The Parable of the Sower
Joe R. Price

“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:14-15).

Satan wastes no time snatching away the word of God from hardened hearts. Like birds eating seeds off a well-traveled path, Satan plucks away God’s word from hearts that are closed against the truth. Closed minds refuse to give the word of God a fair hearing, therefore, they are not penetrated by the word of God. The gospel remains powerful to save, but it will not save the person who refuses to listen to and heed God’s message of salvation (Heb. 4:12). God does not force His word down people’s throats. The deceitfulness of sin darkens many hearts, calcifying their sensitivity toward the gospel of Christ. So, be very careful never to let sin deceive you into hardening your heart against the word of God (Heb. 3:13). Heart condition matters when it comes to hearing and receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble” (Mark 4:16-17).

Stony ground is not a productive seed bed for plant growth. The rocky soil prevents the growth of a stable root system that is necessary for nutritious, vibrant development and fruit production. Without sufficient roots, the sun scorches the plant and it dies. Even so, a heart without spiritual depth does not give rise to strong, faithful discipleship. This heart is likely driven by emotion, and being joyful over initially hearing the gospel, receives it gladly. But, with discipleship comes external pressures that test one’s faith. Tribulations or persecutions will arise when one follows the word of God (2 Tim. 3:12). When tested by the heat of spiritual conflict, the person with a shallow, emotional heart (instead of a secure faith) will “fall away” (Lk. 8:15). Emotion, without a deeply rooted faith producing it, is not spiritual strength. This is a good reminder for us all, lest we confuse spiritual excitement with strong faith.

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

A crop will not have a good yield when thorns and thistles take over a field. Weeds choke out the good plants, robbing them of nutrients, rain and sunshine, and eventually they die. Christ used this to describe the heart that is so crowded with internal influences there is no room for the word of God to grow and bear its fruit in one’s life. We must make room in our hearts for the word of God, or our overcrowded hearts will choke out God’s word from our lives. Jesus identified the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things as the culprits we must weed out of our hearts. Life is brief and uncertain, so we must live for heaven (Col. 3:1-4). Riches are deceptive, and will never satisfy our yearnings of eternity (Eccl. 3:11; 5:12). Desiring other things instead of seeking first God’s rule and reign in our lives will choke out God’s word from our lives (Matt. 6:33). Pull these weeds out of your heart, lest you wither and die spiritually.

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred” (Mark 4:20).

Good seed, when planted in good soil, produces good fruit. This simple principle is used by Jesus to illustrate the type of heart that listens to the word of God, accepts it and bears abundant fruit. According to the parallel verse in Luke 8:15, this is the “noble and good heart” that patiently keeps the word of God. We must be honest with ourselves when we hear the word of God. Otherwise, God’s word will not convict us of our sins, correct us, and save us. (Note: Jesus did not assume the heart is filled with total depravity and therefore incapable of hearing, receiving, and keeping the word of God.) The “noble and good heart” bears fruit upon hearing God’s word, and so obtains divine approval and blessings. The Bereans exemplify this heart (Acts 17:11-12).

Our hearts must be good soil. Our hearts must receive and keep the word of God. Let us refuse to have a hardened heart (like the wayside soil), a shallow, ungrounded heart (like the rocky soil), or an over-crowded heart (like the thorny soil).

We should each ask ourselves, “What is the condition of my heart?” The answer to this question will be is found in how we receive and use the word of God.