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1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!”

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 is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

 

Jesus spoke in many parables to help his audience equate what he was saying to their daily life. Many of those were farmers, so this parable would have meaning for them, as this was their way of life and livelihood. Seed was expensive and so he uses that point as he knows no farmer would be careless in his sowing. A farmer would be careful in his planting as he wants a good harvest. As we see the story really is about the “word of the kingdom” and how we receive the word.

As I read the conditions of the ground on which the seeds were sown, I see myself at various times, sometimes more open to the word and other times completely distracted by what is going on in the world around me. Am I letting the roots wither away or am I bringing forth grain? This scripture causes me to examine my ground and think just as farmers were more careful about their sowing to yield a good harvest am I being careful in sowing the kingdom?

Lord, help us to be the good soil and be bearers of good fruit.

Sharon Rhodes

Sharonrhodes76@hotmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: For those who are not listening that they might hear.

Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 55:10-13, Psalm 65: 9-13, Romans 8:1-11