Matthew 13:18-23

Rachel Workman:  ¹⁸ “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ¹⁹ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. ²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ²² The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. ²³ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” I won't pretend to understand it all. But I'm at a point in my life that I'm ok with not having all of the answers. I don't think we will ever be to a point that we can not learn something from God's word. I understand what's important and every day I gain a better understanding of the things I once thought I knew. Being in God's word is the only way to know it. If you're looking for somewhere to place your hope place it in the word of God. It is indisputable, worthy and true. It's the place where you will find your hope instead of looking for somewhere to place it.

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John Burnett: ¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the ^[a]word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. ²⁰ The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the ^[b]word, immediately he ^[c]falls away. ²² And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the ^[d]world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”  I don’t understand it all but the Holy Spirit has revealed enough to me for me to know without a shadow of a doubt that the Word is inerrant and true.

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Allen Michaels: ¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The 4 types of soil represent different responses to God’s message. People respond differently because they are in different states of readiness. Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are contaminated by distracting worries, and some are receptive. We must ask “how has God’s Word taken root in our life?” What kind of soil are we?

How good are you at listening especially for the word of God? God is ever ready to speak to each of us and to give us understanding of his word.  This parable of Jesus is a warning to those who hear and who preach the word of God.  What makes us ineffective and unresponsive to God's word? Preoccupation with other things can distract us from what is truly important and worthwhile.  And letting our hearts and minds be consumed with material things can easily weigh us down and draw us away from the treasure that lasts for eternity.   God's word can only take root in a receptive heart which is docile and ready to hear what God has to say.  One lesson is clear: the harvest is sure.  While some seed will fall by the wayside and some fall on shallow ground and never come to maturity, and some be choked to death by the thorns; nonetheless a harvest will come.  The seed that falls on good soil, on the heart that is receptive, will reap abundant fruit. Are you teachable and eager to learn God's truth? And do you allow anything to keep you from submitting to God's word with joy and trusting obedience?

"Lord, help me to guard the word you have planted in my heart that no doubt or temptation may keep me from believing and obeying you.  May I be fruitful in your service and may I never fear to speak of you to others and to share with them the good news of the gospel."