“This is the meaning of the parable:
The seed is the word of God.”
Luke 8:11
The Parable of the Sower (sometimes called the Parable of the Soils) is found in all three synoptic gospels. Jesus shares the story, then unpacks its truth for His listeners.
I’ve always loved the picture created by the farmer described by Jesus – he hurls his seed out in all directions as he walks. Generous, indiscriminate, and no doubt whistling as he worked.
He was liberal as he flung the seed from his bag. He paid no heed to the soil where it landed. He did not slow down to examine each spot, confirming that it was worthy of his precious seed. Unconcerned with the adequacy, preparation, or receptiveness of the soil, he was lavish in his tossing and flinging.
The parable identified four landing spots:
- The path. The soil here was hard and packed down. The seed was quickly trampled by travelers or scarfed up by birds.
- Rocky soil. The seed that landed here sprouted quickly, but also died quickly without moisture or room to put down roots.
- Thorny soil. The seed here had prickly neighbors that quickly choked it out.
- Good soil. Here the seed not only took root, but grew, flourished, and produced a bountiful crop – 100 fold!
The farmer may have netted only 1 in 4 on germination, but the good soil had monumental production – 100 times what was originally planted!
Jesus made it clear: the seed is the Word of God.
How can you and I scatter seeds of the Word – the good news of the Gospel – in the soil surrounding us? Who do we encounter in our day-to-day journey that needs the seed: the teller at the bank … the waitress who fills our cup … the kids’ soccer coach?
Let’s pray and ask God to give us joy in our journey and courage to toss our seed onto every type of soil. Unlike the farmer, who could have examined the soil before spreading the seeds in his bag, we cannot see inside the heart of the people we encounter. We have no idea if the soil of their hearts has been tilled, rocks removed, or thorns dug out, preparing it for the Word of God. We just don’t know.
What we do know is that God has given us His Word, and we can spread it joyfully and without worry. We sow in faith and may not know for weeks – or even months or years or not until heaven! – whether the seed landed and took root in good soil.
Lord, give us courage to scatter the seed of Your Word with joyful abandon.
If the heart of the recipient rejects it, tramples it, or allows it to be choked out, that’s on them.
Our job is to sow. If we fail to do that, then it’s on US.
Are you sitting on your sack of seed? Hoarding it? Waiting – for what? Let’s get scattering!
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