. So focusing on the spiritual meaning, how many types of spiritual “seeds” are there? I’m referring to symbolic spiritual seeds, not literal physical seeds.

3.- Types of Spiritual Seed

How many types of seeds are there? there are two types. why?

two types of seed because there are two types Of spirits.

1. God’s seed = Truth (John 17:17)

2. Satan’s seed = Lies (John 8:44)

Jesus refers to Satan as the “father of lies.” Looking at this literally, a father carries a genetic seed that is passed on. So if Satan is a father, he has his own spiritual seed that he can transmit to others, in a sense giving birth to followers. This is why Jesus calls certain people “children of the devil” – they have embraced Satan’s ideological seed. 

Yet these “children” are Israelites, descendants of those who accepted the law of Moses generations prior, though imperfectly followed. Jesus shockingly calls these Israelites Satan’s children. This suggests one’s spiritual paternity is not fixed, but can transition based on the ideological seed one accepts.

This concept of competing spiritual lineages is worth exploring further. Just as Satan has a deviant seed, God also has a righteous spiritual seed to pass on. Let’s examine the nature of God’s seed and how one comes to carry it.

4.- Importance of the Seed

In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. God’s seed gives life. The word gives life.

Satan’s seed does the opposite. It brings Death, which seems pretty simple, but it’s fundamental to understanding the difference between God and Satan.

You have been born again, not of perishable seed that leads to death, but of imperishable seed that leads to eternal life. One must be born of this imperishable seed, which is the living and enduring word of God.  Several verses compare seed to the Word, emphasizing the significance of this concept.

We must be born again of this word. This is part of what Jesus meant in John 3:3-6 when he told Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of heaven, one must be born again of water and the Spirit. Water and Spirit relate closely to the word, and we will explore their figurative meanings in future lessons.

So by default, we all start perishable, born of Satan’s seed. Everyone must transition to being reborn of God’s seed. One can go to God and then revert back to Satan and dust – “you were dust and to dust you shall return.”

Therefore, when one is born of God’s seed, they must do everything in their power to remain born of God’s seed. The question remains: what must this person do?”

John poses an important question – if we are born of God, why do we continue to sin? This is an issue we must grapple with. As children of God, we should strive to eliminate sin from our lives. 

In 2024, let us set a goal to more closely follow God’s Word so that we no longer sin. We must let the Word take deeper root in us daily. When the Word is firmly planted within us, we become less prone to sin. 

We cannot become complacent or comfortable. We must diligently strengthen our spiritual lives through God’s Word. By ingesting scripture, we nourish the seed of faith planted in us at birth. Over time, the roots will grow deeper, making it harder for sin to take hold.

This is no easy task. We have much work ahead of us. But with God’s help, and by supporting each other, we can make progress toward our goal of eliminating sin. By staying alert and spiritually disciplined, we guard against forces trying to lead us astray.

The path is challenging but the destination – becoming sinless children of God – makes the journey worthwhile. Let us walk this road together in 2024.

Figurative Field

This one’s deep as well. Now, this is like level two, right? So we’ve understand we understood the foundation. Now, let’s understand how it actually applies. And where it applies? 

Good soil = Field  ———->  Person’s heart.  

field applies at two scales. There’s the small scale which is a person’s heart, but when you get a bunch of people’s hearts gathered in one place, it becomes a larger field. 

ONE – Physical Characteristics: Field

 

1.- Where seed is sown
2.- Where seed grows ———> produces fruits

A seed is planted and grows into a plant that produces fruit. The fruit contains new seeds, allowing propagation to continue. Where a seed is sown influences where plants can grow and bear fruit. As seeds sprout and mature, they go through a natural cycle that enables new generations of plants to spread and propagate.

3.- Be cultivated.

A field must be cultivated, tilled, and prepared in order to properly receive seeds that are planted. If a field is not properly prepared, any seeds planted in it will be wasted, as they will not grow well in the untreated soil.

TWO – Field: Spiritual Meaning

Luke 8:15 says: Good Soil = Noble and Good Heart

We will review the four different types of fields on which seed is sown in the parable. Not all fields are ready to receive the seed – only one field type is prepared to grow the seed successfully. As you know, those are not favorable odds – only a 25% chance of success.

We are familiar with the Parable of the Four Fields, which we will analyze in more depth in the upcoming lesson. The goal is to become like the fertile soil, which alone bears fruit. We will examine the reasons why certain hearts are not ready to receive the word and how that affects us all. There are particular traits that can prevent the seed from taking root, which we will explore.

Let’s look at another scripture passage that explains what the different fields represent and who the fields symbolize in the parable.

You ——–> God’s Field

We are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, His building. You are where the seed is to be sown. When a group of people come together in a place where the seed is being planted, they become part of something greater. 

Let’s discuss the larger scale that they become a part of. Because Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:38, as we read earlier, that the field represents the world. So now let’s examine this reference to the world by Jesus – which world is He referring to in this context?”

Field = World

THREE – Seed and Harvest

Matthew 13:18-19 —–> Seed ——–> Explanation of the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus provides insight into understanding the parable of the seed. The seed generally represents the word of God, but this particular seed has a deeper meaning. It represents the explanation – the secrets – of the kingdom of heaven that Jesus speaks about in parables. So when one hears the explanation regarding the kingdom of heaven, the four soils begin to represent how people respond. We’ll explore that further in the next lesson. 

Let’s look at an Old Testament prophecy that will help tie things together.

Offspring ——–> Seed ——->  2 types

This is a prophecy spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. God, who makes prophecies, is speaking through Jeremiah that he will sow two kinds of offspring, also known as seed. 

When there is a prophecy, there must be fulfillment. Jesus fulfilled this Old Testament prophecy from Jeremiah about the sowing of two seeds. Old Testament prophecies generally point to the time of Jesus’s first coming.

Let’s examine when Jesus fulfilled this prophecy about sowing two kinds of seed. We’ll look at Matthew 13:24-30, our main reference text for today, where two seeds were sown in the same field. Let’s read the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 13:24-30 again and pay close attention to the details:

Let’s analyze this parable. We have a field that is pictured to help explain the details. On one side of the field, evil seed is sown and on the other side, good seed is sown. 

The farmer sows good seeds in the field. But then an enemy comes and sows bad seeds in the field as well, which grows into weeds. The goal is for the wheat grown from the good seed to be harvested and collected into the barn. 

That’s the ultimate purpose – for the good wheat to be harvested into the barn. We have the farmer sowing the good seed, and the enemy sowing the bad seed that turns into weeds. The fate of the weeds is that they will be tied into bundles and burned – clearly not a good outcome. 

Let’s understand this parable more deeply now. 

Let’s go to verses 37-39 to see Jesus’s explanation of this situation.

The enemy is the devil, who is a spirit that works through people (flesh) – their words, actions and thoughts. At the time of Jesus’ first coming, these were people like the Pharisees and Sadducees, but also many others who spread false teachings, like weeds among wheat. If the seed is the word, the good seed was sown by Jesus, the Son of Man. 

The field is Jesus’ field. In Jesus’ field we have the sons of God – the good seed, the wheat – and the sons of the evil one, the devil – the weeds. The sons of God and the sons of the devil grow together in the same field.

When is it possible to distinguish the weeds from the wheat? Jesus calls it the harvest. Until the time of the harvest, the weeds and wheat are indistinguishable. Jesus said to let them grow together, because if you try to uproot the weeds now, you may also uproot or kill the wheat.

We’ll explore the significance of physical characteristics. Take wheat, for instance. It grows in a humble manner, with seed heads that become heavy when full, causing the stalks to naturally bend. These humble plants serve as a reminder for us to be like wheat.

On the other hand, weeds have deep roots, making them beneficial for holding the soil together. However, their roots grow horizontally, trapping other plants around them. When you uproot weeds, you risk uprooting the wheat as well.

This is why, in the parable, Jesus’ field contains both sons of the devil and sons of God growing together. The field represents the church, where those belonging to the devil and those belonging to God coexist. Without discernment, they may appear alike.

To distinguish between them, we need to possess the Word of God within us. Those who lack the Word are at risk of becoming sons of the devil, operating on their own thoughts and understanding, which often conflict with the truth. Weeds, representing lies, tend to spread more quickly than the truth, taking over the field.

The truth, though uncomfortable, is essential. The distinguishing time when we can recognize the difference is during the harvest when those who are harvested are brought into the barn, which symbolizes heaven. The opposite of the barn, hell, is where we don’t want to end up.

Jesus often repeats the same parable in different ways, but each time it teaches us something new, emphasizing the importance of separation and sifting during his coming. Parables such as the wedding in Matthew 22, the virgins and the talents in Matthew 25, and the sheep and the goats convey the same message, teaching us how to ensure we are sons of God and not sons of the devil.

Let us study and reflect on these teachings to gain wisdom and discernment.

We are examining the passage in Revelation 14 which describes the harvest of the earth at the time of the second coming. As Jesus explained in Matthew 13:37-39, the harvesters are actually the angels. 

The angels are the ones doing the sifting and collecting – meaning they are watching over us, discerning who is taking in the Word and who is not. They make decisions: ‘this one, not that one.’ So when this harvest comes, we will understand more deeply.

However, there is much biblical context needed before fully grasping the revelations. So for now, these are but Revelation teasers, glimpses of the depths we will eventually plunge.

Just as Satan is a spirit working through flesh, and God is a spirit working through flesh, so too do the angels manifest through people who invite us to study and seek spiritual growth.

With this framework in mind, let us embrace opportunities to be ‘harvested.’ Let us diligently study the Word.

Memorization

Let’s delve into this topic with full attention and understanding. As you continue to listen, pay close attention to how people discuss the scene involving you. Do they consistently mention a specific word or do their descriptions vary? Think of it as having a discernment tool belt equipped with a handy gadget.

At this moment, let’s engage in discernment, guided by the Word of God.

Let’s Us Discern