Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5“A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secretsa of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’b
11“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
When Jesus does the explaining, there isn’t much to add! The challenge I am always faced with is deciding what type of soil I am right now as the seed of God’s word is looking for a place to land. At different times in my life, and perhaps at different times of the day, I have been all of these types of soil. But it is not so much what I have been, as what I will be that matters. I believe I can decide which type of soil to be at any minute. Jesus clearly says that if we make the right decision we can bring forth a huge harvest…seed after seed after seed.
Holy Spirit, inflame me with the courage to be excellent soil.
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