In Matthew 13:3-9 Jesus was speaking to the multitude that gathered on the shore.On this particular occasion He spoke to them with a parable about a sower that went out to sow seed. And He said, “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!””
As we look at this parable there are several lessons we can learn. I think the lesson I have focused on most of the time when reading this parable is about the different types of soils. The soils represent the hearts and minds of mankind and the seed is God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some soils are obviously very receptive and receive the seed in a positive way. Growth happens and the crop yields a great harvest, but not all soils immediately have this type of reception and growth. Some fall on the wayside and nothing happens. Others receive the seed but it never takes root. Others start to grow but get choked out by all the things around them. It is good as Christians to recognize this before you go out to sow seed. You might have to share the gospel with a lot of people before even one truly receives it and grows. But no matter the immediate outcome we must keep sowing the seed and recognize God is going to give the increase.
Another lesson that we need to consider is that since there are some soils that are not ready to fully receive the gospel we might have to do some cultivating. In a field you have to plow and work the land to get it ready. Some fields/soils need more work than others. Identify the obstacles if possible. Make a plan and strategy to work with these people. Keep on working the land. Maybe one day that soil will be ready.
But for all of this to make sense there is one more lesson that I think we need to remember. We, as Christians, are supposed to be sowers. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus told His disciples to go make disciples and teach. If I am a child of God I am also supposed to be a sower. Sometimes growth doesn’t happen because as we sow the seed the soil is not ready. But other times the problem is not with the soil, it is with the sower. Who are we sharing the gospel with? Who are we telling about Jesus? Are we being the sowers God called us to be?
Derek Broome