As we study to find the explanation of the parable of the sower found in Mark 4:21 (Amplified), Jesus seemingly changes His discourse (or so it seems) about the seed. Jesus said to them, "Is the lamp brought in to be put under a peck measure or under a bed, and not (to be put) on the lampstand?" Verse 22 continues, "(Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation) for there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything (temporarily) kept secret except in order that it may be known."
As we look at this parable, it seems Jesus has ended the teaching about the sowing seed or Word. As we drop down to Verse 26 it seems to pick up the theme about sowing the seed all over again. In actuality, Jesus never stopped talking about the seed at all. In Verse 26 Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground," Verse 27 "and then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases---he knows not how." Verse 28 continues, "The earth produces (acting) by itself---first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." Verse 29, "But when the grain is ripe, immediately he sends forth (the reaper) and puts in the sickle, because the harvest stands ready."
When Jesus was teaching about the lamp being put on the lampstand in verse 21, He was talking about those who heard the Word and brought forth 30, 60 and 100 fold in the Word. This seed (the Word) isn't supposed to stay hidden in the ground (or heart), but to produce and bring forth a greater harvest.
We find in Acts 2 that when the people receive the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word, it brought forth a harvest of 300 more people into the Kingdom. In Mark 4:22(Amplified) Jesus said, "nothing was hidden except to be revealed." A kernel of corn is hidden in the ground, it grows night and day, and we don't know how. It begins to produce and is finally revealed as it produces grain in the ear. The only way you know the seed has done it's job is when you see the finished work (or corn in the ear). Then it's totally revealed as to the success of the sown seed.
Remember that Jesus was explaining this parable to His own disciples. He was sowing seed (or the Word) in their hearts.
After He had sown the seed of the Word of the Kingdom in their hearts, Jesus got into a boat to go to the other side of the lake. On the way, He and the disciples encountered a storm and the boat began to fill up with water. Remember how Jesus said in Mark 4:40 (Amplified) that "satan comes at once and (by force) takes away the message which was sown in them?" Now you understand why Jesus said in Mark 4:40 (Amplified) "Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?"
The seed had been sown, the explanation of it had been revealed and yet satan was successful in removing what they heard by the storm from the outside and choking out the Word.
How many times do we hear the Word preached and then when things rise up against us, forget that it's satan coming for the Word? Even after it's been revealed to us, we don't realize that it's still the same parable. We realize that the parable pertains to the Word in our hearts, but seem to forget the part of it that pertains to satan and the job he's about.
This is why I put in what I did from Proverbs 4:23 (Amplified), "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for our of it flow the springs of life."
Guarding your heart is the thing satan counts on when he comes. He seems to know that most of us either don't do it or don't know how to do it. Part of how to guard your heart is written in Proverbs 4:24 (Amplified) where the Holy Spirit wrote, "Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you."
Remember what they said in Mark 4:38, "Master, do you not care that we perish?" That was not what the seed of the Word that was sown in their hearts was supposed to produce. That was a seed of fear the enemy had planted when he came to steal the seed of faith of Jesus from them. It was taken by force from them as they took their eyes off Jesus and placed them on the storm.
Remember, when you hear the Word of revelation knowledge, something will come up and you will have to guard your heart to protect the seed.
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