Parable of the Sower Explained

How does Jesus teach the parable of the sower? He begins like any good teacher by connecting His story to the culture of that day. Since almost everyone was a farmer or shepherd 2,000 years ago, an agrarian society could easily identify with a story about planting seeds in different soil types.

Here is the link to the original parable Jesus told (Click Here) or read it below:

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!‘ (Matthew 13:3-9 NKJV)

The human heart is like a type of soil.

The four different soil types are a clever hook that symbolizes the human heart. Only the disciples were privileged to understand this connection because Jesus explained it to them.

Why would Jesus only share the spiritual meaning with His disciples and not the common people? He discusses these reasons with the Twelve. (If you haven’t read the introduction to this series, Click Here.)

All that matters is the heart.

In 1992, I was in hospital suffering from Mononucleosis compounded by a rare respiratory sickness that brought me close to death. While I lay shivering from a raging fever and gasping for breath, God’s voice spoke inside my spirit. “All that matters is the heart.” I knew that only God could see the heart, but as I pondered His words, I understood He was teaching me a lesson about wisdom.

The parable of the sower and the different soils is a metaphor for the heart. Its lesson imparts a precious jewel of wisdom to those who have understanding. Since the seed sown is the Word of God, let’s first examine the four types of hearts.

Type One: Beside the Road

When this type of heart hears the Word of God–preached or read from the Bible–it’s comparable to the seed landing beside a road on a thin layer of dirt, good for nothing. Since the seeds are visible, birds spy them and devour them, symbolizing Satan stealing them away. This heart describes atheists or agnostics who reject the concept of God, shutting their eyes and ears tightly to Jesus and the gospel.

Type Two: Rocky Places

This type of heart receives the Word, plants the seeds in its soil, and a plant quickly grows. But the soil is very shallow, preventing the roots from growing deeply. When the trials of life scorch like a hot summer’s sun, the plant dwindles and dies. This heart describes a carnal Christian whose shallow faith lights quickly but burns out just as fast. It could be the kind of person who comes gladly to the cross of Christ because they want healing, prosperity, or power. But if they pray and don’t get what they asked for, they quit because “Christianity doesn’t work.” No, God isn’t Santa Claus or a genie in a bottle granting our every wish.

Type Three: Among the Thorns

The third type of heart is more successful. It receives the Word and grows in faith with a strong root system, but its home is among thorns that eventually choke it to death. For example, this person may be involved in a false church or fellowship controlled by Satan, or they may live in a home where they are the only believers. Or the world’s worries plague them day and night, and they fear losing their wealth, health, or families. Their eyes and ears are initially open, but they turn to listen to the world. After struggling to survive, the strength of the opposition–the thorns– overcomes them, and they fall away.

Type Four: The Good Ground

Farmers seek only the richest soil to plant seed because that will produce the best crops. A heart with good soil is productive, yielding one hundredfold, sixty, or thirty. This person has open ears, eyes, and understanding of the Word to produce abundant fruit.

How can we cultivate a heart with this good soil? We must hear the Word of God, both spoken and written. Reading our Bibles, engaging in Bible studies, and listening to sermons will plant seeds of wisdom in our receptive hearts.

How do we hear?

 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

The outcome of hearing the Word is our faith. And we know that it is impossible to please God without faith, according to Hebrews 11:6:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Dear Father, thank you for this parable’s beautiful jewel of wisdom. Open our eyes that we may see, and open our ears that we may hear Your Word. May the seed sown in our hearts yield an abundant crop of fruit in our lives. Give us clear understanding so that our hearts may return to You and receive Your healing. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Parable of the Sower Explained by Karen Jurgens Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved.