This chapter is filled with parables illustrated by Jesus. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. His disciples asked him why he spoke in parables. Jesus' response was "...I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." (13:13) Jesus' parables are clear to those who were humble and anxious to know the truth but were merely words of confusion to those who do not believe and were spiritually blind.
Parable of the Soils/Sower (also see Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15)
Jesus illustrates the tale of a sower who went out to sow and his sowing fell on four types of ground. The sower is God and the seed represents the Gospel. The different types of soils represent different types of people and the condition of their hearts when they receive the word of God.
1. wayside (13:4, 19) - person who hears the word but is easily distracted by Satan because they do not understand it.
2. rocky/stony places (13:5-6, 20-21) - person who hears the word, receives with joy but because they are not rooted in it, abandons the word.
3. thorns (13:7, 22) - person who hears the word but still loves the world more than the word. These people are professing Christians but are more focused on the carnal.
4. good soil (13:8, 23) - person who hears the word, understands it, and yields good fruits.
Life Application: The first 3 types of soils represent people who profess to be Christians but are not genuine believers and followers of Christ. As Christians, there should be evidence of change in our lives from those living in the world. We need to bear fruit. These are the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22-26) We're not going to be perfect but true faith in the gospel means we have truly repented of our sins and faithfully accepted the salvation that has been offered to us. Reflect - What kind of soil am I? How much fruit am I bearing for Christ?
Dear God, please help me to demonstrate that Your gospel has fallen on good soil by the way I live my life and the fruit I produce.
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