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Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus told a parable which we usually call the parable of the Sower (Farmer). But if you really look at the parable, it isn't so much about the sower as it is about the soil. Jesus talks about several types of soil and then explains what each one represents. "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them." (Vs. 3-4) Jesus said that the seed which the farmer is sowing is the seed or message of the kingdom. The soil represents the hearts of the people who hear the message. Some of the seed fell on a footpath. A footpath is where people walk. The ground is packed down and hard, very little can grow there. Jesus said the "footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it." (Vs. 19) For some reason these people don't get it. Then, like the seed on the footpath that was eaten by the birds, Satan comes and takes the seed away. The message never had a chance to sink in and grow. "Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died." (Vs. 5-6) Have you ever walked in the mountains and seen a tree growing on top of a rock? The tree has a very hard time because the roots are exposed and the rock gives no nourishment. "The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word." (Vs. 20-21) "Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants." (Vs. 7) In our front yard, if we didn't have weeds there would just be dirt. And, there is a place out back that has wild black raspberries. Where the raspberries grow, nothing else does. What kind of weeds and thorns grow in the hearts of people? Jesus said "The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced." (Vs. 22) When this world takes first place, the seeds of the kingdom get chocked out and fail to grow. Finally, "Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" (Vs. 8 ) I've never done any farming but I have planted a garden. I can understand the need for fertile soil. Still, I am always amazed that one little seed can grow into a plant that produces so much. Jesus said "The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" (Vs. 23) What do you see when you look at this parable? My first thought is about the hearts of the people who hear the gospel for the first time. How will they respond? What kind of soil is there in their heart? I think that makes sense from the context. But I think there might be another question to ask. How does this parable apply to me? What kind of soil am I? It isn't enough to say that I have been a Christian for a lot of years. It isn't enough to say that I spend time in the Word each day. What effect does the Word have on me? Is there fertile soil for the seeds of the kingdom to grow or has the soil become rocky or filled with weeds? Where do I fit in this parable? Father, make my heart fertile soil so that the seeds of your kingdom can grow and produce fruit. Amen Live by Faith
Original content at: http://becauseofyeshua.org/?p=88.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.