Soil, Seed and Sower

Scripture
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places…Other seed fell among thorns…Still other seed fell on good soil.”
Matthew 13:3–8, NIV

Observation
Although this is often known as the parable of the sower and the seed, it can also be said this is a parable about the soil. All four types of soil are essentially the same dirt but are in different conditions and respond in different ways to cultivation.

What made one soil more responsive and the other less?

When the New Testament was written, communities were agriculturally based. A family would be appointed a section of land to farm. Every farmer’s plot was adjacent to their neighbor’s. In order to get to the fields, the farmers would walk along the boundaries bordering each field to avoid stepping on the growing plants. The “path” was held in common by all the farmers. Over time, the soil on the path would compact. It was never plowed and never fertilized. In the parable, the seed that is sown on the path is not able to penetrate the ground because of the constant use. The condition of the first soil is hard and impermeable.

The second type of soil mentioned in the parable is the “rocky places” or the shallow soil where the plow didn’t cut deeply enough to break up the shale or hard ground just below the surface. This soil produced only plants with weak, shallow roots.

The third type of soil mentioned is the thorny soil, most likely found in the corners of the field where the plow couldn’t reach; here, weeds overtook what was planted.

All the types of soils mentioned here are actually in the same plot of ground with one major difference: Only one area was fully yielded to cultivation, to being changed and prepared for planting. That area was called the good soil.

The greatest amount of fruit produced was not determined by how rich the soil was, but how yielded to the plow it was. The soil in each condition received seed, but not all produced quality fruit.

Everyone receives seed, the Word of God. Everyone has potential for the harvest, living a fruitful life, but the ones who will produce the most fruit will be the ones most yielded to cultivation.

Application
How I apply this passage is by asking questions: Can I be “cultivated” in my life? How correctable am I? How quickly do I repent? Can I self–correct? The greater my yielding to God’s cultivation the greater the capacity of my fruitfulness in life.

Prayer
Father, create in me a soft heart, an open heart that is readily yielded to your Word and your commands. Make me fruitful, I pray. Amen.

Drawn from a “SOAP” article in the LifeConnect Study Bible.

How has God “cultivated” your life or someone you know? Do you see how that caused a more fruitful life? Post a comment below!

Bible Study

More
  • how to be a good citizen

    How To Be a Good Citizen

    What does it mean to be a good citizen today? Should... Read more
  • If I'm a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If I’m a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If you are good enough, can you stop bad things from... Read more
  • what does god think about people

    What Does God Think About People?

    How does God see humanity and what are we supposed to... Read more

Comfort

More
  • What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What is a Christian's responsibility when it comes to... Read more
  • Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen

    Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen?

    Why would a God who is all loving and all powerful... Read more
  • the over scheduled woman

    The Over-Scheduled Woman

    It is so common for women to think that they need to... Read more

Devotional Reading Plans

More
  • If I'm a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If I’m a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If you are good enough, can you stop bad things from... Read more
  • Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen

    Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen?

    Why would a God who is all loving and all powerful... Read more
  • How to Lead Small Group Discussions

    Leading a small group comes with its own obstacles and... Read more

Prayer

More
  • What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Christmas

    Read these passages of advent alongside timeless... Read more
  • A Top 100 Most-Asked Question About the Bible for the New Year

    Many people who read the Bible don't understand what... Read more
  • teach your children to pray for others

    Teach Your Children to Pray for Others

    This study from the NIV Adventure Bible can help you... Read more

SpeakLight

More
  • Romans 8:28 SpeakLight Danny Gokey

    Romans 8:28 / #SpeakLight / Danny Gokey

    And we know that all things work together for good to... Read more
  • James 5:16 - Steven Malcolm

    James 5:16 / #SpeakLight / Steven Malcolm

    Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for... Read more
  • 2 corinthians 5:17 phil joel

    2 Corinthians 5:17 with Phil Joel

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new... Read more

Spiritual Growth

More
  • what the church fathers had to say about easter

    What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Easter

    Take some time to reflect on the death and... Read more
  • What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What is a Christian's responsibility when it comes to... Read more
  • What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Christmas

    Read these passages of advent alongside timeless... Read more

Topical Reading Plans

More
  • He is Not Here

    He Is Not Here

    The death of Jesus, the death of God, was the most... Read more
  • What is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible

    What is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible?

    Many people have found the Thompson Chain-Reference... Read more
  • who really was jesus

    Who really was Jesus?

    The author of the book of Hebrews explained, using... Read more