Luke 8:9

Luke 8:9 says, And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  Jesus's disciples asked Him what the parable of the sower meant.  If we ever have doubts about what the Bible means, we need to go to Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help us understand.  Verse ten states, And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  Jesus said the disciples had been given the ability to understand the parables because He gave them that ability, but those who did not put their faith in Him would hear them and not understand.  Understanding the parables, or any of the Bible, depends on our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Jesus then began to explain the parable to them.  He said the seed was God's word, and this is what we must sow today as Christians.  Verse twelve continues, Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  Those seed that fell by the wayside were those people that the Devil kept the word of God from taking root in their life, and there are many, many people today who will never allow God's word to take root in their life.  Verse thirteen says, They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.   Jesus said the word of God that fell on the rock were those who gladly received God's word, but when temptation came, they fell by the wayside.  There are still people today who gladly claim to put their in Jesus, but as soon as some problem or something seemingly better in the view of the world comes along, they turn their back on Him.  Verse fourteen adds, And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  Jesus said that those that fell among the thorns took root, but allowed the cares and riches and pleasures of the world to keep them from bearing fruit of perfection.  Some people accept Jesus, but allow concerns about of the world to keep them from ever bearing fruit for Him.  Verse fifteen continues, But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  We want to be like the good ground, those who allow God's word to take root and produce good fruit in our lives as we hear and keep His word with patience.  Verse sixteen declares, No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.  Jesus moved on to the parable of the candlestick.  People do not light a candle and then cover it up where it cannot cast light, but put it on a candlestick so that it can light up things around it.  We cannot hide the word of God, the light of our way, from all those around us if we are to be effective Christians.  Verse seventeen adds, For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.  Jesus tells us that nothing is a secret to Him.  Whatever we think we have hidden from God will one day be made manifest.  Verse eighteen continues, Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.  Jesus said that those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, or who have put their faith in Him, will be given everlasting life, and those who do not accept Him, even if it seems that they have a lot, will lose everything when God's judgment comes.  For this reason, we must take heed how we hear God's word,