24 Jul 26 | Explanation of the Sower
Three of the four soils heard the word. Hearing was never the problem.
The Gospel: Matthew 13:18-23
¹⁸ "Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. ²⁰ The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. ²¹ But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. ²² The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. ²³ But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
Today’s Focus
Jesus explains that the word fails to bear fruit for three different reasons, none of which is a failure to hear it. The enemies of fruitfulness are lack of understanding, lack of root, and slow strangulation by anxiety and wealth, and each one operates differently enough that they require different remedies.
In the Margins
Here is what stands out in this Gospel – everyone HEARS the same message. The seed is the Word and it goes to all locations. It is never about gaining access to the message, it is available for everyone. This is about the person receiving the message and can also serve as a cautionary tale for our own sanity in a way!
The first is the person who hears the message but simply does not understand. In Greek syniemi means to put together – to connect. It comes from disconnected information that is never linked to real life application. Things that are not connected are easily taken away – stonel. This is not a crisis or degree of rebellion from the hearer, it is just a message that is not connected or explained to them.
The second is the rocky hearer, the deceptive one. At first, this looks promising. There is a sense of immediate joy and enthusiasm described. The issue here is that joy and deep roots are two very different things. There is no tribulation, just good feelings, making it weak and less connected.
The thorny hearer never falls away, making this the saddest. It is a slow choking out by society. Someone who truly believes but gives way to the world over the Word. This is a long slow death of the message, where the world around him pushes him to stop bearing fruit.
Finally, the good soil is described. There is no drama in this one – the message is heard, understood, and bears fruit. Interestingly – there is no rebuke for the amount of fruit. Jesus does not judge the 30 less than the 100 in terms of what is produced. It is not about the amount or overperforming a number, it is about not letting anything stop the bearing of the fruit.
Here is something for your sanity and hope. Soil can be cultivated and so can people. If you are spreading the word and you know the message is just falling on a path, do not be discouraged! Also, over time, your presence may be enough to cultivate that soil. If you are the good soil, you are not deterred by the presence of thorns, keep producing! If you are worried that your won soil is not the good soil described, remember that you too can cultivate yourself. The same person can be different soils at different points in their life.
Reflection Question
With all the anxiety of the world, what threats may be impacting your soil and how can you make sure you are protecting your production?