The parable of the sower and the seed is one of my favorite parables Jesus told. Jesus not only tells this parable, He also provides the disciples an interpretation. I'm glad that I've had the privilege to teach about this parable on several occasions.
Jesus, as He did many times, uses agricultural and pastoral themes in His parables to illustrate the points He wants to make. The image of the sower sowing a field would have been very familiar to Jesus' audience.
Jesus begins by saying that a sower went to sow his seed. In Jesus' day, a field was planted by a farmer going into a field and casting the seed out by hand. It would land in a haphazard way.
Some of the seed the sower sowed never got a chance to grow. The birds came and ate it up.
Some of the seed fell on hard and stony ground. The seed sprouted and began to grow, but there was no depth for the roots. The sprouts dried up and quickly died away.
There was some seed that actually began to grow, and it grew fairly well. This seed looked good, but it never produced anything of benefit.
Finally, a portion of the sower's seed fell on good ground. It sprang up, grew and actually produced a crop. Jesus said that some brought forth thirty, others sixty, and still others one hundred.
After finishing the parable, Jesus went off to be alone with His disciples. They didn't understand what the parable meant, so they asked Jesus to give them the interpretation. Jesus was frustrated with His disciples for not understanding Him--as He often was. However, Jesus gave them the interpretation.
Jesus said that the sower sowed the Word of God. This is what Jesus did while He was on earth, and this is the ministry believers have been given now especially those who have been called to be pastors, teachers, and evangelists. Our job is to preach the Word. When I post these sermons, I don't know who will read them or what impact they have. It's my responsibility to get the Word out, and that's what I try to do here and with my other writing and ministry opportunities. One thing I know is that when ministers preach the Word, we never know who's life will be changed. That's what makes it so worthwhile.
Jesus continued by saying that sometimes when people hear the Word, it is stolen away by Satan, and the people who hear the Word don't respond to the gospel. I've seen this happen so many times. Often you will preach sermon after sermon, yet there are certain people that never respond. They hear the Word, and they leave the church without a change ever taking place in their life. They reject the message, and it is stolen away from them.
Sometimes people hear the Word, but it doesn't take root. They respond and it looks as if they are making real progress in the faith. Yet, a bit of time passes and they're gone from the church and back living their old lives.
I've seen this happen many times in evangelism campaigns. People will respond to an invitation, and for a short time they will be on fire for the faith. Then their friends and family make fun of them or criticize them or the newness wears off. These people fall away and their Christian life comes to an end. It is my opinion that people like this didn't really down deep in their heart fully place their trust in the Lord. They weren't really ready to let Jesus be the Lord of all.
Jesus goes on to say that sometimes the Word take root in people's lives and it begins to grow. However, as time goes by, they are drawn away from the things of God by worldly things like the accumulation of earthly treasures. Then they are choked out and they are unfruitful.
There are two distinct interpretations of this passage. Some Bible scholars believe that the people Jesus is referring to here have turned their backs on Christ and have lost their salvation. Others believe that this refers to those who are Christians, yet they never produce anything of value for the Kingdom of God because they are not totally yielded to God.
I hold to the latter view. I don't believe that it is possible to lose your salvation by sinning it away. However, I do believe that a Christian can consciously of their own free will decide to no long follow Christ and apostatize. This passage, though, I think is talking about the millions of people who have been in church for years, but their lives aren't fruitful for the Kingdom.
Finally, the Word of God really does powerfully impact the lives of countless people. Their lives are transformed, and they go about trying to do everything they can for the Lord. They grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord through prayer and Bible study. And they work hard to make this world a better place by standing up for what is good and challenging the forces of darkness.
I hope that it is your desire to be someone who produces a great amount of fruit for the glory of God.
Maybe you have heard this message and have not put your trust in Jesus. Do it today. Maybe your Christian life isn't what you want it to be. Turn it around. Cast off those things which keep you from devoting your life fully to Jesus. May God bless you. Amen.
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