The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:3–9 and 18-23 (NASB 2020)

Often in the Church people express dismay and confusion about why everyone does not believe the Gospel. It seems unreasonable to us that anyone who hears the Truth would not immediately change their mind about sin and God and place their faith in Christ.

The Parable of the Sower provides us with an explanation.

Essentially, the parable shows us three reasons why not everyone who hears the Good News agrees to be reconciled to God and places their trust in the Lord Jesus. It also shows us the result for those who do choose to be reconciled to God. Let’s step through these.

Seed Beside the Road
We’re told that some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. The Lord explains that this scenario is speaking about people who simply can’t get their head around the Truth of the Gospel. He says that they “do not understand it.” Romans 1:21-22 tells us that, “even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (NASB 2020) The Gospel is quite simple. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be made righteous and given eternal Life. Yet there are many who simply do not understand it.

The Lord goes on in His explanation of this to say that the reason is that “the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 carries the same message that, “even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (NASB 2020)

Seed with Little Soil
Next, we read that some seeds “fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” The Lord explains that this scenario is speaking about “one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.”

In many churches, baptism requires a person to attend at least some instruction and to declare their belief and faith in fairly specific ways. The reason the institutional churches require such things is so that they can feel more certain that a person’s conversion is true and genuine. It is the Church’s recognition that emotion-driven “conversions” do not often result in new Life.

Many of us have experienced emotionally charged sermons where people are stirred up by the emotion of the moment. A call to come forward and pray is given. Special music is played. Perhaps the congregation is charged to close their eyes. Fear, guilt, and shame are applied in abundance. Many will respond to such things, but often once the shallow soil of emotions is dried up by the harsh light of day, they rethink their hasty commitment. When they find that their friends and families do not approve or that they make fun of them, they go back to their lives unchanged.

Their commitment was an emotional response. It may have been an acquiescence to pressure, a desire to be accepted in the group they found themselves in, or simply a desire to escape the consequences of wrongs. It was not however, an expression of faith in Christ Jesus.

Seed Among Thorns
The parable then points out that some seeds “fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.” This, the Lord explains, “is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

We are given an example in Matthew 19:16–17 and 20-22, which reads, “And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” … “The young man said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”

Luke 14:28-33 points out that the cost of salvation is giving up everything you have. This is earth-shattering to the world because their security lies in their possessions and their human ability to provide for themselves everything they need as well as providing security for anything that may happen in the future. Such people’s identity is found in what they do and how much they possess.

Many who hear the Gospel are excited by the good news it contains, but when they realize that living by faith in God will replace their self-provided security, they are swallowed up by the pressures of the world they can see and the supposed safety that promises. Consequently, their mind and thoughts work against them and they never place their faith in God, choosing instead to trust in temporal things.

Seed on Good Soil
Finally, we read that some seeds “fell on the good soil and yielded a crop.” This, the Lord explains “is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

Indeed, Jesus made it clear in John 15:5 that this would be the case for all who place their trust in Him. He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (NASB 2020) Likewise, in Matthew 7:17–18 He said, “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (NASB 2020)

Saint, you need not worry about what kind of soil you have. All who have the Spirit of God are that good soil that bears much fruit. Not all bear the same amount, but all who are in Christ bear fruit. There is no way around it because it is the fruit of the Spirit. It is the natural product of the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead and now dwells in you. It is every good and godly thing, that good and perfect gift from above that includes facets such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.