The Parable of the Sower

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 The parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9) is one of the most common parables of the Bible. It talks about someone who is planting seeds, and he sows them in three different types of soil. 

The first place the seeds fall is a rocky ground, where they're immediately picked up by birds. The second falls among thorns, which choke the plants out. The third is good soil, where they produced a harvest.

This parable has to do with our hearts and how receptive they are to the Gospel. 

In the first situation, the Devil is the birds. If the seed of the Gospel doesn't have time to really take root in your heart, the second the enemy puts doubt in your mind, the seed is gone. 

The second situation occurs because the plants had no roots, similarly to the first situation, if there are no roots holding you in place you can get easily blown away. Think also of the thorns. If there are weeds where something is planted, the plant is competing with the weeds for soil nutrients. This is like our idols and our excuses. We may say we just don't have time, or that we're so busy that other things are the priority. Those are the thorns that are competing with the Gospel for nutrients. You can't grow your little Gospel seed into a fruitful life it you aren't giving it the nutrients it needs to grow because you're trying to grow many things at once. 

The good soil is a receptive heart. With a receptive heart, not only can you grow your little gospel seed, but you can produce a crop. It's not only hearing the word, but understanding it, and allowing it to take deep root in your life. You have to nurture your little plant through prayer, community, and tons of other opportunities before you can produce a crop.  The parable talks about crops of thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold. This points out that there are levels of crops, but we are not expected to produce a hundredfold, as the only person who can do that is Jesus. But a crop is a crop. As long as we are sharing the Gospel, we are following our call from the Great Commision. 

Ultimately, we are called to cultivate good soil. To be people who's faith is receptive, resilient, and fruitful. 

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