Matthew 13:1-23

Jesus tells a parable about a man who sows seeds. The story was meant to illustrate the different reactions people have after hearing the gospel message. The reactions were likened to four different places where the seeds fell and what the outcome was.

• The hard ground - These seeds did not grow at all. Instead they were snatched up by birds and carried away. Some people refuse to listen or listen with an open heart. The word never makes it into them, never changes them even in the slightest.
  
• The rocky ground - These seeds began to grow, however, there was not enough soil for them to take root well and were scorched when the sun got too hot. These people become excited when they hear the gospel. They may be down on their luck and looking for a way out of whatever mess they're in. They hear the message of healing and forgiveness and desire that. They may start to go to church for a time or read their Bible, but when times get tough, they chuck it all because it's harder than they imagined.
  
• The weed patch - The seeds that start growing where the weeds are start off strong, but they are choked out before they can fully mature. The weeds represent worries and the desire for wealth overshadowing the desire to follow Christ. Weeds in a yard or garden steal light, water, and nutrients from the soil away from the other plants. The quest for money and the worries of this world steal away our attention from the things that God wants to do in our lives. There are other weeds in our lives vying for our focus, but Jesus mentions only these two here.
  
• The good soil - The seeds that fall on the good soil grow well and produce good fruit. Those who understand the teachings and allow it to take root in their lives see changes in their lives. The natural result is that the way we act and how we treat others changes for the better and people notice the change.
  

Just because someone starts off as a hard patch of dirt, or rocky, or full of weeds does not necessarily mean they are beyond help. Hard dirt can be plowed; rocks can be cleared away; weeds can be uprooted. Changes like these aren't comfortable though and require changes in our lives and our hearts before the Word of God can take root in our lives. Even though the process can be painful, the end result is well worth it.


Jesus' disciples asked Him why He was using parables. He told them that the people who were ready for His message would understand the deeper meaning, but the people who were not ready would not hear it. Much like the parable of the sower, where the same seed was sewn with different results, the same message was being taught and some would come to know the deeper meaning and others wouldn't. The parables of Jesus spoke of common things that the common person would readily understand, but when you look beneath the surface of the story, a further understanding of God is ready to be had. You have to be willing to look though. When we honestly and earnestly seek truth, it will be revealed to us.