Matthew 13:1-9 & 16-23: “The Parable of the Sower”
In this passage, Jesus talks about four types of soil, but before we get into that, soil has a purpose. The purpose of soil is to produce a plant that grows and produces fruit.
Jesus relates the state of our hearts in this analogy to soil.
1. No Soil (verses 3-4 & 19)
Without soil, there is no hope of growth, no hope of fruit, no hope of a life that will make a difference. The seeds land on the hard surface and are easily devoured by the “birds” (Satan).
This is why we must cover our lives, as Christians, in prayer. Because as Christians, everything we do, every part of our lives is evangelism to the world around us. Prayer keeps us sensitive to the Spirit and makes our “witness” effective.
*Prayer makes the rocky ground into soil, whether it’s the rocks in our own hearts or the rocks of those we’re trying to reach.
2. Rocky Soil (verses 5-6 & 20-21)
Rocky soil is soil that is not complete; soil that only understands half of the story.
Rocky heart-soil is only looking for a blessing. It’s soil that doesn’t understand that there will be blessing AND suffering. James 1: 2-4 tells us that perseverance will make us mature and complete. We cannot hear this enough: Trials develop maturity.
Rocky heart-soil is only looking to add Jesus to it’s life (like fertilizer) when Jesus HAS to BE the soil.
To combat rocky soil it takes discipline, discipline, disciple. Discipline now makes perseverance later possible. It’s like sports or military training: Wind sprints in practice make the fourth quarter possible.
*With enough beating and pounding (discipline) rocks will turn into soil.
3. Weedy/Thorny Soil (verses 7 & 22)
Weedy soil is soil that can produce growth and good fruit but chooses not to because it does produce growth; the growth just happens to be weeds.
People with weedy heart-soil are more obsessed with stuff than they are in love with God. Stuff can be anything you put in your life before God like image, cars, money, popularity, etc. Or it could even be that you worry more about what people think about you than what God thinks.
It’s sad because this soil can produce good fruit but chooses to let the weeds in. Weeds don’t grow by accident. They grow in soil that is not properly taken care of.
Don’t be lazy with your soil. Pluck out the weeds. Plucking out weeds is Repentance. Daily repentance keeps the soil healthy and allows the nutrients to reach the good plant.
*Pull out the weeds so that the good plants can grow
4. Good Soil (verses 8 & 23)
Good soil produces a great harvest.
Understanding the Word of God is the key to good soil. This means that good soil doesn’t happen by accident, it takes work and care. Work is your time and your priority.
You see, we have to be good “Farmers” of our heart soil.
A successful farmer doesn’t work part time. A successful farmer arises early, works late, works no matter the weather (there will be storms in your life that will cause you be creative at times to continue working and being disciplined), and he/she clearly understands that time is a precious luxury that is not to be wasted.
Be the successful farmer
Be the successful farmer of not only your own heart but of those you are ministering to as well. REMEMBER: Jesus came to redeem ALL types of soil. It’s not for us to choose which soil is to be redeemed.
Also: We must be farmers and not just seed spreaders. Anyone can go out and throw some seed on the ground, but it takes a real Christian to work the land and be persistent.
Pray for the “No Soil”
Pick out the rocks of the “Rocky Soil”
Pull out the weeds of the “Weedy Soil” (Note: Pulling out weeds damages the soil a little bit, but the end result is ALWAYS better for the soil in the end)
Practice working the land to make “Good Soil”
Here are some questions to think about regarding your own heart:
1. Does your prayer life keep the “birds” (Satan) away?
2. Are you practicing discipline?
3. What are the weeds in your life that you need to pull out? What do you need to do to get them out?
4. How can you become the successful farmer?
