Matthew 13:3 “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;”
In Christian circles, the parable of the sower is well know, but like the disciples, it is not full known how the ground responds to the seed. You see there is nothing whatsoever wrong with the seed. It is all in ground whether it will reproduces or not. Matthew 13:10 “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” Matthew 13:13 “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”
Parables were a necessary part of teaching of Jesus. If those who listened had an inquisitive mind and ask the meaning, then Jesus has found a disciple.
This is true for today as well. What is all the types of soil found in this parable and which of them applies to me? And, friend, one of them does apply to you because Jesus covered all of humanity with these types of soil.
Without argument among Biblical scholars, the Sower is Christ and the seed is the Word of God. The field is the world. The soil is the heart of the hearer.
First, was the wayside people. The heart of them didn’t listen or if they did, they did nothing with the seed that should have been planted in their hearts. The fowls of the air are a picture of the wicked in this world, who remove the temptation to actually see what the seed was all about. We all have someone we know that mocks the Word of God or the act of going to church. I knew a man that claimed his church was in a bass boat with a rod in one hand and a beer in the other. He knows better now, since he is long gone from this world. I knew another who said that God was a crutch for a weak man to prop himself up with and make him feel like he was something instead of nothing. This man now knows better as well, for I am sure he is in the same place as the fisherman.
Second, was the stony places, without much earth. This is the heart that heard it and stored it, but did nothing with it. Sometimes, I believe this depicts a man who comes to church every once in a while and listens. He might even want to do better, yet he has no encouragement from his friends or family. He was there to hear, but little came from it since he never really took it to heart and asked to be saved.
The Third, is seed among thorns and represents a heart that accepted Christ as Savior and was never able to understand there is more to Christianity than just being saved. The cares of this world just makes the individual unproductive. Paul asks those in Corinth the following: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Many never realize the point of being saved is to glorify God with what we say and do in this world. Jesus taught it like this: Matthew 13:22 “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
Paul Kretzmann explains: “Another class of people that are Christians that is characterized by the eagerness and apparent joy with which they accept the Word. Their avidity for instruction is sometimes almost embarrassing. But they are quick, emotional, shallow natures. Their faith, though genuine, is not rooted deeply enough to withstand disappointment, especially tribulation, suspicion, hatred, enmity, and the resulting open or hidden persecution on account of the Word. Their rapid acceptance of the Word is equaled only by their hasty offense when they are asked to suffer for the sake of Christ.”
The Fourth type is interesting because of the degrees of productivity. All is spoken of as good ground, yet some produces more than others, yet all produce something. Who are those that brought forth 100 fold? Who are those who were the 60 fold? What are those who brought forth 30 fold? I presonally believe this refers to those who work in the “fields”. Some work harder than others. The effort effects the results. People who try not to miss an opportunity to glorify God, will have more fruit than someone who does not.
Christian, it is our primary reason for remaining on earth. We are to glorify God. We are to lead others to Christ. We are the walking Scripture read by all. Here are two scriptures to finish this article, ljohn 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
