Parable of the Sower
One of the primary methods of Jesus’ teachings is through parables which are short stories meant to be personally interpreted and applied. These stories yield spiritual meaning from relatable, common topics. In the Christian scriptures, the Parable of the Sower appears in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The story relates how Jesus gets into a boat on a lake and begins to teach the crowd gathered before him. He describes how a farmer sowed seed one day, and how the seed fell on various types of soil.
Some of the seed fell on the hardened area of the path. Some translations call this area, the wayside. The book of Luke adds that the seeds were trampled in this unreceptive area. When the seed fell on this ground, birds were attracted and used the seed for food. The last thing a farmer wants is to attract birds ready to eat the precious seed, yet that is exactly what happened. In this part of the parable, the farmer does not have a specific intent for these seeds—allowing the seed’s potential to be destroyed. How are we like this farmer, at times, letting our possibilities just be devoured? What do we allow to prey upon our possibilities?
Some of the seed fell on rocky areas. These seeds immediately sprung up, but did not have enough soil or moisture to sustain their growth. The sun simply scorched them, and they withered. How are we like these seeds sometimes? Are we expecting growth, but remain in rocky areas without the nourishment needed to sustain our growth?
Some of the seed fell among the thorns. These thorns overcame the plants, not allowing them to mature. In this area, enough soil provided growth, but without the farmer’s attentiveness, the plant failed to thrive. The power of the thorns overcame the fledgling plants. Is our spiritual life ever stunted by not clearing our minds of the thorn-thoughts?
Some of the seed fell on good soil, and the farmer saw abundance. These seeds grew to yield 30, 60 and even 100 fold, the scripture reports! These seeds fell in soil that was well prepared and nourished. This soil was receptive, without rocks or thorns. This is where a wise farmer with purpose and intent should spend his efforts, nurturing and protecting the seed.
It is interesting to think about how this little story can teach us something if we have ears to hear. Luke 8:15 tells us to “hold fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Metaphysically, the seed could be our thoughts, ideas, or our creative word. All the seed is the same, full of possibility. The soil is what made the difference. How will we prepare the soil of our minds to receive the seeds of possibility?
