The same day, Jesus went and sat by the lake. The crowds became so great that He had to get in a boat and begin teaching them from the boat as they stood on the shore. He told them a parable. He said a farmer went out to sow some seed. Some fell along the path, and the birds ate it. Some fell on rocky places, and because they had no root they sprang you fast but were scorched by the sun. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, which produced a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. He who has ears let them hear.
The disciples asked Jesus why He was speaking in parables.
Jesus replied that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to them, but not everyone else. Whoever does not have this knowledge, it will just be taken from them. He also quoted Isaiah 6:9-10 as a reason:
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
Isaiah 6:9-10
Jesus said blessed are your eyes and ears because they see and hear. Many prophets and righteous people long for this.
Jesus then explains His parable: The seed is the message about the kingdom of heaven. Some people hear but do not understand and Satan takes it from them…this is the seed that fell on the path. Some people hear the word and receive it with joy, but when trouble and persecution come they fall away…this is the seed that fell on rocky places. Others hear the word, but the worries of life and the temptations of life come and swallow them up…this is the seed that fell among the thorns. Still others hear the word, and produce a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown…this is the seed that feel on good soil.
What’s interesting to me is that we aren’t the seed represented here…we are the destination of the seed. The seed never changes…the Gospel never changes. It is the same for every person. The problem is where are we at in life? Do we allow God’s word to grow in us so that we can be disciple-makers…or are we constantly finding ourselves among the rocks and thorns? Be aware of the life you are living…understand that in order for the Gospel to grow within you, you have to give it good soil to do so. A good way of seeing what kind of soil you have provided for the Gospel in your life is simple…are you producing a crop? If not…then the Word has not yet taken root in you.
A Journey With Jesus 