What does the parable of the sower mean to you? When reading the bible, it is important to read it with three thoughts in mind. What does it say, what does it mean and how do I apply it to my life? I was reading in Matthew chapter thirteen ‘The parable of the sower’ and I saw something revelatory for me. I am sharing it with you.
Matthew 13:3-4 “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4)And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.” Jesus explains to the disciples what the parable meant.
Saying in Matthew 13:18-19 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower; 19)When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” I believe there are key words in this parable to help understand how we receive the word and what to do with it. A seed is the word of God and it needs to be understood. With out understanding we can not apply the word to our lives. When ever we read the word, we need to have these three thoughts of what does it say, what does it mean and how do I apply it. What is said is more than just words it has a meaning that must be understood.
We can understand Gods word through the revelation of His Spirit. If you just read the bible with out understanding you are filled with words but when the understanding of intent is revealed it produces life change and faith.
Matthew 13: 5-6 “Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth 6) But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they has no root they withered away.”
Jesus explains what this part of the parable means in Matthew 13:20-21 “But he who received the seed on stony places, This is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
This person hears the good news gets excited but has no root in himself. The root is, ‘the root of Jesse’, which is Jesus.
The bible tells us in Isaiah 11:1 “there shall come forth a Rod from the Stem of Jesse, and A Branch shall grow out of his roots.” And in Isaiah 11:10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
The parable says this person has no root. Either they have not received Jesus, or he has a shallow relationship with Jesus, so he endures only till it is not convenient, there’s trouble or persecution comes because of the word.
I sensed the Holy Spirit say this parable is about your heart in relationship to the (seed) the Word of God and how you receive it and understand it. That is why what it says, what it means and how do I apply it is so important.
Matthew 13:7 “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and chocked them.” Jesus explains this part in Matthew 13:22 “Now he who received seed among thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
This speaks to us about our focus and how the cares of the world events and amassing riches can choke the word in you. How by letting them take your focus away from receiving and understanding the word of God. You can become distracted to the point of unfruitfulness. There is nothing wrong with riches if it does not steal your relationship with the Lord but if it becomes your idol it will choke the word.
Matthew 13:8-9 “But other fell on good ground and yielded a crop some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9) He who has ears to hear; let him hear!” Jesus explains the parable in Matthew 13:23 “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Good ground is a repentant, humble, and forgiving heart this type of heart can hear, receive, and understand. It produces fruit 100,60,30. Hear the word, understand it, and then apply the word to your heart and life and it will produce fruit and your fruit will multiply.