Complete English translation
Don't Be Stubborn: The Hidden Message Behind the Parable
Do you know? Jesus did not use parables to make it difficult for people to understand the truth, but rather to reveal the state of their hearts. A parable is a spiritual mirror—the soft-hearted will ask and seek, but the hard-hearted will ignore and still not understand. In this session, we will delve into the reasons why Jesus chose to teach through parables, and how each of His stories holds a deep truth for those who want to open their hearts.
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart." – Hebrews 3:15
Why Did Jesus Teach with Parables?
After Jesus told the parable, His disciples and the closest followers asked Him, "What is the meaning of all this?" Jesus then replied that the secret of the Kingdom of God had been given to them, but to outsiders, everything was conveyed in the form of a parable. Then He quoted the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah:
"Even if they see, they do not respond;
Even if they hear, they do not understand;
So that they do not turn back and receive forgiveness.”
— Mark 4:12 / Isaiah 6:9-10
At first glance, this sounds as if Jesus did not want them to repent. But if we look at the context of Isaiah 6:9–10, we will find that this is not a rejection from God, but a judgment for the constant rejection of man to the voice of God.
God once said to Isaiah:
"Make the heart of this nation hard..."
Not because God did not want them to be saved, but because they had repeatedly rejected the truth, so God gave them to their own spiritual blindness (compare with Romans 1:21-24).
Parable = Mirror for the Condition of the Heart
Jesus used parables not to hide the truth, but to reveal the state of everyone's heart:
For those with a soft heart, they will ask and search, like the disciples who say: "Teacher, what does this mean?"
For those with a hard heart, they will ignore, saying: "Ah, that's just a story."
God does not force anyone to accept the truth. But He also will not constantly speak to the heart that rejects Him. So, the parable becomes like a mirror: whoever is willing to accept, will see the truth. But those who refuse, will not see anything, even though they are looking.
Don't harden your heart. If you hear His voice today, open your heart. Because God's word is not intended for the wise, but for those who are willing to accept and believe.
Parable about a Sower - Four Responses of the Heart
Jesus told that a sower came out to sow seeds. However, the result of the seed is not determined by the quality of the seed, but by the type of soil where the seed falls.
This parable illustrates the various responses of the human heart to the word of God. Everyone hears the word, but not all will bear fruit. Let's look at the four types of hearts that Jesus described.
🧍♂️ The First Person – The Rejecter From The Beginning
(Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12)
He heard the word, but his heart was as hard as a path. Firman did not have time to enter and grow. Satan steals the word from his heart, so that he does not believe and is not saved.
He may be physically present, but his heart is not open to accept the truth.
Rejecting is not always with harsh words, but can also be through an indifferent attitude towards words.
🧍♂️ Second Person – The Emotional Follower
(Mark 4:16–17; Luke 8:13)
He accepted the word enthusiastically, but it was only a momentary emotion. The word is not rooted, and when a test or pressure comes because of faith, it immediately retreats.
He followed God as long as life felt easy. But when he had to choose between comfort and obedience, he chose to give up.
🧍♂️ The Third Person - A Heart That Is Tearned and Unfruitful
(Mark 4:18–19; Luke 8:14)
Firman had grown in him, but was pierced by worries, pleasures of life, and worldly desires. He never really prioritized God.
He wants God, but he also wants the world. Finally he walked without direction, and his life did not bear fruit.
🧍♂️ The Fourth Person - A Fertile and Loyal Heart
(Mark 4:20; Luke 8:15)
He hears and keeps the word in an honest and good heart. He persevered, did not give up, was not tempted by the world, and let God work in his life. Therefore, it produces real fruit—the fruit of repentance, truth, and love.
His fruit does not appear in a day, but because he is loyal and willing to be formed, his life becomes a blessing for many people.
🌾 Reflection
Jesus ended this parable by saying:
"Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mark 4:9)
The challenge is not whether we have ever heard the word, but what kind of soil is our heart like right now?
Are we hard ground? Emotional? Terned by the world?
Or... are we willing to be fertile land?
What is meant by Fruit?
Jesus said that only a seed that falls on good ground will grow and bear fruit. But... what kind of fruit did Jesus mean?
The fruit is not the memorization of verses, not just a ministry, and not the mastery of the interpretation of the Bible.
Fruit is a life that reflects love, obedience, and produces a real impact on the Kingdom of God.
🍇 1. Fruit = Divine Character (Love & Obedience)
📖 Luke 6:43–45
Jesus taught that the fruit that comes out of a person's life comes from the contents of his heart. If his heart is good, then his words and actions will also be good.
➡️ Fruit is a reflection of the heart that has been changed by God.
📖 John 15:5–8
Jesus said: "Whoever abides in Me... he will bear much fruit."
➡️ The fruit is born from a living relationship with Jesus, and becomes proof that we are His true disciples.
❤️ 2. Fruit = Love (The Main Law)
📖 Luke 10:27
Jesus summarized the entire law into two things: loving God and loving others.
📖 Mark 12:30–31
Jesus confirmed that love is the greatest commandment.
➡️ If our life produces true fruit, it will definitely appear in real love.
🔥3. Fruit = Discipleship & Great Commission
📖 Luke 8:16
Immediately after the parable about the earth, Jesus said that no one lit a lamp and hid it.
➡️ True fruit is not kept for yourself, but shared to illuminate others.
📖 Luke 24:47
Jesus stated that repentance and forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations—this is the true Gospel content, not human teaching.
➡️ That fruit is when our lives become a tool to spread the news of salvation, not spread the man-made interpretation system.
✍️ Reflective Cover
We are called to preach the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins—not to build a teaching that deviates from the true meaning of God's word.
The true fruit is not about "how much we know", but "how much we live in Christ and love each other".
Conclusion: Don't Be Stubborn - It's Time to Bear Fruit
Salvation is not the result of mastering the entire contents of the Bible or revealing hidden secrets that are said to be only understood by special circles.
Jesus did not die on the cross so that we could be busy studying man-made interpretations, but so that we could believe in Him, repent, and receive forgiveness of sins.
"You search the Holy Scriptures, because you think that by it you have eternal life. But the Scriptures testify about me. But you don't want to come to Me so that you can have that life."
— John 5:39–40
If God's word has been sprinkled into your heart, don't let it go to waste. Show that your heart is a good land—with a fruitful life for God and for others.
"Every good tree produces good fruit."
- Matthew 7:17
📍 This is the time. Not just studying. It's time to bear fruit.
