The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum To know or not know Jesus

Methinks that Augustine has taken the parable and turned it on its head. There is not even a hint that the Lord Christ's interpretation of the parable to His disciples was intended to be taken as an injunctive counsel to the types of individuals symbolized in the four types of 'ground'. He was simply explaining how certain individuals result from hearing the Gospel. And, that those who do hear (spiritually), i.e., their hearts (good ground) which was created by the Spirit takes root and bears and will bear genuine good works.

In fact, if one wishes to do a valid comparison, one should read Mark's reporting of this telling of the parable and Christ's explanation in chapter 4:2-20. But the most telling part of that anecdote is to be found in verses 10-12:

In short, the reason that Jesus preached in parables to the masses was so that, hina, with the intended purpose, the hearers would not comprehend the meaning and consequently not be converted. Parables were designed to keep the unregenerate in their current state, but to those who were regenerate (given ears to hear, a mind to understand, etc.) they were life-giving words (cf., 2Cor 2:6-16).

This certainly gives much weight to my interpretation, which is held among nearly all Reformed Protestants, both scholars, doctors, pastors and sheep alike.