A Deeper Look into “The Parable of the Sower”
Matthew 13:18-23
“Therefore, hear the parable of the Sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
I have heard this passage of Scripture preached many times concerning true salvation. The good soil, referring to a person’s heart, is the only soil type able to receive the good seed (the gospel of Christ) and produce the fruit of true salvation. Yet I believe there is a deeper application for this text that is equally important to our lives as believers. So, let’s take a look!
A Divine Revelation
Let me ask you a question: “When you read the Word of God, do you understand what you’ve read so that you can immediately begin to apply its truth to your life?” Or is it just a daily routine of spending “quote on quote” time in His Word so you can check it off your Christian “to-do list” for the day? I can’t tell you how often I have left God’s Word without truly understanding what I’ve read, never allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal its application for my life. Yes, because I wanted to check it off so I could say I did it.
Sadly, when our time in God’s Word becomes an empty religious routine, it has no real impact on our lives. Like seeds sown on the hard soil, Satan quickly snatched them immediately from our hearts, so they bear no fruit. Then there are times when difficult circumstances come into play, and we barely open God’s Word before doubt brings into question the very words we’ve read. Trials and tribulations often expose the areas of our lives that have “no firm root” in the truth, which greatly hinders our spiritual growth. Then there are those times when the cares of this world crowd in on our time with God, and we end up rushing off before the Holy Spirit can do His transforming work in us. Once again, Satan wins, and we lose out on the life-changing power and treasure trove of wisdom found in the Word of God.
So, an important question we might want to ask ourselves before picking up the Word of God would be, “What is the current condition of our (heart) soil that God’s Word is being sown into?
A Divine Challenge
The “Parable of the Sower” is a cautionary exhortation to first examine the condition of our (heart) soil before reading God’s Word to see if any weeding, tilling, or rock removal needs to be done that would inhibit our understanding of it. Then Jesus wants His followers to meditate on the Word so that it will penetrate deeply into their hearts, allowing the Holy Spirit to do His transforming work in them.
Being faithful to read God’s Word daily is important, but the ultimate goal is to bear 30, 60, or 100-fold fruit. This requires us to meditate on it so we can understand it and apply it to our lives. Psalms 1:2-3 says, “But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law, he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Quite the promise!
Beloved believer, the enemy robbed my life of spiritual maturity for far too long before I changed my approach to reading God’s Word. I pray you don’t make the same mistake I did.
Call to Action
Therefore, let us never leave the banquet table of God’s Word without feasting on the fruit of understanding or without tasting the choice meat of application. Let us strive to avoid the busyness of life’s distractions that can burden us and limit our time in God’s Word so that we bear little or no fruit at all. Beloved, being in God’s Word should lead us to an encounter with God that results in a transformed life! Is that true for you?
The abundant life Christ promises is produced by a life fed, nourished, and filled to overflowing with the abundance of God’s Word that comes from an intimate relationship with the God of the Word. Please don’t rush away and miss out on all He has for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to plant His truths deep in your heart, then meditate on them so you will become that “tree firmly planted by streams of water, (fully nourished) and bearing abundant fruit, whose leaf does not wither and whatever you do prospers.” This is God’s promise to you! Don’t settle for anything less!
Father, help us to meditate on Your Word so that it reaches the rich soil of our hearts and produces an abundant crop in our lives. Also, help us allow You to prune the weeds and remove the rocks that can hinder our spiritual growth. Holy Spirit, guide us into all truth and help us understand and apply the Word to our lives as we seek the Lord with all our hearts. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!