Sowing in the New Year.3

The Sower, The Seed, The Soils, The Fruit

Bible Passages: Matthew 13:1–9; Matthew 13:18–23; Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15

Understanding the Four Soils

Bible Passage: Luke 8:5-8

Summary: In the parable of the four soils, Jesus illustrates how different types of hearts respond to the message of the kingdom of God. Each soil represents a different condition of the heart, showing the diverse responses to God’s word.

1. How do You Hear? Do You Seek to Understand?

Luke 8:5–8 ““A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!””

The parable of the sower is often referred to as the parable of the four soils. It is a look into how well we listen and understand what the Lord is saying.

Taking a look at Mt 13 verses 13, 14, 15, 19, 23, and 51 we see that they all mention the word “understand”. The Lord wants us to know and understand His words which express His heart. Matthew 13:51 “Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”” The essence of understanding here is believing. To thoroughly understand is to believe it, it becomes synonomous with the belief that it is true.

Four women going to work in their cars tune into a Christian Radio channel.

1. Turns it off almost immediately, offended, mocks the message, doesn’t take the time to listen and changes channel.

2. Believes message, gets to work gets a promotion- forgets message

3. Believes message, gets to work, car breaks, bills are too much - Goes to church, prays - she needs a raise - she works harder.

4. Hears message, Believes message - Goes to church - becomes a disciple - produces much fruit.

2. Soil One - The Wayside

Luke 8:5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.”

The first soil is described as the wayside. It is the hard road surface alongside the field. Many repetitive steps have caused the road to be compacted, we might say you are in a rut. It is very difficult for the seed to penetrate the rut some are in. Without reasoning the seed sits on the surface of the road ready to be snatched away.

The enemy delights in stealing away the good seed from hearts that are unprepared. The unbeliever heart can be like hardened soil. Not responsive to the message. Some are negative, some are just going along with the crowd. This seed doesn’t germinate into life.

Many believers don’t listen or seek to understand the message of life. They are unresponsive and unwilling to meditate on the Word of God. The answer for the believer is to be alert and proactive in safeguarding their hearts against the enemy's schemes. Mixing faith with what we hear is the first step in understanding.

3. Soil Two - Rocky Reception

Luke 8:6 “Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.”

The rocky soil might represent an initial enthusiastic reception but with no deep root. The rocks get in the way of any moisture that the soil could hold. Without water the germinated seed soon dries up. This suggests the perils of superficial faith and the importance of depth in our relationship with Christ. This seed, however did “sprang up”, so it did germinate and have life. The young shoots broke the surface and started the process all plants go through in the beginning. It failed to grow to its potential and withered away.

This plant, because it was alive represents a new Christian who starts out good. The rocks are things in life that keep the young life from receiving the water necessary for growth. Maybe it was an emotional decision to believe, maybe the young believer’s focus changed and they just neglected the Spirit of life. Perhaps there a trial and it caused them to take their eyes off of the Savior.

Whatever it was it shows us the need to endure through trials and temptations for faith to become deep-rooted and steadfast.

4. Soil Three - Thorns that Choke Growth

Luke 8:7 “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.”

The third seed again is said to “spring up”. Indicating that it germinated and with the new life began to grow. Soils two, three, and four all speak of born-again Christians who begin the new life.

The third seed fell among thorns. Thorns speak of worries, trials, and sin, all things that inhibit the growth of the Christian.

Worries and love of wealth choke spiritual growth. Distractions and pressures of modern life also threaten to strangle our spiritual development. The list of things that thorns could represent is long. Some of these things in themselves are not bad, relationships, family, jobs; but the disproportionate role they play in our lives can choke out our time for the Lord, His Word and His church. For the Christian careful analysis of how are time is spent is crucial. Two minutes in prayer, two minutes in the Word compared to two hours in front of the T.V. may be a case for prayerful pruning of weeds and thorns.

5. Soil Four - Good Ground

Luke 8:8 “But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!””

We conclude with the good soil. This soil illustrates a heart that not only hears but nurtures the word, bearing abundant fruit.

We started out talking about “understanding”. Jesus challenges His disciples to not only hear His parables and teaching, but to understand them. He says they have ears to hear but don’t. They are not willing. Mark 4:12 “so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

There is a need for willingness in the believer to create a good soil for the seed to flourish.

Jesus said of the lawyers of His day, John 5:39–40 “39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

He lamented about Jerusalem Matthew 23:37–39 “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ””

The example of the willing heart can be seen in the Bereans of Acts 17:11 “11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

There must be a seeking, groping, searching with the heart.

Acts 17:27 “27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”

Hebrews 11:6 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Matthew 7:7–11 “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

The possessor of the good soil is not a passive Christian, but one who is a prepared vessel, prayed up, confessed up to date, and ready for a blessing from the Word.

True discipleship is marked by fruitful living, aligning with Christ's mission of redemption and spreading the gospel.