May the mumbling commence!
I love stories. I have always loved stories. And Jesus’ stories were exceptional. They were stories with a message. They are stories with a message. One of those stories about the sower is recorded in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The message of these types of story is often difficult to uncover. It is often hidden. What did this story of the sower mean? Well, Jesus explains the story in each of the synoptic gospels. Read the explanations below:
Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20)
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:18-23)
"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:11-15)
I think that we can be safe in saying the seed is the Word of God. The various types of soils represent different ways people receive the word of God. I am sure that many of us have heard sermons on the story of the sower asking us what kind of soil are we for God. It is a nice question – even a relevant one. But is it the message of this parable?
That all hinges on who we believe the farmer or the sower represents. Nowhere in these explanations does Jesus explain who the farmer or sower is. Let’s ask ourselves a question: Who is responsible for spreading the Word of God? Is God alone responsible? Is Jesus responsible? What about you and me – are we responsible? Well, Jesus is the Word of God – he is the seed. The seed cannot plant itself. God will cause the harvest – so yes God alone in responsible. But God needs worker in the fields to sow and water and weed and harvest.
I can think of no one else but you and me – the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. The story of the sower was meant to encourage the farmers – Jesus’ disciples, from the first apostles to us. The work of God can be trying. Most of the time, we will see little or no response to the planting of God’s Word. There are reasons for that lack of harvest.
But there will be a harvest coming because God’s Word does not return to him without bearing fruit. It is not our task to judge where we sow the seed. In fact, it is our task to liberally sow the Word of God everywhere we go and trust God for the harvest. Yeah, that’s the F.R.O.G. principle (Fully Rely On God).
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29)
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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