The Secret of the Sower and the Seeds

By Mirely Maldonado

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”—Matthew 13:18–23 (NIV)

Earlier in this chapter, we were introduced to Jesus’ sharing of the Parable of the Sower. After Jesus shared, the disciples asked Him about the parable. And like a good teacher, Jesus didn’t just answer their question, but also helped them understand why He used parables. This is what we covered yesterday.

To explain His use of parables, Jesus cited Isaiah 6:9 (NIV), saying, “Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.” You see, in teaching through parables, Jesus offered the opportunity to either find and understand deep truth or to turn a blind eye to an interesting story. Those who did the latter would probably avoid a greater condemnation than if they had just rejected spiritual truth they clearly understood.

Then Jesus went on to explain this parable, which He considered essential to understanding other parables. The seed represents God’s Word and the sower is the servant of God who shares the Word with others. And the human heart is like the soil, which must be prepared to receive the seed so it can take root and produce a harvest. The quality of the soil determines the future of the seed.

The soil from the path is like the hard heart which resists God’s Word (the seed) and makes it easy for Satan (the birds) to take it away. The thin soil above the rocky ground is like the shallow heart of a more emotional listener who joyfully accepts the Word but does not deeply understand the price that must be paid to be a genuine Christ follower. The soil crowded with thorns and weeds is a picture of the crowded heart of a person who receives the Word but does not truly repent and choose to remove the “weeds” out of his or her heart. Things like the desire for status, prosperity, worries of this life, and other distractions of this world may hinder the seed of the Word from growing and bearing fruit.

However, the good soil is like the fruitful heart which is ready to receive the Word. The result is lasting evidence of true salvation and the fruit of a changed life. Not all believers are equally as productive or fruitful, but from every true Christian’s life, there will be evidence of spiritual fruit.

What fruit is your life producing in this season? May we as people live out the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV), which says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” May His root continue to grow deeper in us and may His work in us produce fruit that glorifies Him!

And then in turn, may this seed yield bountiful fruit in the lives of others as we go out to plant seeds for the gospel that has taken root in us! May we who are in Christ, we whom He is using to sow seeds in our communities, be encouraged and remember as one Bible scholar wrote, “Even though it might seem that few respond, God is in control and the harvest will certainly come.” Even if you don’t immediately see the result, know God is at work in the seeds He used you to plant!

Pause: What is the condition of your soil? What opportunities do you have to sow the seed of God’s Word today?

Practice: Ask God to show you someone you can talk to about what God has been doing in your life and how you are growing through it.

Pray: Father, I want to be fruitful in my walk with You and share the love You give me by spreading seeds of Your Word in other’s hearts. Please prepare the hearts of people around me and guide me when sharing about Your Word as You prompt me to. Amen.