Plow a straight furrow

- Deacon Jack Robson

June 27, 2025

key points from this story:

• Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem
• He rejected popularity and power
• Jesus’ path was one of sacrifice
• Scripture urges focus, not distraction
• Plowing analogy teaches spiritual discipline
• Keep eyes on Jesus for a straight path

In our Gospel according to Luke 9:51-62, “When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem.” To announce God’s reign, to further His Gospel message, He knew He must go to the powerful centre of the region, to the City of David, the mighty Jerusalem, in spite of the dangers that awaited Him.

Why was Jesus so determined to make that journey to Jerusalem? Firstly, Jesus knew who He was, He was the Son of God. Although He walked the face of the earth, trod the sands of Jordan, and the soils of Galilee, He knew beyond any doubt, who He really was. He knew the road of rejection, beatings, agony and crucifixion lay ahead, but He knew where He must go, His road was uniquely His. He was the Son of God, and His path of sacrifice for the sins of the world, was His and His only. He rejected the false paths of popularity, which He shunned, He rejected power, which He actually had, as the Jews were desperately hoping He was the one to lead them back to their former glory and out from under Roman rule. Jesus was true to His Heavenly Father, His vision of His future was clear, and He was unshaken.

Near the close of our Gospel, Jesus met three men on His journey to Jerusalem, and each of these individuals had an excuse to not follow Jesus. Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow, and looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” This scripture has deep meaning for anyone who watched someone plow behind a team of horses like I did and maybe some of you as well.

I watched my Dad making that first furrow through the sod and I walked behind in the furrow, smelling the new black earth. Plowing wasn’t simple; horses had to be guided with lines, you must push down on the handles to keep the plowshare in the ground, and you must watch for rocks. And most importantly, the first furrow must be in a positively straight line. This was a matter of pride, and furthermore, if you began with a crooked first furrow, the entire field would be plowed crookedly, and every neighbour would remind you of this.

You must be gazing always ahead, guiding the horses, with your eye on the spot at the far end of the field that you would aim for, for a straight furrow. You could never look back, or sideways, but must be totally focused and concentrated on the goal ahead. This is exactly Jesus’ teaching. We must never let the world lead us astray, lead us to any distraction that would turn us away from our walk with our Savior Jesus. We must all plow a straight furrow that leads to Jesus Kingdom.

Hopefully, none of us have turned back, we have kept our hands to the plow, and with our eyes on our Saviour we will plow a straight and Godly furrow through this world and into the Heavenly Paradise with our Lord and Saviour, and into His presence forever.