The Parable of the Sower: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9).
This parable is far more applicable today than most think. Moreover, it illustrates why today’s Christian Religion is thriving as it teaches halve truths through watered down or false doctrines and follows manmade traditions that are dogmatically accepted as proper Christian practice. The similarities to the religious people who confronted Jesus when He taught this parable are troubling. Religion is religion no matter what name or practices it follows. It appeals to those who hear the gospel, understand it and even believe in it, and yet quickly fall away from the good news into a life filled with religious apathy or even worse having a total disregard for God altogether. These so-called Christians bear no evidence of fruit because they never truly repented from their lives in this world. They simply have chosen to go on, just as the world does, to seek out and chase earthly passions and dreams with no regard to their spiritual condition.
Jesus gave us a clear explanation as to the meaning of this parable: “When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and promptly receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.” (Matthew 13:18-23). Satan would like nothing more than for the hearers of the gospel to remain part of the first three conditions mentioned in this parable, and sadly, many will choose this path. The Father wishes that all who are called by hearing the gospel and understands it will surrender their lives here on earth to serve the heavenly kingdom and gain eternal life through spiritual rebirth.
Therefore, the question remains as to which of the four conditions in this parable is true in your life. Are you the one who got excited when you heard the gospel and yet it never took root? Alternatively, are you the one who once filled with joy at hearing the good news of the gospel fell away because the shallow roots of your faith faded when becoming confronted with persecution or trouble because of the gospel? Maybe you are the one who once the good news began to take root in your life realized the cost of truly surrendering your whole life here on earth to serve heaven was too great a price. On the other hand, are you the one who after hearing the good news surrendered ALL to do the will of the Father while serving the kingdom of heaven? If this is you, you must not choose an apathetic life of half serving the Lord as a member of the Christian Religious system where you live most days for yourself and go through the motions on the others. We are not called to live a life of apathy following manmade practices. Instead, we have been called to serve the kingdom every day until that day when we pass from life here on earth to our eternal dwelling. Therefore, the real question here is how does the Parable of the Sower apply to you in regards to eternity?
This parable is far more applicable today than most think. Moreover, it illustrates why today’s Christian Religion is thriving as it teaches halve truths through watered down or false doctrines and follows manmade traditions that are dogmatically accepted as proper Christian practice. The similarities to the religious people who confronted Jesus when He taught this parable are troubling. Religion is religion no matter what name or practices it follows. It appeals to those who hear the gospel, understand it and even believe in it, and yet quickly fall away from the good news into a life filled with religious apathy or even worse having a total disregard for God altogether. These so-called Christians bear no evidence of fruit because they never truly repented from their lives in this world. They simply have chosen to go on, just as the world does, to seek out and chase earthly passions and dreams with no regard to their spiritual condition.
Jesus gave us a clear explanation as to the meaning of this parable: “When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and promptly receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.” (Matthew 13:18-23). Satan would like nothing more than for the hearers of the gospel to remain part of the first three conditions mentioned in this parable, and sadly, many will choose this path. The Father wishes that all who are called by hearing the gospel and understands it will surrender their lives here on earth to serve the heavenly kingdom and gain eternal life through spiritual rebirth.
Therefore, the question remains as to which of the four conditions in this parable is true in your life. Are you the one who got excited when you heard the gospel and yet it never took root? Alternatively, are you the one who once filled with joy at hearing the good news of the gospel fell away because the shallow roots of your faith faded when becoming confronted with persecution or trouble because of the gospel? Maybe you are the one who once the good news began to take root in your life realized the cost of truly surrendering your whole life here on earth to serve heaven was too great a price. On the other hand, are you the one who after hearing the good news surrendered ALL to do the will of the Father while serving the kingdom of heaven? If this is you, you must not choose an apathetic life of half serving the Lord as a member of the Christian Religious system where you live most days for yourself and go through the motions on the others. We are not called to live a life of apathy following manmade practices. Instead, we have been called to serve the kingdom every day until that day when we pass from life here on earth to our eternal dwelling. Therefore, the real question here is how does the Parable of the Sower apply to you in regards to eternity?
