“Listen then to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much” (Matthew 13:18-23, New American Standard Bible).

Let us now return to the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9), which we read two days ago. In that passage, the seed represents the word of God (Luke 8:11). The same seed is scattered on different kinds of soil, which represent different kinds of people. The results are vastly different.

Some seed fell on the road, away from the field, where people would walk along. It was also easily accessible to birds and other hungry animals. So, that seed would bear no fruit. It was like sharing the Gospel with somebody who would not understand it. Many times, these are people who choose not to understand the Gospel. Those who do not understand, or choose not to understand, the Gospel will bear no fruit.

Other seeds fell on the field but in rocky areas. The soil was very shallow. Jesus said that this seed sprouted up immediately. It looked like it would grow. But when the sun rose, the new plants were scorched and died. Jesus said these seeds represent people who immediately joyfully receive the Gospel but, since they have no firm root, they fall away when affliction or persecution occurs.

Perhaps you have met these people. They come to church and accept Christ. They get really excited, attend every service and meeting, and try to get involved in every meeting. However, after a few months, they disappear from the church. Maybe they go elsewhere for a few weeks before running off to the next church. Unfortunately, some of them stop going to church altogether and return to their old life. In America 2023, the “affliction and persecution” Jesus speaks of could be little more than a sermon that confronts a sin they do not want to confess. Their faith had no roots and was ready to collapse under a light weight.

The third soil was filled with thorns. The seed sprouted, started to grow, and had roots. However, the thorns choked the plant and killed it. Jesus said these represent “the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

In many parts of the world, people lose their jobs, homes, and other possessions when they follow Christ. In America, we are tempted to compromise our faith because we worry about the opinions of those around us and the financial impact of our faith. What if we say we believe what the Bible teaches about sex and marriage? Will we lose our jobs?

Others are tempted to put work and the world ahead of worship and following Christ. Many will skip church because they can work a second job to earn extra money. Others will skip because they prefer sporting events and other hobbies. The world is choking out the word in their lives.

Last of all, some seeds fell on good soil. The soil was deep. It was clear, without thorns or weeds. The seeds took root. They grew and bore abundant fruit.

Obviously, this is what the farmer was looking for. Jesus is looking to bear fruit in our lives. He wants us to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He wants us to spiritually reproduce, leading others to faith in Christ, training disciples, and seeing souls added to the Kingdom of God. We should long to be this kind of soil!

So, the question is, which soil are you? If you are not the good soil, what can you do about it? If you are the road, how can you come to understand and believe the Gospel? If you are the rocky ground, how can you develop the sort of firm foundation where you can grow and become consistent, stable, and mature in your walk with Christ? If you are the thorny soil, how you can stop the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches from holding you back in your walk with Christ?

Which soil are you? What will it take for you to become the good soil that bears fruit?

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.