馬可福音 4:1-20 Mark 4:1-20
- 馬克牧師
- Jan 12
- 11 min read
參考書目：每日靈糧天路系列 - 馬可福音讀經
撒種的比喻
（太13‧1－9；路8‧4－8）
1耶穌又在海邊教訓人。有許多人到他那裏聚集，他只得上船坐下。船在海裏，眾人都靠近海，站在岸上。 2耶穌就用比喻教訓他們許多道理。在教訓之間，對他們說： 3「你們聽啊！有一個撒種的出去撒種。 4撒的時候，有落在路旁的，飛鳥來吃盡了； 5有落在土淺石頭地上的，土既不深，發苗最快， 6日頭出來一曬，因為沒有根，就枯乾了； 7有落在荊棘裏的，荊棘長起來，把它 擠住了，就不結實； 8又有落在好土裏的，就發生長大，結實有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的」； 9又說：「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」
用比喻的目的
（太13‧10－17；路8‧9－10）
10無人的時候，跟隨耶穌的人和十二個門徒問他這比喻的意思。 11耶穌對他們說：「神國的奧祕只叫你們知道，若是對外人講，凡事就用比喻， 12叫他們
看是看見，卻不曉得；
聽是聽見，卻不明白；
恐怕他們回轉過來，就得赦免。」
解明撒種的比喻
（太13‧18－23；路8‧11－15）
13又對他們說：「你們不明白這比喻嗎？這樣怎能明白一切的比喻呢？ 14撒種之人所撒的就是道。 15那撒在路旁的，就是人聽了道，撒但立刻來，把撒在他心裏的道奪了去。 16那撒在石頭地上的，就是人聽了道，立刻歡喜領受， 17但他心裏沒有根，不過是暫時的，及至為道遭了患難，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。 18還有那撒在荊棘裏的，就是人聽了道， 19後來有世上的思慮、錢財的迷惑，和別樣的私慾進來，把道擠住了，就不能結實。 20那撒在好地上的，就是人聽道，又領受，並且結實，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。」
各位平安，我們這一講要來分享的是《馬可福音》第四章一到二十節的經文。
這是一個非常著名的比喻，就是撒種的比喻。同樣的比喻，在《馬太福音》第十三章，還有《路加福音》第八章，也都有記錄。
耶穌在這裡，其實自己解釋得非常清楚。祂是那位撒種的人。當祂撒種的時候，種子落在不同的地方：有些落在路旁，被飛鳥吃掉；有些落在土淺石頭地上，很快發芽，卻沒有根；有些落在荊棘裡，被荊棘擠住；也有些落在好土裡，就結實纍纍。
耶穌在打這個比方之後，其實也親自把意思講清楚。所撒的種，就是神的道；而種子落在不同地方，代表人聽見道之後，因著心裡不同的狀態，產生了不同的結果。
當我們在明白這一段經文的時候，有一件事情需要特別注意：我們不要把這個故事，拿來當成批判人的故事。這個比喻，並不是要我們去說：「你看，有些基督徒就像那種落在土淺石頭地上的種子」，或者「有些人就是像落在荊棘裡的種子一樣」。耶穌講這個比喻的目的，不是要讓人聽完之後產生罪惡感，也不是要彼此比較、彼此定罪。
首先，我們在這裡看到的是一個比喻。
耶穌是一位非常擅長使用比喻的老師。祂透過比喻，讓很多人能夠理解原本抽象的內容與觀念。我們來看看，比喻這種講法有幾個好處。
第一，比喻像故事一樣，容易讓人記得住。要知道，大部分的人其實並不容易聽懂艱深的神學論述。如果我們在台上講的是很高深的神學，很多人其實是聽不懂的。所以，耶穌沒有使用高深的學問，祂講的是每個人都看得見、聽得懂的事情——農夫撒種。這是當時每個人都明白的生活經驗，因此一聽就能記下來。
第二，比喻能夠幫助人理解抽象的觀念。
例如，「上帝的道」本身就是一個非常抽象的概念。那要怎麼讓人實際看見這個道是如何生長、如何發芽呢？你想想看，如果不用種子來比喻，這個概念其實是非常難說清楚的。所以，耶穌用一個大家都看得見的方式，讓人明白：種子不 “是“上帝的道，土壤也不 ”是”人心，它們只是用來做比喻的。比喻的重點，不是把人固定成某一種狀態。不是說你一輩子就只能是荊棘裡的土，或是一輩子就只能是路旁的土。
耶穌的比喻其實是在說：你的心「像」土壤，但你的心不是土壤。你的心是可以改變的。當你願意聽的時候，這個改變就可能發生，而上帝的道，也能在你裡面生長。
比喻還有一個很重要的特點，就是我們之前曾經提過的：它不會直接給你正確答案。你會發現，耶穌沒有告訴你：「你應該成為哪一種人。」相反地，祂要你自己去做出結論，自己去思考。這也是為什麼耶穌在第九節說：「有耳可聽的，就應當聽。」意思就是：你要自己去聽，也要自己去思想。
接著，比喻的目的就在第十節到第十二節進一步說明。
門徒問耶穌：「這比喻是什麼意思呢？」耶穌回答說：「神國的奧秘，只叫你們知道。」
這段話聽起來，好像耶穌不想讓別人知道，只想讓門徒聽懂，對外人就只用比喻。甚至會讓人有一種感覺：「你不加入，我就不讓你明白。」
真的是這樣嗎？
這時候，我們就需要回到原文來看看。這裡所使用的字是 mystērion，希臘文是 μυστήριον，原本的意思就是「奧秘」，指的是只有在啟示中，才能被明白的事物。那這是不是表示，上帝不想讓世人聽懂呢？
其實並不是。耶穌前面已經說得很清楚：「有耳可聽的，就應當聽。」意思是：每一個人都應該聽。
那什麼叫作「奧秘」呢？
我自己身為一個曾經的未信者，在年輕、還沒有信主的時候，也讀過聖經。但那個時候，我是讀了，卻讀不懂。所謂的「視而不見，聽而不聞」就是這樣的狀態。我的視力很好，頭腦也不差，理解能力也沒有問題，但我就是不明白這些比喻真正的意思是什麼。差別不在於智商，也不在於閱讀能力，而是在於——信仰。
當我還是未信者的時候，我所看見的基督教故事、十字架、耶穌所做的一切，在我眼中是愚拙的，甚至覺得不合理，聽起來有點荒謬。但當我開始接受上帝、明白上帝的旨意之後，我越思想，就越覺得深刻。
正如保羅在哥林多前書 1:18 所說的：十字架的道理，在那滅亡的人為愚拙，在我們得救的人卻為神的大能。上帝用這種世人看為愚拙的方式，拯救了全人類。這，就是所謂的「奧秘」——只有當我們在信仰中去思考、去回應的時候，才能真正明白的奧秘。上帝不是隱藏這秘密不給你聽 – 你只要翻開聖經，去教會，隨時都聽得到這樣的好消息。但是唯有你自己用心查考，用心思索，並且要帶著對上帝的信心，這個奧秘才能夠真正被理解，必且成為你一生的救贖。
這個撒種的故事，其實有非常多不同的角度可以來分享。我們最後再用一個角度來看。在這個比喻裡，撒種的人，就是傳福音的人。你會注意到一件事情：這個撒種的人，並沒有去考慮種子會掉到哪裡。他沒有精挑細選，也沒有事先評估哪一塊地比較值得。
他就是一直撒，只管丟出去，只管把種子撒出去。
同樣的道理，其實很多時候，傳福音最大的阻礙，未必是有人真的在外面阻止我們。反而更多時候，是我們自己在心裡阻止了自己。
我們心中會出現很多「小劇場」：
「如果他不聽我講怎麼辦？」
「如果他討厭我怎麼辦？」
「如果他不願意思考怎麼辦？」
「如果他從此不跟我做朋友怎麼辦？」
「他會不會覺得我很像在推銷東西？」
你會發現，很多時候，真正攔阻我們去傳福音的，不是這個世界拿刀拿槍對著我們，而是我們內心各種聲音與自我的擔心。讓我們回到撒種的這個故事，耶穌其實是在提醒我們一件很單純的事情：你只要把種子撒出去就好。至於成長、發芽、結果，那是上帝的工作，永遠都在上帝的手中。
而且，這個比喻也讓我們看見一件很重要的事：種子的供應是無限的。我們不需要擔心種子不夠用，也不需要斤斤計較。你儘管去撒，儘管去給，總會有。上帝也親自保證：一定會有三十倍、六十倍、一百倍的結果。你不知道什麼時候會看見成果，但你一定要去撒。
今天的屬靈反思：
1. 可以自己反省一下，我自己現在是哪一種土？今天我是不是可以改變自己的心，把自己的心變成沃土呢？
2. 真正阻止我去傳福音的原因是什麼？
感謝你的聆聽，下一講我們繼續分享第四章的故事，願上帝祝福你！
This is a very well-known parable—the Parable of the Sower.The same parable is also recorded in Matthew chapter 13 and Luke chapter 8.
Here, Jesus actually explains the parable very clearly Himself.He is the one who sows the seed.
As He sows, the seed falls on different kinds of ground:some fall along the path and are eaten by birds;some fall on rocky ground, where they spring up quickly but have no root;some fall among thorns and are choked by them;and some fall on good soil and produce abundant fruit.
After telling the parable, Jesus personally explains its meaning.The seed is the Word of God,and the different places where the seed falls represent how people respond after hearing the Word,depending on the condition of their hearts, resulting in different outcomes.
As we seek to understand this passage, there is something very important we must pay attention to:
We should not use this parable as a story to judge or criticize people.
This parable is not meant for us to say,“Look, some Christians are like the seed that fell on rocky ground,”or “Some people are just like the seed that fell among thorns.”
Jesus did not tell this parable to make people feel guilty,nor to encourage comparison or condemnation among one another.
First of all, what we are looking at here is a parable.
Jesus is a teacher who is extremely skilled at using parables.Through parables, He helps people understand ideas that would otherwise be very abstract.
Let’s look at some of the advantages of teaching through parables.
First, parables are like stories—they are easy to remember.Most people do not easily understand deep theological arguments.If we only preach complex theology from the pulpit, many people simply will not understand.
So Jesus did not use lofty academic language.Instead, He spoke about something everyone could see and understand—a farmer sowing seeds.This was a common life experience for people at that time,which made the message easy to remember.
Second, parables help people grasp abstract ideas.
For example, “the Word of God” is itself a very abstract concept.How do you help people see how the Word grows and bears fruit in real life?
If you do not use the image of a seed, this idea becomes very difficult to explain.
So Jesus uses something visible and familiar to make it clear:the seed is not literally the Word of God,and the soil is not literally the human heart.They are illustrations—tools for understanding.
The point of a parable is not to lock people into a fixed category.It is not saying that you are destined to be thorny soil forever,or that you will always be soil along the path.
Jesus is saying this:your heart is like soil—but your heart is not soil.Your heart can change.
When you are willing to listen,change can happen,and the Word of God can grow within you.
Another very important feature of parables—something we have mentioned before—is this:parables do not give you the answer directly.
You will notice that Jesus never tells you,“This is the kind of person you must become.”
Instead, He invites you to draw your own conclusion,to think and reflect for yourself.
That is why Jesus says in verse 9,“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”In other words, you must listen—and you must think.
The purpose of the parables is explained further in verses 10 through 12.
The disciples ask Jesus,“What does this parable mean?”
Jesus answers,“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you.”
At first, this sounds as if Jesus does not want others to understand—as if only the disciples are allowed to know,and outsiders are intentionally kept in the dark.
It might even sound like Jesus is saying,“If you’re not part of us, you don’t get to understand.”
But is that really what He means?
To answer that, we need to look at the original language.The word used here is mystērion,the Greek word μυστήριον,which means “mystery”—something that can only be understood through revelation.
Does that mean God does not want the world to understand?
Not at all.
Jesus already made it clear:“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”Everyone is invited to listen.
So what does “mystery” really mean?
I speak here as someone who was once a non-believer.
When I was younger and had not yet come to faith,I read the Bible too.But at that time, I read it—and I did not understand it.
This is what “seeing but not seeing, hearing but not hearing” looks like.
My eyesight was fine. My mind was sharp. My reading comprehension was not a problem.Yet I could not grasp the meaning of these parables.
The difference was not intelligence.The difference was not education.The difference was faith.
When I was still a non-believer, the Christian story—the cross, Jesus, and what He did—seemed foolish to me, even unreasonable, almost absurd. But when I began to trust God and understand His will, the more I reflected on it, the deeper it became.
As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18:“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
God used what the world considers foolishto save all of humanity.
This is the “mystery”—something that can only be truly understoodwhen we respond in faith.
God is not hiding this message from you.You can hear it whenever you open the Bible or go to church.But only when you study it seriously, reflect on it sincerely,and approach it with faith in God,does this mystery become truly understood—and become your lifelong salvation.
The Parable of the Sower can be approached from many angles.Let us consider one final perspective.
In this parable, the sower represents those who share the gospel.
Notice something important:the sower does not worry about where the seed will land.He does not carefully select the soil.He does not evaluate which ground is worth the effort.
He simply keeps sowing—throwing the seed out generously.
In the same way, the greatest obstacle to sharing the gospelis often not external opposition.
More often, it is ourselves.
Our hearts are filled with internal “what-if” scenarios:
“What if they don’t listen?”“What if they dislike me?”“What if they don’t want to think about it?”“What if they stop being my friend?”“What if they think I’m just trying to sell them something?”
You will notice that the real barrier is rarely someone threatening us—it is our own fears and inner voices.
When we return to the Parable of the Sower,Jesus is reminding us of something very simple:
Your job is to sow the seed.
Growth, germination, and fruit—those are God’s work,always in God’s hands.
And this parable also reminds us of something else very important:the supply of seeds is unlimited.
We do not need to worry about running out.We do not need to hold back. Just keep sowing. Just keep giving.
God Himself promises that there will be fruit—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, a hundredfold.
You may not know when you will see the results,but you must sow.
Today’s Spiritual Reflection
Take a moment to reflect: What kind of soil am I right now? Is there a way I can allow my heart to become good soil?
What truly stops me from sharing the gospel?
Thank you for listening. In our next session, we will continue with chapter 4.May God bless you.
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