Seed and Soil

"You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: when anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is down in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 

And the one sown on rocky ground- this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short- lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Now the one who is sown among the thorns- this is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

But the one sown on good ground- this is the one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown." Matthew 13:18-23

Like me you may have heard this parable many, many times. But are you also like me and ask: "What new can you show me Lord?" I hope so, for here it is:

Why do we not understand a matter? Lack of education, lack of interest, lack of application to understand. All of these can change by the behavioural change of the individual. This is on the path of life.

The rocky ground individual hears but has no desire for growth but only wants experience. If we continually seek new experiences we will throw our experience of the wonderful Lord on the heap with all other discarded experiences. What a shame! Much like modern western children who are spoiled with every toy imaginable, these people do not recognise what is precious. Roots go down in the dark, pressure that comes force the growth of roots. Hot Suns and lack of rain cause plants to bear down and find nourishment.

The thorny guy hears, has an ear to hear and fails to recognise what a gift he has but he is distracted by the lust for wealth and all the trappings it carries. Note the scripture says he is seduced by wealth. We are seduced by what we allow our attention to be drawn to, what we dwell on. If this guy has ears to hear then he probably is someone who has been raised in church, the soil is there for the seed to grow but he has other things growing in the garden that to him appear like beautiful plants but they have thorns. Thorns have barbs on them to enable them to attach themselves and not be easily removed.

Lastly is the one who has fertile ground, weed free ready for the good seed. He knows how to maintain his crop, he is not distracted by lust and greed, he is patient and trusts the sun and the rain to bring forth a harvest.

What am I? What are you? He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Amen!