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What is the seed of the kingdom?


Introduction. Generally speaking, seed is necessary for the reproduction and propagation of life. Seed also produces after its own kind (Gen. 1: 11). You cannot expect to get a certain type of plant without sowing the equivalent type of seed. These are elemental truths.

The seed is the word of God. The Parable of the Sower is recorded in three of the gospels: Matthew 13: 3-9; Mark 4: 3-9; and Luke 8: 5-8. The parable is about Christ's kingdom (Matt. 13: 11-23). Matthew's account refers to the "word of the kingdom" (vs. 19). The seed is presented as the source of life (Matt. 13: 23; Mk. 4: 15; Luke 8: 8). Mark's account mentions the "sower soweth the word" (vs. 14). Luke's account appears to be the plainest as to what is the seed of the kingdom: "...The seed is the word of God" (Lk, 8: 11).

The importance of the seed being the word of God. What we admit as elemental truths in the agricultural realm are also basic truths in the spiritual realm. The word of God produces after its own kind and you cannot have pure Christianity without the seed of the kingdom. In other words, people cannot be saved without God's word and the word does not produce false religion. Another obvious deduction we can conclude is the falsity of the direct, overpowering work of the Holy Spirit apart from the word.

Conclusion. Faith is produced by the word (Rom 10: 17). Furthermore, people are saved, born again, and built up by the word (Jas. 1: 21; 1 Pet. 1: 23; Acts 20: 32). Therefore, God's word is absolutely essential. Notice Peter refers to the seed as, "not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever." (1 Pet. 1: 23, cf. 2: 1-2).
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