I am sure most have heard the old saying, “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” This is usually repeated in the context of the method in which a woman can attract a man. In many cases, this saying may be true physically speaking. However, Jesus spoke about the true way to a man’s spiritual heart and that is through his ears. Matthew 13 records this truth in a convincing way. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15) helps us to understand the importance of hearing and shows what and how we hear affects our spiritual make-up. The Parable of the Sower was so named by Jesus Himself (Matthew 13:18) and is one of two parables that Jesus interpreted for us (the other was the Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43). What can we learn from the Parable of the Sower?
The Seed
The seed is clearly the Word of God (Luke 8:11). “Seed” is often used to describe the Word of God on many occasions (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Why is this comparison used? Firstly, seed is alive and has great potential, just like God’s Word. God’s Word is living (1 Peter 1:23; Hebrew 4:12), is powerful (Romans 1:16) and produces fruit. It wins souls to Christ (Romans 1:13), produces the fruit of holiness for those who apply it (Romans 6:22), produces the fruit of Christian character (Galatians 5:22-23) and produces the fruit of good works (Colossians 1:10). Like seed, the Word of God must be planted in the right heart, cultivated, nurtured and protected in order to produce what God expects. One thing is certain, though; God’s Word always does what He intends (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The Sower
A sower, one who sows the Word of God, is a partner with God. The one who sows is not the one who causes the seed to grow and increase (1 Corinthians 3:6), but he is an aid, a partner, in the process (John 4:35-38). We are partners with the greatest One ever known (1 Corinthians 3:9). When we sow Christ’s Seed, we are joint heirs together with Him (Romans 8:17). A sower is also patient. “Behold the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains” (James 5:7 NASB). We must not get ahead of the process and attempt to harvest too quickly. “…First the blade, then the ear, after that, the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28b). Sadly, some sow everything but the Word of God. Some sow to the flesh (Galatians 6:7-8), while others sow discord (Proverbs 6:19). However, the faithful understand the mission clearly; sow the Seed!
The Soils
The soils in this wonderful parable represent the human heart. In this teaching, Jesus showed the four types of hearts in which the Seed is sown. There is the surface soil, “…some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up” (Matthew 13:4b; 19). Foot paths were common in Palestine when Jesus said these words. This “wayside” soil did not permit the seed to ever germinate. This is reminiscent of those who hear the Word of God but do not understand it. For someone to give mental ascent to the Word is vastly different from understanding that Truth. Until the fallow ground of a person’s heart is cultivated, seeking the Lord will never happen (cf. Hosea 10:12). There is the stony soil, “Some fell upon the stony places…” (Matthew 13:5a; 20-21). The soil in and around Palestine was often undergirded by a thick layer of limestone. The soil on top was not deep enough to really support the “root” system of a seed once it started to grow. Without a deep and abiding root system, a germinated seed will quickly perish. The stony soil is seen in the person who quickly obeys the Gospel, but his or her faith never becomes rooted and grounded. This is often more of a purely “emotional” obedience rather than a deep and abiding conviction in the truth of God’s message. Sadly, it sometimes takes very little to stop the growth of this type of heart.
There is the stuffed-out soil. “And some fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked them” (Matthew 13:7; 22). The amazing thing about thorns is that they do not really need to be planted and tended for them to flourish. Those who have garden experience know this truth all too well. Weeds and thorns need almost nothing to grow and choke out our choice plants. This heart is the one who obeys the Gospel, but then as the cares and obligations of this world take root, the Seed, which is God’s Word, has little room to mature. Quite possibly this is the most popular soil in the church today. It is not that these hearts are not sincere, but it is just that they are too busy, too tired and too distracted to really serve the Lord as they should. Yet, thankfully, there is the superior soil; “But other fell among good ground, and brought forth fruit…” (Matthew 13:8; 23). This heart receives the Word (Mark 4:20) (unlike the surface soil), understands the Word (Matthew 13:23), (unlike the stony soil) and holds fast to that which he or she heard (Luke 8:15) (unlike the stuffed-out soil). These characteristics all culminate into fruitfulness!
The lessons in the Parable of the Sower are many. A couple take-aways for us to remember are: (1) Satan knows the power and the potential of God’s Word and will attempt to snatch that Word out of the human heart any opportunity he has to do so. (2) Sowers must understand that not everyone who hears the Word of God will respond as we hope. (3) Sobriety in hearing is essential to all of us. The way to a man’s heart is truly through his ears; “Take care then how you hear…” (Luke 8:18a).
