The Soils

1.  Matthew 13:1-3; Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. ² A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. ³ He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:  “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

            Why did Jesus use parables?  Jesus use of parables was to tell stories comparing things people knew to things they did not know or understand.  Parables make us listen, reflect, and discover the truths of God.  Those that are lazy or stubborn will have trouble understanding parables.  But we must be careful to not look too much into parables to find things we want to see.  Most parables have one central theme.

            When farmers planted crops they scattered seeds by hand.  Some of the seeds would go on good soil and others would go on unproductive soil.  Many times seeds were first sown and then the field was plowed.  Roads and pathways crisscrossed many fields making the surface too hard in some areas of a field.

            This parable is very interesting because Jesus explains it.  So while we read the parable we will also read Jesus’ explanation.

2.  Matthew 13: 4; ⁴ As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

            Seeds on the footpath are eaten by birds these seeds are those who hear the Good News, but it never takes hold and Satan takes it from their hearts.  Those that live by logic only hear the word, but it never changes their hearts.

Matthew 13:19; The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

3.  Matthew 13:5-6; Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

            Rocky places didn’t refer to ground with small stones, but shallow soil on top of solid rock.  Any water that falls there soon evaporated and the seeds never grow.  

          We see this a lot with someone on fire for God, but when things get a little tough they go back to their old life.  As a church we don't want a church that is a mile wide, but only an inch deep.

Matthew 13:21; But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

 

4.  Matthew 13:7; Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

            There are the Christians who get complaisant and turn into Lukewarm Christians.  Many still show up to church, but they have more important things in life over their church life and God.

 

Matthew 13:22; The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

5.  Matthew 13:8; Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

            Some will hear, bun not listen.  Some will listen, but not act.  Some will act, but not take it to heart.  But those that take the word to heart will produce fruit for the kingdom.

 

The four types of soils represent different responses to the Gospel.  Some people have hardened hearts.  Some are shallow with faith that is only on the surface.  Some get distracted by worries and the problems of life.  Then some receive the word and are changed forever. 

 

Matthew 13:23; The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

6.  The Two Dogs-Sermon Central

“An old American Indian tale recounts the story of a chief who was telling a gathering of young braves about the struggle within. “It is like two dogs fighting inside of us,” the chief told them. “There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight. But sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning the fight.”
Who is going to win in the end?” a young brave asks.
The chief answered, “The one you feed.”

When we feed the dog of our worldly desires he grows into a ferocious beast that controls and ruins our lives.  Every where we look we find people who have been exposed to the Bible and its teachings, but their lives have not been changed by it. Many have begun well in the Christian life but for one reason or another they have failed to mature in the faith as their growth was stunted.”

Ultimately we have to decide what kind of soil we are going to be.  If we want to grow, then we must put in the work to make it happen.   

7.  What kind of soil are you?

References:  Archaeological Study Bible form Zondervan, Life Application Study Bible NLT from Tyndale House, Sermon Central; Steven Dow, The Parable for the Sower, www.biblegateway.com; NLT