Have you ever wondered why Jesus taught through parables? Sometimes it seems like it would have been simpler if He had taught in a more linear format. Parables left room for people to misunderstand Him, and some people did. Yet others never understood His true meaning without an explanation. This was a risk Jesus was willing to take. In Matthew 13:13, Jesus says, “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” This phenomenon actually fulfilled a prophecy from Isaiah stating that the people would not hear or comprehend what was taught. The Parable of the Sower is the only parable where Jesus thoroughly explains its meaning. What can we learn from a farming story from so long ago? Surprisingly, the parable is still just as relevant in the 21st century as it was the first time Jesus told the story.
Every one of us received a gospel-centered message in some form before we experienced salvation. We cannot enter eternity without understanding and accepting the gospel. In Matthew 13, the parable Jesus taught talks about a sower. Jesus is the sower, and He sows the Word of the Kingdom. Each person who hears His words respond differently. In this story, Jesus talks about four types of soil, representing the heart of the man or the woman who hears the gospel’s message. There is one type of soil that believes and three that don’t. This does not mean you can lose your salvation, but that outside behavior does not determine your position with God. We must examine our hearts to decide whether we know God and live for Him.
The Hard Heart
The first soil represents the hardened heart. This is the seed that fell upon the hard path. This means a person who hears the Word of the gospel but doesn’t understand it and completely rejects it. Two thousand years ago, scribes and religious leaders did this too. Not only did they not understand Jesus’ teachings, they outright rejected Him and wanted to kill Him.
Today, you can see this type of soil in the person who hears the gospel but immediately turns away from it. If you think this could be someone you love, you can pray that God would soften hearts and increase humility towards Him. As yourself: why has this person hardened their heart against the gospel? It usually boils down to one word: pride. Be wary of your pride that hardens your heart because it will drag you down in life. It’s easy for the bird to come in and swoop up the message of the gospel and its effectiveness if the ground is hard. Don’t be surprised when you run into this soil because it’s pervasive in our society today. Don’t be discouraged if someone gets angry at you for sharing Christ with them because it’s likely a symptom of a hardened heart. The seed that falls on the hard ground is not your fault. Identifying this can help you know how to pray.
The Easy-Believing Heart
The second soil could be called the easy-believing heart. It’s the rocky soil the passage mentions. It describes those who hear and initially receive the gospel with joy, but the message doesn’t take root until faith. At the first sign of hardship or persecution, people fall away as quickly as they come to Christ. You can easily see this playing out in the crowds that surrounded Jesus. Thousands of people gathered around Him and listened to him teach, but those who called themselves followers left their new Rabbi at the first sign of persecution. Jesus said that if we wanted to follow Him, we must be ready to die, take up our crosses, and follow Him. So what did those false believers do? They faded as quickly as they came.
Today, people fill pews in churches all across the country for the wrong reasons. They might be searching for the perfect atmosphere, the music they like, or the perfect preaching. But just like the seed that fell on rocky ground, when hard times come, they leave. When they face persecution for their faith, they abandon the gospel. You cannot lose your salvation, but you can walk away from a salvation that has never been yours. That’s the rocky soil. Just going to church is not enough to know the name of Jesus – even the demons know that. He says it’s the faith that lasts after that first bout of hardship, that first family struggle, that first financial decline, that first check at work. That first argument you enter into. True faith cannot be taken away by a man or a man’s struggle because it wasn’t given to him by a man but by God’s Spirit. And once he gives it, it’s there.
The Fractured Heart
You could call that third type of soil the fractured heart or the divided heart. It’s that thorny ground where those who hear the Word get caught up in the worries of the world and the temptation of sin. Things like wealth and success come and choke out the Word, so they do not ever produce fruit. Judas was a perfect example of a fractured heart two thousand years ago. For three years, he looked like he had it right. He was following his Savior, and they even trusted him with the money to be used for the ministry of Jesus. But when the world came in as a temptation for a few coins, his unbelief was revealed, and he denied his Savior for some silver. It’s just as sad when you see it today. So often, this person thinks they’re a believer, and for a time, they look active in their faith, but their heart is divided.
If you’re wondering how to identify the evidence of this, Jesus says it’s a lack of fruit. If a believer’s life has a lack of obedience, a lack of personal devotion to the Lord, or an unhealthy conformance to the world, they might be a false believer. Sadly, these false believers malign the image of God in our society today. These are the true hypocrites. These are wolves in sheep’s clothing. The greatest danger to the modern church is the unbelieving heart sitting in the pew, thinking they belong there. That’s what Jesus is talking about here.
The Fruitful Heart
Jesus says you should be able to tell a disciple by their fruit. The fourth soil that Jesus mentions is the good soil. What’s the difference between this soil and all the others? It bears fruit. What fruit should you be bearing? In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. This should be exuding from you as a believer. Of course, none of us are perfect. Jesus is the only one who lived a perfect life. But we’re His disciples, so we strive for holiness.
Even Jesus’ first 12 disciples weren’t a great example of this. They abandoned Jesus, and when He was arrested, they denied him. But this fruit comes from a relationship and a connection to the Spirit. The closer you are to Him and His Spirit, the more this fruit will flow. The further you are from him, the less it will flow. Fruitfulness is not something you can muster by yourself. It only comes through the power of God. However, the parable of the sower shows that there has to be fruit in the life of believers.
Next Steps:
If you’re reading this post and are unsure which soil you are, this is a good time for self-reflection and prayer. God can reveal to you your need for Him. If you’ve been a Christian your whole life but don’t see yourself producing fruit, this may be an excellent time to commit to the Lord and remind yourself of the gospel. If you realize you might be one of the other soils, there’s no shame in that. Jesus welcomes you with open arms. Don’t wait another day to come before Jesus; acknowledge his death on the cross for your sin and his resurrection defeating sin and death, and accept His generous forgiveness and grace. The soil of your heart is ready, and as soon as you receive salvation, the Holy Spirit will begin to cultivate fruit in your heart.
