18“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.22The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.23The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”Each type of soil could make its own teaching, but that would be a more in depth study.
The seed on the footpath – those who hear but don’t understand. Why don’t they understand? I don’t know for sure. I know that understanding can be a gift from God and God gives his gifts however and to whomever he chooses. But then, to receive a gift you must want or need it. If I don’t really want to know God better, why would I accept his understanding. It could be a bit like two cars at an intersection. Each driver is waiving on the other and neither takes the gift from the other. Psychologist have long thought this was because the giver often feels himself to be superior to the receiver. Perhaps the hard footpath is made hard by pride.
The rocky soil has no depth. We all know shallow people. Lets face, we have all been shallow people at times. Even reading the Bible is much more rewarding to those who persevere in it and keep going even when they don’t understand it all. Strong plants have deep roots. And again, you must be willing to receive God deeply into your life and change. Can I say humility again?
The seed among the thorns – you become what you think about. I can so easily become worried about family, work, possessions – all kinds of things. I am easily distracted from God. If I don’t pray and read the Bible first thing in the day, it probably won’t happen at all. And who are the people we surround ourselves with? Are they food, or weeds? Which are we to those around us?
Good soil accepts the seed of God’s word and gives it the place, time, warmth and nourishment (water of the word?) to grow. Lord, help me to let your seed grow in me. Send your roots deep into my heart and loosen the hard clay that is me. Use me to produce a harvest of love and glory for yourself and help me to die to myself and become fertilizer for the next generation. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*