“And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him (Jesus), out of every city, He spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and chocked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.”
We have read this parable in the books of Matthew and Mark, but it was a most important one, told also by Luke. And, since the Lord told it when such a great crowd of people were present “out of every city” of that district, He must have wanted everyone to think of it carefully. After He told it, He spoke loudly, saying, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Lord’s Explanation of the Parable
What could be plainer than that? We are all to be sure we think of and believe these words. Even small children can understand about planting seed.
We know a parable has a lesson hidden in the story, but we cannot mistake the lesson in this parable, because Jesus Himself explained it. He said, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
His next words explained that, “the ground” where the “seed” could “grow” was the minds and hearts of people who heard God’s word.
And “the good ground,” Jesus said, “are they, which in an honest and a good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
An “honest heart” knows it is not fit for God, and a “good heart” believes God’s words. That is what God wants of us, to be honest about ourselves, and to believe His words. Then His words take root and grow.
One who hears God’s words, but decides they are not true or are not needed, is like the wayside where the seed is trodden on, or the birds or Satan snatches it away, and it can never take root. Satan is afraid they will believe the Word and be saved.
One who hears God’s Word and thinks about it some, but when friends tempt or ridicule, gives it up is like the plants which wither away on stony ground.
Others who hear God’s Word, but think more of their work, or their pleasures, or something they have, are like the ground where the thorns choked out the good seed. They are utterly indifferent to God’s words.
Let us each ask ourselves, which kind of ground is my heart? Do I let the good “seed” of God’s Word take root and grow in my heart?
First be honest and confess to God that you could not save your soul, and then believe His promise of the One to save—the Lord Jesus.
Further Meditation
1. What is the good seed in the parable?
2. What would stop God’s good seed from growing in our hearts? How can we be good ground for God’s Word to work in our hearts?
3. One of the ways that ground is prepared for planting is by plowing it up. In the Bible repentance is sometimes represented by plowing up the ground to receive seed. You can learn more about this vital topic in the simple pamphlet Repentence by H. P. Barker.