The Parable of the sower is also known as the Parable of the Farmer scattering seed or the Parable of the four soils. Jesus told this parable after he had left the house and sat beside the lake. As usual when he was teaching a large crowd gathered around him so he got into the boat. There he sat and taught as the people stood on the shore. This parable like many others was an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
‘’Listen a farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some fell on the footpath and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow but the plants soon wilted under the hot sun and since they didn’t have deep roots they died. Other seeds fell among the thorns that were there and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty and a hundred times as much as had been planted. Anyone with ears to hear should listen to understand". Before explaining the parable itself he told them why he used a parable. It was so that they could understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. He stressed the importance of listening and that those who listened would understand and be given an abundance of knowledge. Conversely for those who are not listening even the little understanding they had would be taken away from them. In explaining why, Jesus had fulfilled the prophesy in Isaiah.
Then Jesus explained more. "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds. The seeds that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom and do not understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy but since they don’t have deep roots they do not last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing Gods word. The seed that fell among the thorns represent those who truly hears Gods word but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand Gods word and produce an abundant harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was planted. SOME THOUGHTS The seed in the parable is the word of the kingdom which is good and capable of reaping a great and abundant harvest. But are our hearts hard, unable to accept Gods word because we are sinning or its just inconvenient? as in the hard ground. Or do we like the sound of the word but forget it when troubles come? as in the stony ground. Or are we like the thorny ground where we receive the word but our heart gets distracted by riches pleasures and desires that take our attention away. Or are we like the good ground who hears understands and receives the word and allows the word to accomplish its purpose. The one who receives and allows the word to work for Gods purpose is the one who is saved because his abundant fruit is proof of his true heart.
The whole point of the parable is to illustrate man’s receptiveness to the good news of the gospel and that is dependent on the condition of his heart ( that is the type of soil ) As Christians we are to be the good soil that we can receive Gods word but more importantly sowers of the gospel in the hope that it will reach people who also have a humble and receptive heart. That they may come to understand, know, experience and work for Gods kingdom. The Parable of the sower is found in. Matthew 13:3-9 & 18-23 Mark 4:2-9 & 13-20 Luke 8:4-8 & 11-15