The Parable of The Sower Explained
Matthew 13:18-23 — 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)
This is indeed one of my favorite parables, because it explains to us how we once interacted with the Word of God at the beginning; when we heard the message of Salvation and also now that we are saved. It speaks of a Farmer who went out to sow, and a how He like many farmers would just scatter Seed round about. This seed don’t always fall upon good Soil. Sometimes they fall on the pathway, sometimes they fall on the rocky soil, other times they fall among thorns, but sometimes they also fall upon good soil. In this short post, we will ruminate upon the explanation that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave us, and try to see how directly it affects us in our lives.
The Characters
Farmer – a Preacher or Teacher of the Word of God
Seed – the Word of God, the Gospel of Truth, a message
Soil – a metaphorical representation of the Hearts of the hearers of the message
The Soils and there interpretations
Soil Number One – The Pathway
For this set of persons, Hearing was not the issue, they did hear, but they did not understand. Head knowledge without understanding is like having a weapon without the know-how of its operation. Lack of understanding produces a similar result to lack of hearing- both are unfruitful. That is why many persons come to Church but not all of them really reflect the Life of Christ. The Pathway can be likened to a heart that is not at peace because it is unguarded — anything goes, this heart is not receiving the Life that is in the Word of God. It takes it as another information, like news about a certain faraway Country that they may never get to see. This heart can be this way for many reasons, but one of the reasons as pointed out by Charles Spurgeon is that it has heard this Word too many times and taken no action whatsoever upon it and so his heart has become unresponsive to the Word. It is only the Spirit of God that can give this Hearts a thorough tilling and softening for even the hearts of kings are in the Hand of God.
Soil Number Two – The Rocky Soil
Like the first man, this man also heard the Word of God. But unlike the first soil, his Heart received it with joy, but it seems like it was just the excitement he got. He had no root. He must have interacted with the Word of God from an emotional perspective — through his emotions. Good news is exciting as the name infers, but if we do not accept and identify ourselves in the Good News, the troubles and persecution of this Life may take it away from us. We must do our best to be sober and vigilant but still rejoice always. Spirit alone can do Spiritual things. Only with the Holy Spirit can the Word of God dwell richly in our hearts.
Soil Number One – The Thorns
This man was doing well, this man understood the Word of God. He actually received it. He probably could reteach what the Pastor said, but yet, it was still unfruitful, WHY? He allowed the worried of this Life and the deceitfulness of wealth to choke it. This means He treated this “Life” and “Wealth” without realizing that it is the Holy Spirit that enables us and gives us the strength to do the things of God. He saw His fellowship with the Holy Spirit as an extra-ordinary thing — that he had to separate eternal life from life here on earth. He didn’t know that God has given him the Spirit of Sonship by which he called Abba, Father! He thought he Has to figure out the things of this world on his own, he did not realize that it was God that made the stomach and the food to fill it. This is where many Believers are, we tend to compromise for temporary things because we fail to carry every thing to God in prayer. May God help us in Jesus Name, Amen.
Soil Number One – The Good Soil
Like the other Men, this Man heard the Word and He actually understood it. He didn’t let the worries of life take Hid down, He didn’t relate with Word with an emotional approach, and he was fruitful. Luke 8:15 — “15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (NIV). We must ask for help, for God will never turn away anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37).
WHAT KIND OF A SOIL ARE YOU? We must ask ourselves this question any time we hear God’s Word, and I pray that Word of God will gain entrance into our Hearts, In Jesus Name, Amen. Please share this post to someone you know needs it. Also hit the comment section to share your thoughts and whatever the Holy Spirit has dropped in your Heart concerning this particular post. Thank you and God bless you.