[Jesus] was teaching them many things in parables, and in His teaching, He said to them: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.” Mark 4:2-3 ESV¹

Read Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23, Mark 4:1-9 & 13-20 & Luke 8:4-15

I wouldn’t consider myself an expert by any means, but I do know quite a bit about crop production. I grew up on a farm. In college, I worked at an agronomic company helping develop corn hybrids. I live in a rural area; fields can be viewed by looking out any window of my home. I know how crops are planted. I understand how they are protected from pests, weed infestations, and unsuitable weather conditions. I am acquainted with how crops are harvested and how they are stored. And I am aware of several uses for the common crops grown in my area.

Jesus’ audience was undoubtedly familiar with the agriculture of their area. Because Jesus often used as teaching illustrations what was around Him and those He taught—this was especially true when He taught in parables—Jesus used the subject of planting seeds to teach a spiritual lesson. The hope was that His followers would gain greater understanding by taking the initiative to make the segue between the physical and what it represented in the spiritual realm.

“Again, [Jesus] began to teach … And a very large crowd gathered about Him … And He was teaching them many things in parables, and in His teaching, He said to them: ‘Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path’” (Mark 4:1a & 2-4a), “‘and [it] was trampled underfoot’” (Luke 8:5b), “‘and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away’” (Mark 4:4b-6), “‘because it had no moisture’” (Luke 8:6b). “‘Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.’ And He said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Mark 4:7-9).

“When His disciples asked Him what this parable meant” (Luke 8:9), “He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the Word. And these are the ones along the path, where the Word is sown: when they hear’” (Mark 4:13-15a) “‘the Word of the Kingdom and [do] not understand it’” (Matthew 13:19a), Satan immediately comes and takes away the Word that is sown in them’” (Mark 4: 15b) “‘so that they may not believe and be saved’” (Luke 8:12b). “‘And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the Word’” (Mark 4:16-18), “‘but as they go on their way’” (Luke 8:14b), “‘the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful’” (Mark 4:19) “‘their fruit does not mature’” (Luke 8:14c). “‘But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the Word and accept it’” (Mark 4:20a), “‘hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and … with patience’” (Luke 8:15b), “‘bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold’” (Mark 4:20b).

Digging into the Soils

The Word of the Kingdom about which Jesus spoke in the above parable is the Gospel message. At the center of the Gospel is a Person; His name is Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). In each scene of this parable, the sower and the seed are the same. What differs is the condition of the soil. The soil is a picture of the human heart (see Luke 8:15). The condition of one’s heart determines what he/she does with the Gospel message and the One it reveals. The four kinds of soils represent four heart kinds of heart conditions.

Proper soil is absolutely essential for the production of a successful harvest of any crop. Corn is one of the popular crops in the area in which I live because the soil is suitable for growing such a crop. Corn needs soil that is moist but not too wet, soil that is nutrient-rich, slightly acidic, and crumbly, containing relatively equal parts of sand and silt and a smaller portion of clay. Similarly, the human heart must be right to accept the Gospel and produce fruit in the power of Christ.

The Hard Soil

The first kind of soil Jesus specified in His parable was the soil along the path. This kind of soil couldn’t produce a crop because the ground was too hard and too exposed; though the seed was sewed onto this ground in the same manner as the other soils, it was impossible for the seed to get into this kind of earth. Similarly, the hearts of some people are impenetrable to the Gospel because they have been hardened by the influence of the world, and they are, therefore, susceptible to the seduction of Satan. Though they have heard the Gospel, they do not attempt to understand it. Though Christ has been introduced to them, they do not want Him. The Apostle Paul explained the hard heart in this way:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, … because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie … For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions … And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness … Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:18-22, 25a, 26a, 28-29a & 32).

It is possible to turn a piece of hard ground into a productive seedbed but it takes strenuous work. A farmer must sod bust such soil by breaking up the ground. To do so, he/she must dig several inches down into the dirt and turn the soil bottom side up, and then keep working the earth by chopping and stirring it to make it lose and crumbly. And seeds can be guarded even if they are partially exposed. In an attempt to deter birds and raccoons from eating unprotected seeds, some gardeners place screening over rows to protect the seeds until the plants begin to emerge. But the screening must be removed shortly after the plants sprout or they could be damaged.

If you know people who have hearts hardened by the world and influenced by Satan, intercede on behalf of those people. Pray that God would arrange circumstances in their lives to help break up their fallow ground. Once they become more interested in God and what He has to offer, pray that they would be protected from Satan until the seeds of the Gospel take in their hearts.

The Shallow Soil

The second kind of soil that Jesus mentioned in His parable was the shallow, rocky soil. During the winter season, as the ground freezes and thaws, rocks that were previously underground work up to the surface. In the spring, farmers may have to clear their fields removing these rocks before they can plant. In areas where rocks are prevalent, piles of rocks can be seen corners of fields.

Sometimes during planting, seeds will accidentally fall upon these piles of rocks. Because the soil is so shallow there, the plants germinate quickly and can sprout up before the seeds in the field. At first, they appear healthy and vibrant, but they never mature, therefore, they are unable to produce fruit. Often a seed that falls on a rock pile will be uprooted because of its unstable roots, be scorched by the summer sun, or die because of lack of moisture.

Rocky earth cannot produce a crop because it does not have the necessary depth or resources to sustain plant growth and development. Some people have been presented with a shallow, incomplete gospel—a gospel that seems so enticing from a human perspective that those who easily succumb to sensationalism are immediately drawn to it. This gospel claims that when one decides to follow Jesus, his/her life will be filled with physical health, wealth, and happiness. In this gospel, not only are the grace of difficulty and the suffering of Christ devalued, but reality is ignored.

Those with shallow hearts have fallen for these lies because they have little desire for depth. They receive this incomplete gospel with joy because they like the idea of receiving much in return for little effort. “‘They have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, immediately they fall away’” (Mark 4:17). When difficulty comes—and it will—those of shallow heart turn away from Jesus and give up on Christianity because they didn’t sign up for a deal that included anything unpleasant. Because they have no depth, they have no power. Sadly, their desire for things that gratify their senses will cause them to gravitate to any exciting thing that presents itself.

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire’” (2 Peter 2:20-22).

Pray for the Christian ministers, preachers, and pastors that they would know, believe, and present the full Gospel—not one of cheap grace and physical prosperity—but one about prospering spiritually and honoring Jesus and His sacrifice. Pray for Christian leaders, speakers, artists, and authors that they would support and reiterate what is true to Jesus and His message. And intercede for those who gravitate toward what gratifies their desire for ease, that they would be granted the depth and fortitude to walk in the truth.

The Preoccupied Soil

The third kind of soil Jesus spoke of in His parable was the soil that was producing thriving weeds and thorns. It was likely good soil, but it couldn’t produce the desired crop because it was already feeding something else. Crops cannot compete with weeds and thorn bushes. Completely killing weeds within the first month of planting a crop is extremely important. A farmer must spray his/her field with an herbicide to keep weeds from growing. Gardeners must tirelessly hoe the rows, paying special attention to not injure the roots of the desired crop or they must surround their plants with mulch to control weeds and keep in moisture.

Similarly, the Gospel that is sewn in the heart that is actively pursuing something else will not be fruitful. “‘No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money’” (Matthew 6:24). You cannot serve God and popularity. You cannot serve God and power. You cannot serve God and sex. You cannot serve God and entertainment. The list goes on.

The first of The Ten Commandments is: “‘You shall have no other gods before Me’” (Exodus 20:3). Anything or anyone that competes with God for the heart of a Believer is a false god. These false gods are likened to thorns or weeds in Jesus’ parable. The toughest thorn to kill in the human heart is the thorn of self. Those with preoccupied heart “‘hear the Word’” (Mark 4:16-18), “‘but … they go on their way’” (Luke 8:14b). They believe in Jesus but attempt to follow Him and serve Him through their own power.

Some of these may be extremely talented and influential; on the surface, they may appear to be doing great things for God, when in reality their service has selfish motives. What fruit they appear to be producing is rotten at the core. To these Jesus gives this warning: “‘Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven. On that Day, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Others with preoccupied heart, who are also held under the power of self, may not be so focused on selfish gain. They hear the Gospel, respond to it, and truly want to follow Jesus, but going on their way for them means a life of worry and fear. To these, their problems are bigger than their faith. The Gospel has limited power in their lives because they are controlled by their world and a self-focused perspective of what is happening around them. As the thorns of worry and fear grow bigger, what little fruit they do have does not reach maturity. Just like you cannot serve God and money, you cannot serve God and worry. And you cannot serve God and fear. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote concerning those whose lack of faith caused them to doubt, “That person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:7-8).

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). No wonder “Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul’” (Matthew 16:24-26)?

Where I live, wild raspberry bushes and indigenous trees easily sprout up in all untamed areas. They are especially prevalent in fence rows. If a farmer doesn’t diligently mow down thorn bushes and cut unwanted trees, not only is he/she unable to mend neglected fences, but he/she will slowly lose tillable land each year. Intercede for those who are so tangled up in the power of self that they are losing ground and neglecting that which would make them fruitful. Pray that they will be able to recognize the thorns in their hearts and have the courage to mow down these false gods. Pray that they will be able to trust and rely on the True God so that they may be able to see healthy fruit come to maturity.

The Good Soil

The fourth kind of soil Jesus referred to in His parable was the rich, deep, clean soil that was capable of producing a crop that would grow and mature, thrive and increase, and yield from thirty to one hundred times what was planted. This kind of soil is representative of those “‘who hear the Word and accept it’” (Mark 4:20a), “‘hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and … with patience’” (Luke 8:15b), “‘bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold’” (Mark 4:20b). These have soft enough hearts to receive the Gospel. They have the fortitude to hold fast to God through trouble and persecution. They in honestly, serve and in faith, believe Jesus. And they are able to wait patiently for fruit to be produced through them. But they don’t do these things through their own power.

For soil to be suitable for crops, it must be fertilized. Farmers apply appropriate fertilizer before planting; it is placed under the seeds so that nutrients will be available to nourish the roots. Corn feeds heavily on nitrogen. Because decaying fish gives off nitrogen, the Native Americans put dead fish in holes under a corn seeds to give them a steady supply of fertilizer. The Holy Spirit is like fertilizer in the lives of Christians. Those with good hearts let their roots sink deeply in Him and receive their nourishment from Him to produce their fruit.

For seeds to grow, they require warmth. Seeds need to be planted in temperate soil. For corn to germinate, the soil needs to be above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds can even rot in cold soil and frost can damage seedlings if they are planted too early. Corn requires full all-day sun; therefore, corn must be planted away from shade trees and buildings. Living in a close relationship with the Son and keeping away from anything that would block His Light from shining on and through them is how those of good heart their keep their fruit healthy.

For crops to mature, they need moisture. Corn, for instance, needs lots of water—an inch or more of rain per week—especially in the last half of the growing cycle. To benefit from streams of Living Water, Believers must spend time with the Father in His Word and commune with Him in prayer. Such a saturation by those of good heart produces strong fruit.

For field plants to thrive, they must be surrounded with like plants. In the case of corn, a single corn plant will not produce ears because corn must be close enough to other corn plants to be pollinated. Because corn is wind-pollinated, it needs to be planted in blocks or squares of three or more rows. One or two long rows of corn will not pollinate properly resulting in fewer ears containing fewer kernels on each ear. Similarly, those of good heart will not be able to rise to their fullest potential if they try to be fruitful on their own. Believers need other believers to “‘bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold’” (Mark 4:20b).

Those who have good hearts are successful in fruit-bearing because they intimately know the Source of their strength. They have heard and have obeyed Jesus when He instructed them, “‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing’” (John 15:4-5). As long as those of good heart remain in Christ, they can’t help but please God and produce an astounding amount of fruit. Pray for yourself that you would continue to abide in Christ.

The Sower

Whether He chooses to personally reveal Himself and His message or He works through His own to spread the Gospel, God is ultimately the Sower. God is “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b). He will continue to call out of those who have hardened their hearts even if they cause Him pain by relishing in the things which disgust Him and dishonor themselves. God will not give up on those with shallow hearts either. He will faithfully show His grace toward them by using difficulty to get their attention and to strengthen their weakness of character until the lies they believe are exposed and they see and reach out for the hand of God that is more than willing to lift up them. Though God loathes the selfish motives and the lack of faith of those who have preoccupied hearts, He loves them and sent Jesus to pay for these sins as well as all other sins. God sees the fruit of those with preoccupied hearts; He knows it appears healthy but is sickly on the inside and will never reach maturity. So, through failure or a falling of some kind, God will turn their attention from themselves and onto Jesus to bring healing and fruitfulness out of their messes—if they will let Him.

But if any of these defiantly continue in their unrighteousness, shallowness, or selfishness, He will give them over to the full consequences of their behavior. Still, God’s desire is not to destroy them; He lets them flounder in hopes that they might become dissatisfied and turn to Him (see 1 Corinthians 5:5). But there will be a Day when it is too late. On that Day, those who have refused the grace of God will call “to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the Great Day of Their Wrath has come, and who can stand’” (Revelation 6:16-17)? “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

The Condition of Your Soil

Though I have knowledge concerning farming, I am not necessarily interested in the subject. If I were to listen to anyone who passionately shared their love of agriculture, it probably wouldn’t be long before I found myself tuning out that person. I wouldn’t mean to be rude; I really would try to listen, but I just don’t care that much about seeds, and soil, and crops, and fruit, and such. When Jesus shared a parable based on an agricultural subject with those who came to hear Him speak, I am afraid a number of them may have been so familiar with the subject of planting seeds and about which kind of soil is best for producing a harvest that they might have tuned out Jesus.

That is why, “as [Jesus] said these things, He called out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Luke 8:8b). Basically, Jesus was saying, “Listen closely. Think about what I am saying. Get this; it is important.” What makes this parable so important? Why should we listen intently to what Jesus said here? Each of us who have heard the Gospel message fall into one of the categories represented by the soils in this parable. What we do with the Gospel message and the person of Jesus Christ matters. Our eternity depends on the condition of our hearts.

So, what is the condition of your soil? Is your heart too hard to accept the Gospel seed? Have you been walking so closely to the world that you have opened up yourself to the seduction of Satan? Is your heart too shallow to sustain spiritual growth? Are you so stimulated by sensationalism that you give up when the going gets tough? Is your heart so preoccupied that what has been planted in you will never reach maturity? Has your fruit rotted on the vine because you are swayed by selfishness or suspectable to scaring? Or has your good heart accepted the seed of the Gospel? Have you so surrendered to the Spirit that, In Christ, you hold fast, and with honesty and patience, bear much fruit?

Pray for yourself and your soil. Or should I say, your soul? The security of your soul is dependent upon how you truthfully answer the above questions. We all know where we are supposed to be. We know where we want to be. But do we know where we really are? Ask God into which category you currently fall. Ask Him what you need to do, if anything, to get your heart right Him. Accept His offer for help while there is still time.

 

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.