The sower and his seed

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. – Matthew 13.23

Jesus begins a whole series of parables about the kingdom of God. He teaches great lessons about the reality of how is kingdom on earth is going to play out.

The first lesson deals with seeds and the soil they land on. He tells about a sowing who is throwing out seeds for the harvest. Some of these landed on rich soil where they took root and plants grew up. Some He threw on the hard stony soil and those seeds were eaten by the birds. Some of the ground was a thin layer of earth over stones. The seeds that landed there sprouted, but had no strength so withered away. Some though landed on good rich soil where they rooted, grew up and bore fruit.

Jesus then makes an application. The seed is the word of God. The soil is the hearts of men. Sometimes the word of God falls on hard soil and it is snatched away by the birds. Sometimes it falls on shallow soil which takes root but never stays long to bear fruit. But sometimes it takes root in receptive soil, grows up, and bears fruit.

We never know what kind of soil the seed will land on. All we can do is sow the seed and trust God to produce results in the receptive soil. We can’t get discouraged when it falls on hard soil of shallow soil. We trust God to allow it to settle on rich soil and bear fruit.