Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and the Soils

by Mike Ratliff

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 And others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and were yielding a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:1-9 (LSB) 

There’s something about Jesus’ parables that has always fascinated me. I have heard “stories” from others that were designed to drive home some relevant point, however, His parables are succinct and not only drive home His point, but reveal mighty truths straight from God to our hearts. That, of course, is the work of the Holy Spirit. The parable of the sower and the soils is not only important and relevant, it is vital for our post-modern Church to understand. Our complacent society has infiltrated the Church. No one seems to have an attention span longer than a few seconds. If some entertainment feature isn’t before our eyes or pounding into our ears, then panic sets in because our hearts are desperate for fulfillment, yet we are lazy and addicted to media, games, or music which tie directly into our flesh bound souls.

People who belong to a “Church” may or may not be authentic. With rampant spiritual immaturity coupled with bondage to entertainment, it can be hard to tell many “believers” from the lost. How can we tell if we are actually “in Christ?” Let’s start at the beginning by looking at salvation from our Lord’s perspective.

Jesus’ parable of the sower and the soils is just as relevant to us as it was to those who heard it from His own blessed lips. Before we start working through this parable let’s define the terms Jesus used. The sower was a farmer who went to his field to sow seed. In Jesus’ time, farmer’s fields were long narrow strips of land that they would break up with a plow to prepare the soil before planting. These “fields” were separated from other fields by pathways of compacted earth. These paths would be just a few feet wide. The soil composition of the paths would be the same as that of the fields on each side. The soil in the field and pathways was the same, however, in parts of the field there would be places where weeds grew more prevalently than in other parts because the soil was contaminated with weeds and weed seeds. In other parts of the field the soil would not be very deep because of an under layer of limestone. However, there would also be good soil in the field. It had good depth and was not contaminated. The sower wanted his seed to go to good soil because it would grow and produce good fruit; however, seed that went to the rocky soil and weedy soil would not. Any seed that ended up on the pathways was a waste because none of it would grow. In the parable, Jesus said that the only soil that produced a crop was the good soil. Some produced a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty. Then Jesus tells the hearers, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

After Jesus told this parable, His disciples came to Him and asked why he taught that way instead of speaking plainly. He told them that many of those who heard Him speak were not going to understand because their hearts had been hardened. Then he explained it to them when they were alone.

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23 (LSB) 

Who is the sower? In this case, it was Jesus. However, the sower is anyone who shares the gospel. What is the seed? It is the word of the kingdom. That is the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ.

The first soil from the parable is the pathway. This soil is compacted and hard. Any seed falling there will simply bounce and set on top. It will not sink in so it can germinate. What happens to it? Birds came and devoured it. In the parable, who is represented by the birds? This is Satan, the devil. However, what is this soil’s problem? It is hard and compacted. Jesus was referring to hardhearted individuals. Their consciences have become hardened by their repeated sins and unrepentance. These are unbelievers; we know this because the gospel is being shared with them. The gospel has no affect on these people. It just bounces off their hard hearts and is grabbed up by the enemy. He lies to them by having them believe false teachings or points them to humanism or some other false religion. The soil of the pathway represents people who are the reprobate lost.

What does the rocky soil or ground represent? Remember this soil looks like plowed ground, but is shallow with a hard limestone layer just a few inches below. What happens when the gospel is heard by this soil? The seed springs up immediately. These people receive it with joy, but there has been no root development into the deeper moist soil. As soon as the heat comes the plants from these seeds die. In the analogy, these believers are those who hear the gospel and receive it joyfully, but there has been no regeneration in their heart. This represents those believers who are merely “converts” to religion. They have not truly believed. They look great at first, but as soon as they are called to get serious about their faith through discipleship or by public praying they simply fall away. They could also not bear up with the criticism from non-believers about their new faith. They prove that they were not truly regenerated by giving in to the persecution. The rocky or hard layer in their hearts represents an inner hardheartedness. They are still clinging to their fleshly past and will not repent. This is because God did not regenerate their hearts. The soil of the rocky soil represents people who are “temporary believers.”

What does the weedy or thorny soil represent? These people hear the gospel and appear to be genuine, but they are far more interested in money, possessions, entertainment, their job, or any other idolatrous thing than they are about abiding in Christ. By this, they prove they were not genuinely saved. How do we know this represents non-believers in church? They do not produce or bear fruit.

What I am getting ready to say may not be popular with many; however, the truth is the truth. How can we tell Christians from non-Christians? Genuine Christians are fruitful in the Kingdom. Disingenuous Christians are not.

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.John 15:1-8 (LSB) 

According to this passage, genuine believers not only bear much fruit, they abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is remaining and living completely attached in Him. That means the genuine believer is not in Christ for a season then not for another season then back in Christ for a season, etc. No, the genuine believer remains in Christ. Those who remain in Christ are fruitful. What happens to those who appeared to be attached to Christ for a while, but were unfruitful? The Father removes them and casts them into the fire. What is the fruit that genuine believers bear? Some is character fruit such as the fruit of the spirit which the Holy Spirit will manifest in the lives of those who abide in Christ.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 (LSB) 

Did you notice what those who belong to Christ Jesus have done? They have crucified the flesh with its passions and desire. That means they are not living for self, but are living for Christ as they abide in Him. This is behavioral fruit. It is closely associated with the character fruit. Genuine believers will not resemble the world. They will not be “summer soldiers.” That means they will remain in season and out. As the believer matures the fluctuations between obedience and disobedience they experience should become less and less. The more mature we become the more we abide in Christ and less we seek what the world offers in His place. We do that by applying Romans 12:1-2.

1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (LSB) 

What is the last soil? It is the good soil. It represents believers who hear the gospel and understand it. These are genuine believers. They produce much fruit. As we have seen only those who abide (remain) in Christ are genuine believers. If they abide in Christ then they will be fruitful in the Kingdom.

The salvation of those represented by the good soil was a function of its condition instead of the proficiency of the sower. Anyone can throw the seed out there. The presentation of the gospel message by obedient seedsowers is what the Holy Spirit uses to plow the ground of the good soil. Salvation comes as He regenerates the hearts of those who will believe.

The condition of the soils is the determinant of the outcome of sowing good seed instead of the professionalism of the seedsower. The tendency of our post-modern Churches to revert to the world’s methods of marketing to “sell” the gospel to people is simply another indication that those “Christian Leaders” are ashamed of the gospel. They are far more concerned with numbers than with presenting the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. They water it down so there is no call for repentance from sin. They produce large numbers of “converts,” but very few genuine believers.

Let’s pray for God to convict us to get out there in the world to present the gospel to any who will listen. Remember, just because someone is of the pathway, or rocky or thorny soils now, does not mean that the Holy Spirit is not plowing their hearts to break up their soil unto good soil that can hear and understand the truth of the word of the Kingdom. Therefore, we must be ready to share our faith with all who will listen.

Soli Deo Gloria!