David's Deliberations . . .
The Parable of the Soils
29 October 2006 As Jesus went about preaching the good news of the kingdom of heaven, He did not always find a receptive audience. Some did not repent even where he did might works (Matthew 11:20-24). Some sought to trick Him, so they might have reason to accuse Him (Matthew 12:9-14) This is one of the reasons Jesus began teaching publicly in parables (Matthew 13:10-13). The problem Jesus faced is the same problem we face today as we attempt to share the gospel: many, though they had ears to hear, their ears had become "hard of hearing" (Matthew 13:14-15). To illustrate this problem, Jesus told a parable (found in Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23) that has come to be known as "The Parable Of The Sower," or "The Parable Of The Four Soils." This parable illustrates the different ways we might react to the gospel message. This is one of the few parables for which we have Jesus' own explanation recorded in the text. The seed which the sower broadcasts is "the word of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:19), that is the gospel of the kingdom, the theme of Jesus preaching (Matthew 4:23; see also Acts 8:12; 28:30-31). The first soil is by the wayside or beside the road. This soil represents one who "hears and does not understand" (Matthew 13:19). Probably, these are the folks who have their hearts hardened even before they hear the word (cf. v. 15). The "birds" represent "the wicked one" (called "the devil" in Luke 8:12), who snatches away the Word from those whose hearts are hardened. Though Satan contributes to this blindness to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), it is brought on by predisposed hardness of heart. The next soil is the rocky or stony ground. This represents the one who "hears the word and immediately receives it with joy" (Matthew 13:20), because there is no depth of soil, the word does not take deep root and cannot endure "when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word" (13:21). Here we see that a purely or highly emotional response to God's Word without a strong foundation based upon the truth of His Word is not effective in the long run. The third soil, the thorny or weedy soil, represents the person who hears the word, but whose ability to bear fruit is choked by "the cares of this world" (13:22), "the deceitfulness of riches" (13:22), and the "pleasures of life" (added in Luke 8:14). This person has more concern for the things of the world than for spiritual things. Sowing to the flesh makes it impossible to reap of the Spirit (Galatians 6:7-9). Then there is the good soil. This soil represents the one who hears the word and understands it, and begins to do it (bear fruit; Matthew 13:23) Luke adds that this person has "heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15). Which soil type are you? Have you ignored the gospel (wayside)? Have you heard and responded, but are not grounded enough to keep you near to God's Word during tough times (stony)? Have you allowed the concerns of the world to choke God's Word out of your life (weedy)? Or are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:21-22; the good soil)? If your soil needs amending ask God for help, and let His church know how we can help.—David Carl Swanson
