Jesus Explains the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:18-23
18 “But you—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; 21 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 the 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.” (Matthew 13:18–23 NRSV adapted)
The first word in verse 18 is the word "you" (plural). Jesus is reminding them that they are in the category of sincere believers who can understand the parables. They are the fourth type of soil that will receive the words and produce fruit. Nevertheless, he will now tell them how the details are to be understood, and they can compare this explanation with how the Spirit of God had enabled them to hear it when Jesus first spoke it. The first category of soil represents those who hear the message and do not understand how it applies to them. And because they do not see what they need to do—put their faith in Jesus—the words remain inactive until they are soon forgotten. The birds in the story represent "the evil one" who is Satan. But he cannot take away the words from anyone in category four who sees how the message applies to himself and responds in faith.
The second category of soil is the shallow soil over a rocky subsoil. This kind of person has an inadequate understanding. He knows that some kind of reform or repentance is needed in his life, and he makes that change. Perhaps he makes a "profession of faith," but it is not real. All it takes to make him give up is some opposition. Others mock him, he finds it is not a popular thing to do to follow Jesus openly. He loses friends. So he just abandons his once newfound faith.
The third category—seed falling among thorns— is similar to the second. There is an initial positive response to the message. But other interests and ambitions compete with the calling to follow Jesus. Career, a marriage prospect, a better job—all seem hampered by what a full commitment to Jesus entails. So the Jesus commitment is dropped—or "put on hold."
The fourth category is where Jesus' inner circle—minus Judas—belongs. Individuals in this category not only hear, but understand fully what the commitment will entail and enter it with their eyes wide open to the inevitable sacrifices that will come. These individuals are productive—some more than others. But here, unlike in the parables of the talents, Jesus doesn't seem to scold those who produce less than others. The point is that they all produce.
Today in general—and especially in the kind of academic circles I travel in—there is a premium put on "understanding" and "knowing" lots of facts. We live in an age of instant information. Some refer to "information overload" as the plague of our society. Every kind of information is available, it seems, on the Internet, and can be accessed from anywhere conveniently by smart phones and tablet devices and headphones. But the kind of "understanding" that Jesus put a premium on—that which he said would characterize his true disciples—is not acquired in such a mechanical manner. It requires thinking hard and deeply about the decisions that must be made every day of our lives. It requires not only deciding what is the right thing to do (based upon the teachings of Jesus and the rest of scripture), but also thinking hard about the likely cost of doing things that will not always be popular. I don't mean to imply that the right thing is always to be equated with the unpopular choice. There may be rare times when most of your friends and associates will agree with you as to what is best to do. But my experience is that most of the time the popular road is not the road that Jesus walks and we who love him must follow.
Let each of us today make it our prayer that God will give us daily that practical wisdom and courage to do always the right things, the things that Jesus did when he was on earth and would do again today if he were walking the earth in a human body.
Check back on Tuesday the 27th for the next segment of Matthew 13.
Check back on Tuesday the 27th for the next segment of Matthew 13.
