Thrive as You

One of the most famous and familiar of Jesus’ parables is The Sower and the Seeds.  Popular for good reason, this parable offers significant insights regarding the nature of God, His Word, and our own selves.

Parables were a common teaching tool for Rabbi’s, but the settings often revolved around palaces, making Jesus’ often agrarian themes somewhat less common.  Due to the large number of agrarian workers (farmers and the like) often present for Jesus’ teachings, He tailored His messages to reach His audience in a way they might understand. 

Thanks to Jesus’ subsequent explanation, and the diligence of His disciples in keeping a comprehensive transcription, we can explore 6 relevant components of this parable:

1. The Seed – this is the Word of God.  It is good seed, so the resulting impact of the seed is entirely dependent on the soil and conditions where it is sowed (and not on the quality of the seed itself).
2. The Sower – we’re not told in the parable who this represents, which could indicate the intention for multiple extrapolations and applications.  
   1. In one instance, the sower could represent God, and the way He sowed His Word to Israel throughout the Old Testament.  This would make sense of His reference to Isaiah 6 (in Matthew 13:14-15).  
   2. In another instance, the sower could represent Jesus and His earthly ministry – presenting (and explaining) God’s Word to all sorts of people (Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans, farmers, soldiers, pharisees, fishermen, statesmen, politicians, etc.).  This also makes sense of the Isaiah reference – contemporizing the message to His audience(s).  
   3. In a third instance, the sower could represent Jesus’ disciples, both then and now (the Great Commission).  We (Jesus’ disciples) are encouraged to sow, spread, preach, teach the Gospel indiscriminately.
      1. In first century Palestine, it was common to sow seed without first plowing/tilling the soil.  In our own context, by contrast, it is very common to first plow/till the soil.  When it comes time for personal applications, both contexts can offer beneficial and unique insights.  It can be helpful to think from our own context when we’re thinking of God as the Sower.  In our context, to sow without tilling is silly, lavish, and maybe even scandalous – and such is the grace of God – the grace that sows His Word indiscriminately so that all might have the opportunity to receive and respond.  On the other hand, when we place ourselves in the sower’s role, it’s more helpful to think like a first century Palestinian – we don’t need to “plow” or “till” the soil of our audiences prior to sowing the Word.  Trust that the seed is good and that it will find good soil.
3. The Road/Path/Hard Soil – anyone who hears the word, but doesn’t understand it, so the devil snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is why follow up and discipleship are so important.  Occasionally another will come along to teach/disciple (such as with Philip and the eunuch), but that’s not guaranteed.  We wouldn’t leave our own babies to fend for themselves in the world, and we shouldn’t leave spiritual babies to fend for themselves in the Word.
4. The Rocky Soil – the one who hears the word and receives it with joy, but has no firm root in himself, so when affliction or persecution arises, he immediately falls away.  Again, discipleship is the answer.  But also, community and fellowship with other Christians can provide encouragement, accountability and resources for growing/maturing.
5. The Thorny Soil – The one who hears the word, but the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.  This is very evident in our modern world and context.  Discipleship, accountability, community, discipline, and serving others are the most surefire cures for thorny soil.  When our chief focus is ourself, we are failing to see with Kingdom eyes.
6. The Good Soil – the one who hears the word, understands it, and puts it into practice.  In first century Palestine, typical yields would range between 10-fold (more common) and 100-fold (less common).  All three yields Jesus mentions in this parable are very good, and more than worth the seed “wasted” on the bad soils, but these yields were not preposterous or miraculous.  I am reminded of another of Jesus’ parables – the parable of the talents/minas.  Three servants were given large sums of money according to their ability.  Each was responsible to work with what they had been given.  It is the same with the good soil – some of us will yield 30-fold, others 60-fold, and others 100-fold.  The point is not to compare yields, but rather to appreciate the exceptionally good harvest that God intends to produce in each of us.