Verses 1-3 Jesus was on the move to share the good news of the kingdom of God. He didn’t stay in places too long. He was there to share the Good News with as many people as possible. Crowds followed him but at the core of the group were his twelve disciples/apostles. Disciples are followers of Jesus. Apostles are the twelve who were chosen to walk with Jesus while he was on this earth. They were learning how to preach from Jesus.

Also in this group, there were several women including Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. This is believed to be the same Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil and washed his feet with her tears. She is a clear example that when we are forgiven much, we love much. Mary Magdalene had been set free from demonic oppression and wanted to be near Jesus. Helping Jesus. She and the other women benefited from Jesus and wanted to support his needs with the resources they had. These women wanted others to be encouraged and benefit from Jesus too. Plus, they were walking examples of His power and mercy because of what they had been healed of. They had been healed in their bodies and souls. They were bound to Jesus out of gratitude for what he had done for them. And they wanted to serve him, so Jesus lived on the kindness of his friends.

Verse 4 Here is another parable. A parable is a story told about earthly things but it has heavenly meaning. He would put everyday people or activities that were familiar into a story to teach a valuable kingdom principle that might be unfamiliar to the listeners.

Verses 5-8 A sower of seeds is another word for a planter. The farmer would plow the ground and a planter would scatter the seeds. Some of the seeds fell on walking paths where they would get stepped on and eaten by the birds. Some fell on rocks where the seeds grew but then died because they couldn’t get water. Other seeds fell amongst the thorns where the plant was choked out as it grew. And then other seeds fell on good ground where they grew and produced an abundant fruit that was way more than what was planted.

Jesus basically says, “listen up! This is important for you to hear.”

Verses 9-10 The disciples were so confused with Jesus’ story so Jesus quotes God in the book of Isaiah, “And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’” Isaiah‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭ESV‬ 

The secrets of the kingdom (the things kept concealed in the Old Testament but are now revealed in the New Testament) were being explained in these parables to Jesus’ followers. But to anyone who doesn’t follow Jesus, these stories would make no sense. Unbelievers would hear the parables with their ears but refuse to “listen”, which is to apply and follow through with the guidance/moral of the story. When a child disobeys, you may ask them, “why didn’t you listen to me?” You are asking the child why he/she didn’t follow through on what you asked or taught them. Jesus is saying even though all these people hear my parables, most of them won’t understand to apply them.

Verse 11 The seed is the Word of God. The different types of ground are different types of people with different hearts. Whether the seed itself, the Word of God, grows successfully or not has nothing to do with the seed and has everything to do with the land/people in which it is planted. The soil/heart of a person will determine whether there will be a crop. If God’s Word isn’t working in a person’s life, we should examine the heart. The soil of our hearts needs to be ready for the seed to grow and create spiritual change in us.

Verse 12 If our hearts are hardened to God’s Truth, the seed is said to fall on hard ground. God’s Word won’t force itself in the hearts of those who refuse it. And if people refuse God, the devil (which is represented as the birds) will come to take their hearts away and devour it. These are people who are so careless with what they hear in God’s Word. The devil will take whatever they hear and do his own work with it. These are unsaved people because they never believed in God’s Word.

When we don’t embrace all of God’s Truth, we fail to experience God’s deliverance in our earthly struggles. We will fail to grow and overcome persistent sin. This is why we cannot accept some of the gospel and not all of it. The devil is waiting to capitalize on any sliver we refuse to accept. The Bible calls this giving the devil a foothold in our lives when we disregard any part of the gospel. When we throw out portions of scripture.

Verses 13-14 The rocks represent those who receive the Word with great enthusiasm but have no roots. They believe for a little bit and fall away when they are tested. They lack the discipline to stay in God’s Word and spend time with Him daily. They lack obedience to God’s Word or serving others. They are unsteady when under pressure or when challenges come. And so they are unproductive to God’s kingdom. When they are tempted they fall away. They are easily overcome by the world’s highs and lows.

The thorns represent someone whose spiritual growth is choked out by worries, money/riches, things/pleasures. They let the things of this world hold the greatest part of their time and thoughts. They produce no mature fruit. They love an easy and pleasurable life. They indulge in the delights of this world and this will be the ruin of their spiritual life.

The devil does all he can to make us not believe God. The devil loves to stir up doubt when we read the Bible or hear it. He loves to help us forget God’s Word. If we do remember God’s Word, the devil loves to distract us so our minds go elsewhere. This is all to keep us from believing in God. If the devil can’t hinder our spiritual growth with difficulties, then he will try to choke out the Word of God with distractions.  The devil wants our spiritual growth to stall, to succumb to our situations, and stop making progress.

Verse 15 Those with a heart of good ground will gladly hear the Word, understand it, receive it, honestly apply it, hold tight to it, endure life in this world while clinging to it, and produce fruit in their lives. They embrace God’s Word with a tender heart, even if it is a “rebuke”, which is criticism or disapproval of his/her actions. They persevere in obedience to the Word. They are not easily polluted or swayed by the world. They are not just a Sunday believer. They walk in the Word Monday through Sunday and allow their character and conduct to be transformed daily. In order to do this, we must allow God’s convictions in His Word to lead us to confess our sins and seek change. And the fruit of their perseverance is supernatural patience. Where the Word of God is kept well in one’s heart we will find patience. Patience that bears all things and patience that waits on all things. Patience that suffers in the trials might be persecuted for the Word, yet continues to do what we are called by God’s Word to do.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your Word and the wisdom to walk in what is right and beneficial for my life. Thank you for speaking to me through your parables and helping me understand the spiritual application to my life. I pray that I won’t forget how incredible it is to be considered as one of yours, chosen, healed, called to share the gospel. I want to serve You with all of my resources. I want to give my life to following You and spreading Your gospel because this is the only way people will experience freedom, life, joy, and real unfailing love. My heart is yours, Jesus. Give me the ears to hear Your Word and understand it, Jesus. Help me to receive your Word gladly, hold it close to my heart, and apply it honestly. Help me to endure life while clinging to every word You’ve given me. Help me embrace Your Word with a tender heart and allow it to change me and transform me. I want to persevere in obedience to Your Word, Jesus. Help me to let go of this world and all its temptations and distractions and love Your Word more than the things on earth. I confess I have allowed the enemy to get the better parts of me at times. It is revealing when I’m vulnerable, stressed, worried, feeling weak.  God, I need you. I need the fruit of supernatural patience in my life. So help me to endure life’s trials and struggles with steadfast perseverance and obedience to Your Word. Help me to keep Your Word well in my heart and be reminded of it often so that I may bear all things and wait on all things in the strength of your Spirit, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!