Soil Test: Lessons from the Parable of the Sower

Setting the Scene: Jesus by the Water

Today, I was reading the Parable of the Sower that Jesus relates in Matthew 13, and it dawned on me that there is a little of each of us in that parable. If it has been a while since you really looked at it, let’s review, shall we?

So apparently, the crowd that had been following Jesus was getting a tad big. Probably needing a bit of space–and fresh air–Jesus got into a boat. I imagine the backdrop was spectacular, and the acoustics carried over the water were probably pretty good. It is interesting to note that Jesus sat while He taught, and the crowd stood. (Spurgeon noted that it is too bad that churches didn’t continue this practice, as it might prevent people from sleeping in church!)

Jesus launches into the Parable of the Sower, which tells about a sower who spreads his seed in preparation to plow it under (as they did in that day). The seed lands in four kinds of soil: the “wayside,” which was a path that people used to walk on, so the ground was very hard and the seed couldn’t germinate; the “stony places,” where the soil was very shallow and sat on a rocky shelf. Because the soil was warm, the seed germinated quickly, but because it was shallow, the plant couldn’t take root and withered; the thorny places were probably fertile–maybe too fertile–because thorns grew there as well as grain; and the “good ground” was fertile and free of thorns and weeds.

Four Types of Soil, Four Heart Conditions

Now, in this parable (which serves as an analogy, as they all did), the seed is the Word and the soil is us. Jesus explains this starting in verse 18. The wayside represents those who have “heard it all” when it comes to sermons. Their hearts have become hardened, and the Word can’t even penetrate the walls they have put up. They can’t hear the Word with understanding, so they can’t benefit from it or apply it to their own lives.

The stony places are the people who might receive the Word initially with excitement. They might tell all their friends and be on a “Jesus high” for a while. This is the honeymoon phase I talk about in Drowning in the Shallows. But because they are practicing a shallow, minimal faith, they soon “fall away” under the pressure that comes in life. Their faith hasn’t taken root, so it isn’t strong enough to stand the storms that life brings us.

The thorny places are those who hear and understand the Word, but who allow it to be “choked” out of them by distractions and the cares of everyday life. Instead of leaning into faith, they lean into flesh. The Word can’t flourish within them, and it certainly can’t enrich their lives or produce fruit of any kind.

The good ground represents those who not only hear and understand the Word, but apply it to their hearts and lives. They produce good fruit as a result, and they influence those around them in a positive way. They are disciples and disciple makers.

Recognizing Ourselves in Every Soil

The truth is that we should see ourselves in all four types of soil because, even if we are mostly “good ground,” there are moments when we allow ourselves to be ruled by our flesh. We might allow our hearts to be hardened by offenses (real or imagined), we may be shallow in certain areas of our faith, like forgiving others or studying our Bible or praying. We may give in to the distractions the world offers, driven by the convenience it brings.

Guarding Our Soil

The key is to be vigilant, as the Bible tells us to. Given a chance, the enemy will sneak in and have his way. He seeks to destroy us, and it is our job to prevent that. We have to participate in the transformation of our mind. We can’t afford to be passive and hope everything turns out all right. Bible study and prayer are great weapons to keep our soil (and our souls) healthy.

Fruit That Multiplies

Healthy soil produces good fruit. And good fruit produces disciples.

#drowningintheshallows