Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"(Matthew 13:3-9)
We learn that the soil is a person's heart (his attitude, feelings, beliefs, will). The seed is God's word of the kingdom, and the sower is Jesus.
The parable explains that a person's spiritual life, death or development is based on how that person receives God's word in his heart.
Below Jesus disciples' question was answered, as he explained to them the meaning of the parable.
Jesus said, "hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. On the other hand, he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
(Matthew 13: 18-23)
As we observe the world today we can see the sad fulfilment of the seeds sown by the farmer.
It is not God's will that any should perish, however mankind has the opportunity by way of free will to choose or refuse God's gift of eternal life.
What the parable of the sower teaches us is that God is generous. He's extends his grace to everyone.
Even those he knows will likely reject it, he gives it to them anyway in hopes they will cultivate their heart and experience the life he came to give them.
Marcel and Jackie Bruff.
@walkgoodinchrist
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