In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Today is the day to read the parable of the sower.
Her words are heard year after year, and her details are familiar to many of us. But from this, from its repetition, or knowledge of words, it itself does not grow old and it will be read again and again, since we have no other book of life except the New Testament, from where it is brought to us.
The renewed newness of the words of today’s narrative, as well as every word of the Gospel, is hidden in the renewing and regenerating power of God’s grace, which is tirelessly given to us from above from the Lord for every day and every hour of our existence and leads us to eternal life.
The Apostle and companion of Christ Peter, after many of the Lord’s former disciples departed from Him and no longer walked with Him, answered the question of their Divine Teacher: “Lord! who should we go to? You have the words of eternal life." These are the verbs, the words of command that the Lord sows.
The sower, year after year, again and again cultivates the land, without grumbling, without languishing from the heaviness and without getting bored from the monotony of work, without giving up in view of the uncertainty of the fate of the future harvest depending on weather conditions, he goes out to hard work to earn his daily bread.
And the Lord, year after year, day after day, comes to us with the good news of the Gospel word and Gospel parable. The message of love, the message of faith and the message of hope in us, so changeable and unfaithful, without abandoning us and without being offended by us for our darkening by passions and coldness of heart, for being completely absorbed in the desires of our flesh. This is His hope that together with Him we will prepare the soil of our souls for a blessed harvest.
The different states of the earth on which the holy grain falls are mentioned in the parable not so that I, or any of us, compare other people with each other, or compare them with ourselves, and of course in our own favor, but so that we realized that all these words are about each of us, about our variability and inconstancy, about the different states of one soul of one person. About us who have not yet found firmness and fidelity to the Word of God.
But despite this inconstancy, we desire and demand sincere and constant sympathy from our neighbors and loyalty from friends; we so want in this life self-confidence, constancy of circumstances and understanding of the meaning of the events taking place either with us or around us.
It seems to us that with just one last effort, happiness will be achieved, and we cannot stop striving to improve our earthly existence, but it, the unattainable happiness, eludes and runs away from us. And we forget that our life is a vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears. And that the fields of our soul are full of the weeds of passions, that our heart is indifferent to the sorrows of others.
“The field is desolate, the earth mourns; for the bread is destroyed, the grape juice is dried up, the olive tree withers.”
This is how the prophet of God Joel, whose memory is celebrated today in the Church and who lived seven centuries before the birth of Christ, describes the disasters of his native land. Then the attack of enemies devastated the land and the people.
Similar words can be used to describe the misfortune of the human soul, which is under constant and terrible attack from the outside by evil spirits - and from the inside - tormented by its own passions and vague desires. We are languishing in separation—either voluntary or involuntary—from God. And this languor dries up the soul, like a cracked crust of earth scorched by the sun without moisture.
And on this path, full of adversity, on the path of life, on which some have just entered, and others are already approaching its edge, we again hear the familiar and familiar words of Christ’s parable: “The sower went out to sow.”
For the Lord's listeners from the common people and for the apostles, they were incomprehensible and surprising, as the apostles Matthew and Mark mention. What was incomprehensible, first of all, was the thriftiness and wastefulness of the farmer, who must protect every grain as a guarantee of the future harvest.
But the sower in the parable does not scatter ordinary grains from a meager earthly bag, but it is God, Almighty and rich in mercy, Christ the Savior, who sows the word of life, the word of repentance, which does not fall on the dust of the earth, but touches our souls. The seed of truth is truly alive. And one grain is enough for it to sprout mercy in the heart, so that it alone yields a harvest of moral convictions and deeds that are joyful for the Lord and for one’s neighbor. But today we were distracted, and a minute ago we were distracted; while listening to the word of God, something annoyed us, we were in a bad mood, someone pushed or pushed us. And we scattered, thought about our own and our sorrows and lost the grain of truth. But all is not lost. Today, in just a minute, our soul will perk up and be attentive.
What will soften our heart? What will prepare him for the diligent and humble acceptance of God’s Providence in his life, for a meeting with God? What can the thorns of self-confidence, complacency, hostility and pride tear out of us?
The words of the apostolic reading, which preceded the reading of today's Gospel parable, help to understand this.
The Apostle glorifies the Cross of the Lord, with which the false world was crucified for him, and he was crucified with it for the world of passions.
And then, with the work of his life, he confirmed this.
With the Tree of the Cross, like a plow, the petrified scab of self-sufficiency and distrust in God is deeply plowed and torn apart, and the shell of spiritual blindness is destroyed.
“But I do not want to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... For in Christ Jesus there is nothing but [everything] is a new creation.” (Gal. 6, 14-15)
Anyone who has ever worked on the earth knows how rough and heavy its matter is, how difficult it is for a spade to tear apart the dense tangle of blind roots. But anyone who has approached his heart with spiritual attention knows how difficult and dense the fabric of the passions that entangle him is, how difficult it is to break the web of vices rooted in the soul.
But there are people whose hearts have been plowed deeply - with suffering and compassion, love, grief, to which the consciousness of the terrible loneliness of a person has reached when there is no God in his life. In such a heart, the seed of God’s word falls as if into good soil, it goes deep, takes root, comes to life with all the experience of this person’s life, both suffering and joy - it feeds on everything, and germinates, and bears fruit. But how few such words have borne fruit in the lives of each of us, in my life, and probably, undoubtedly, in your life!
But today we are busy with something of our own. And the Lord continues to bring us the word of His truth, and the words of this or that parable, or events from the life of the Savior, will suddenly one day fall on the good earth. The Lord does not forget us, the Lord believes in us.
Once, Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, while in Russia, then still in the USSR, received the question: “Okay, do you believe in God. And what does God believe in?” And I answered him: “God believes in man.”
This faith of the Lord in us is the main condition for our Christian rebirth: this is the great sacrament of God's mercy. Together with God, we ourselves begin to believe in man, we begin to believe in ourselves. With His support, the Lord, we understand what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves. To love means to be ready to do everything possible so that the loved one rejoices in life, grows to the full extent of his capabilities and is worthy of his human, highest title to eternal life, and so that with him the seed of faith grows in us.
“And it shall come to pass after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh,” says the prophet Joel.
The prophet speaks of the future abundance of mercy and grace of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which will be given to everyone who believes in the name of Christ, who came to save the world and revive our souls.
And no matter how many times we hear the living word of God, it will be new and joyful for us, it will lift us up and be ready to bear fruit.
We only need to hold on to this word so that it falls into the crevice of that stone that we carry within ourselves, which we call our heart, our consciousness, our soul. And then it will become alive and active. And when retained, it will begin to sprout and bear fruit.
Let's think about who we are in this parable told to us today by the Lord Himself? Where did the grain of his words fall?
And if our heart is not yet like that, then let us ask ourselves the question: How can this stone be crushed, how can a cold heart be brought back to life? Let us ask the Lord that the word of truth should not be contained in the soulless depths of a petrified heart, but that great and good treasures may be opened to us, that His blessing will not forsake us, that we may avoid everything that depletes the fruit of our spiritual work.
Let us work in the field of our lives, so that the word of truth that falls on it, when the time of harvest comes, and we throw off this temporary shell, will bear the fruit of eternal life, about which Christ the Savior spoke: I have brought you life, life more abundantly - such fullness life that the earth cannot give. Amen.
Jesus Christ, while in Capernaum, came to the shore of Lake Galilee. Many people gathered to Him. He entered the boat and sat down, and the people stood on the shore, and from the boat he began to teach the people in parables.
Jesus Christ said: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell by the road and was trampled, and the birds devoured it.
Another seed fell on a rocky place where there was little soil; it sprouted, but soon dried up, because it had no root and moisture.
Some fell among the thorns (wild, weedy grass), and the thorns choked it.
Others fell into good good soil, they grew and bore abundant fruit.
Then, when the disciples asked Jesus Christ: “What does this parable mean?” - He explained to them:
Seed is the word of God (Gospel).
Sower- the one who sows (preaches) the word of God.
Earth- human heart.
Land next to the road where the seed fell means inattentive and absent-minded people, to whose hearts the word of God does not have access. The devil easily kidnaps him and takes him away from them, so that they do not believe and are saved.
rocky place means people who are fickle and cowardly. They willingly listen to the word of God, but it is not established in their soul, and at the first temptation, tribulation or persecution of the word of God, they fall away from the faith.
Thorn means people whose worldly worries, wealth and various vices drown out the word of God in their souls.
Good, fertile land means people with good hearts. They are attentive to the word of God, preserve it in their good souls and patiently try to fulfill everything that it teaches. Their fruits are good deeds, for which they are rewarded with the Kingdom of Heaven.
Usually, wanting to emphasize the importance of something, we repeat it several times. It is the same in the Word of God: if something is repeated several times, it means that it is especially important and should be given special attention. One such passage that is repeated many times is the parable of the sower. Indeed, out of all four biographies of Jesus Christ, this parable occurs three times. Therefore, let's explore it and see what especially important the Lord wants to teach us in this parable.
1. Parable
The Parable of the Sower is found in Matthew 13:1-8, Mark 4:1-9, and Luke 8:4-8. Let us take as a basis the account from Luke, where we read:
Luke 8:4-8
“When a great crowd had gathered, and the inhabitants of all the cities came to Him, He began to speak in a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside and was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it; and some fell on a stone and, coming up, dried up, because it had no moisture; and some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked it; and some fell on good soil and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold. Having said this, he exclaimed: “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The moment at which Jesus decided to tell this parable was not chosen by chance. Indeed, as verse four says: “ When did the multitude of people gather?, and from all the cities the inhabitants came to Him, He [seeing that many people were coming to him - approx. author] began to speak in parables..." Jesus spoke this parable when many people came to Him to hear the Word of God. As we will see, the parable is about listening to the Word of God. Therefore, Jesus, in telling this parable, wanted everyone who came to Him to hear the Word to be aware of the choice they would be given.
2. “On the road”
Looking at the above passage from the Gospel of Luke, we can say that this parable is about a seed that falls into four different types of soil, the first of which was “by the wayside.” As Luke 8:5 says:
Luke 8:5
“...a sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, others fell along the road and it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.”
One of the sown seeds fell “ON THE WAY” and therefore did not sprout and bear any fruit, but was trampled and eaten by birds.
The interpretation of this part of the parable is given a few verses below. So Luke 8:11-12 says:
Luke 8:11-12
“This is what this parable means: the seed is the word of God; and those who fell along the way are the ones who listen, to whom the devil then comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they do not believe and are saved.”
Also in Matthew 13:19, in an interpretation of the same part of the parable, it says:
“...to everyone who hears the word about the Kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart - this is what is sown along the way.”
According to the above passages, the seed that is sown is the WORD of GOD, or “the word of the kingdom.” However, this Word does not produce the same result everywhere, since its fruitfulness depends on the ground into which it falls. One possible type of soil is the land “by the road,” which, according to the interpretation of the parable, denotes people who, although they hear the Word of God, do not understand it. What is meant by the words “they do not understand” - we learn about this from the context of the parable. Thus, the Greek word translated “knowing” in the above passage is a derivative of the verb “suniemi,” which is used six times in Matthew 13, five of which are in relation to our parable. Thus, Matthew 13:13-15 says:
Matthew 13:13-15
“...Therefore I speak to them in parables, that seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, and they do not understand [Greek: “suniemi” - approx. author], and it comes true over them [over those who seeing do not see and hearing does not understand - approx. author] the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: you will hear by hearing, but you will not understand [Greek: “suniemi” - approx. author], and you will look with your eyes and will not see, FOR [for this reason, although they hear, they do not understand. – approx. author] the hearts of these people have become hardened and they hear with difficulty with their ears, and they close their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and do not understand [Greek: “suniemi” - approx. author] heart, and let them not turn so that I heal them.”
Such a person, although he hears the Word, does not understand it in his heart (the spirit of his mind). What is meant here in the parable of the sower is not a simple mental understanding of the Word. Rather, it is understanding, accepting the Word with all your heart, spirit of mind. Therefore, the result that the seed of the Word will bring will depend on the soil, on the hearts of those listening to the Word. The same seed falling into different soil, i.e. into qualitatively different hearts, gives different results. If the heart is hardened, then the seed of the Word of God will be like the seed that falls by the wayside. It will not sprout and, of course, will not bear fruit at all. As stated in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 and Ephesians 4:17-19:
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“Even if our gospel is closed, it is closed to those who are perishing, to those who do not believe, whose minds have been blinded by the god of this age lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, should shine upon them.”
And in Ephesians 4:17-19
“Therefore I speak and charge you in the Lord, that you no longer walk as other nations walk in the vanity of their minds, being darkened in mind, alienated from the life of God, due to their ignorance and the hardness of their hearts. Having reached the point of insensibility, they have given themselves over to debauchery in such a way that they commit all uncleanness with gluttony.”
There are people to whom the Word of God is “closed” and who cannot “understand” it, not because the Word of God is difficult to understand, but because their hearts have become hardened and hardened, preventing the seed of God’s Word from germinating.
Also, the Greek word translated “darkened” in the Ephesians passage is the word “porosis,” which means “insensibility.” The same word is used in Mark 3:5 to describe the hearts of a characteristic group of people who persecuted Jesus so much - the Pharisees:
Mark 3:5
“And [Jesus] looked at them [that is, at the Pharisees (see Mark 2:24) - approx. author] with anger, grieving over the hardness of their hearts [Greek: “porosis” - “insensitivity” - approx. author]..."
Next to the Pharisees was the Son of God Jesus Christ Himself!!! They heard and saw the greatest Teacher, the greatest who ever lived on earth. And yet they did not believe in Him. Why? Because their hearts have become hardened, i.e. were very rigid and unsuitable for the acceptance and growth of the seed of the Word. It was not the seed - the Word of God - that was to blame, but the EARTH, their hard hearts.
3. “Others fell on rocky places”
Having considered the first kind of soil into which the seed of the Word of God falls, let us now come to the second. About him Matthew 13:5-6 says:
Matthew 13:5-6
“...other [seeds] fell on rocky places where there was little soil, and soon sprang up, because the soil was shallow. When the sun rose, it withered and, as if it had no root, withered away.”
The seed can germinate in different types of soil. But not all of them will survive and bear fruit. One of the soils is one in which a seed that, although it sprouted initially, ultimately failed to take root because it was in rocky ground. The reason why the seed did not take root is that the stones do not allow it to take deep roots, which is necessary to find moisture. Therefore, as soon as the wind blows, it dries up.
Turning to the Gospel of Mark to interpret this part of the parable, we read:
Mark 4:16-17
“In the same way what was sown on rocky ground means those who, when they hear the word, they immediately accept it with joy, but have no root in themselves and are impermanent; then, when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, are immediately tempted».
As we can see, rocky ground is represented by people who hear the Word of God and immediately accept it, even joyfully. However, this is not for long, for when tribulation and persecution arise, such people just as quickly fall away. It is obvious that the problem, which ultimately causes them to fall away, is that they are very weak in tribulation and persecution. Therefore, when the devil arranges such events against them, they immediately fall away. The reason they fell away was not because the tribulation was too much for them to bear, for 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, and 1 Peter 5:10 tell us that when we are tempted, there will also be a way for us to escape, so that we can transfer (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). The reason is that they do not want to offer even the slightest resistance to the devil (as this passage says: they are “immediately offended”). James 4:7 says:
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God; resist the devil, and [as a result of your opposition - approx. author] will run away from you.”
Also 1 Peter 5:8-9 says:
“Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him with firm faith knowing that the same sufferings are happening to your brothers in the world.”
If we do not resist the devil, he will not escape from us. In other words, he consumes those who do not oppose him. People with hard hearts are also potential targets for the devil. When the devil comes and brings sorrows, they immediately become easy prey for him. They start well, but unfortunately end poorly.
4. Third category
Having examined the first two categories of people who hear the Word, let us now move on to the third. Mark 4:7 says:
Mark 4:7
“Some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked [the seed], and it did not bear fruit.”
The third type of soil into which the seed falls is thorny ground. The grain, falling into such soil, is choked by thorns and, therefore, does not bear fruit. To understand what is meant in this part of the parable, let's move on to Mark 4:18-19, where it is written:
“Those sown among thorns are those who hear the word, but in whom the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and other desires enter into them and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Unfortunately, this third category of people is also not prosperous. The problem with these people is that the Word of God coexists in their hearts with the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth and other desires.” Ultimately, these all become thorns that hinder the growth of the Word of God, choking it and rendering it unfruitful. In contrast to what this category of people do, Jesus said:
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your Father in heaven feeds them. Aren't you much better than them? And which of you, by caring, can add one cubit to his height? And why do you care about clothes? Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you that Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like any of them; But if God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, then God will clothe it more than you, O you of little faith! So do not worry and say, “What shall we eat?” or what to drink? or what to wear? because the pagans are looking for all this, and because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things: enough for [every] day is its own care.».
First of all - the affairs of the Kingdom of God, and then - everything else. If we apply this principle, then everything else will follow. However, if we do not apply it and put concerns and everything else that seems important to us first, this will lead to the fact that the Word will not be able to grow and bear fruit.
The series of worries of this world, the seduction of wealth and other desires are very serious. This article discusses this issue separately.
5. “Others fell on the good ground”
Coming to this point, we have already looked at three types of soil into which the seed of the Word of God fell. Unfortunately, it could not bear fruit in any of the soils. Thus, the first soil, which was “by the road,” was so hard that the seed could not even sprout. The second was also rocky, in which it was impossible for the seed to take deep roots. And finally, the third was thorny, choking the seed so that it could not bear fruit. Now that we have looked at these three categories that do not bear fruit, it is time for us to look at the GOOD soil that bears fruit. Matthew 13:8 says about her:
Matthew 13:8
“Some fell on good soil and brought forth fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.”
And here, in Matthew 13:23, the interpretation is given:
“What is sown on good soil signifies one who hears the word and understands [Greek: “suniemi” - approx. auth.], which is fruitful, so that some bear fruit a hundred times, some sixty, and others thirty.”
This time the seed fell not along the road, not on rocky ground and not among thorns, but on good soil, in the hearts of people who listen to the Word and understand [Greek: “suniemi”] it. Luke 8:15 explains who “those who understand him” are:
Luke 8:15
“and what fell on the good earth is those who, having heard the word, keep it in a good and pure heart and bear fruit with patience..."
As we may remember, people from the first category could not “understand” or accept the Word, since their hearts had become coarse and hard. People belonging to the fourth category, on the contrary, understand the Word, placing it in their kind and pure hearts. People in this category have everything that the other three categories that do not bear fruit do not have. If people in the first category had rough and hard hearts, then here the hearts are kind and pure. People from the second category were unable to endure difficulties and immediately fell away at the first tribulations, but people in this category are patient (they “bear fruit in patience,” as this passage says) and do not give up. Finally, if in the third category the Word of God was drowned out by various concerns and wishes that took first place in life, here the Word is KEPT in the hearts of people, continuing to be the main priority. This category bears fruit. As Christ said in John 15:
John 15:1-2, 4-5, 8, 16
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of Me that does not bear fruit He cuts off; and every one that bears fruit he cleanses, that she may bear more fruit.… Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it is on the vine: so will you, if you do not remain in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches; He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing... By this will My Father be glorified, if you bear much fruit and you will be My disciples... You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. so that whatever you ask from the Father in My name, He will give it to you.”
God purifies every branch that bears fruit so that it can bear more fruit. The more fruit it bears, the more the Lord is glorified.
6. Conclusion
In conclusion: The Word of God may be heard by different people, but the result of their hearing will be different, depending on the different quality of hearts that hear the Word. So, some will reject it, others will accept it, but before the first persecutions and sorrows, others will accept it, but, ultimately, will put it in last place, giving priority to other things (cares, wealth, other desires). And finally, some will keep it in a good and pure heart, bearing fruit. Therefore, Jesus, finishing his interpretation of the parable, said: “...be careful how you listen” (Luke 8:18). It is not just hearing the Word that is important, but how we listen to it, because many listen to it, but only those who listen to it and keep it in a good and pure heart will bear fruit. May we all be among these people and may we always remain among them.
One of the very rare images (icons) of the Savior is Christ the Sower. This image was painted in memory of the Gospel parable of the Sower.
Matthew, 50 credits, 13, 4-9
Behold, a sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some fell by the road, and birds came and devoured them; some fell on rocky places where there was little soil, and soon sprang up because the soil was shallow. When the sun rose, it withered and, as if it had no root, withered away; some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked it; some fell on good soil and bore fruit: one a hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Sower
Christ's parables are from ordinary, most obvious phenomena observed every day, and accessible to the simplest mind. In parables, the spiritual becomes clearer and is easier for us to assimilate. We are given the opportunity to constantly see the mysteries of God in the world. And even when our hands are busy with earthly things, we can, despite this, or better yet, thanks to this, raise our hearts to heaven. Thus, the Lord constantly approaches us and intimately talks with us.
The parable of the sower is clear enough that it does not need to be explained. Christ Himself explains it. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The seed is the word of God, the sower is Christ God, and the possibility of the success of sowing depends on God. But also from ourselves.
The Lord asks us a direct question: what is the land of your life? Perhaps you are as inaccessible to the word of God as the road along which crowds walk and where all the seeds have already been lost? Maybe the ground of your life is too shallow - and after a burst of inspiration, when the heat comes with all its labors and sorrows, you give up because you lack perseverance and patience? Or perhaps it is a forlorn, thistle-filled land where the bad grass crowds out the good seed because everyday worries and distractions and personal interests leave no room for God in your life?
Poor seeds! And the poor sower! Why does the Lord tell us about so many failures? Until now, the work of the sower seems to have been completely useless. How often, in the midst of the merciless reality of our lives, we face continuous defeats - from the very beginning, or after the beginning of very little growth, or even after prolonged success. The Lord sees all our failures in advance.
But what does it mean? Has the sower really just wasted his time? “Some fell on good soil and brought forth fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.” What an amazing lesson of hope the Lord is teaching us! Looking at what is happening in our lives, in the Church, in the world, we should not lose heart. Despite all the defeats, there will be a harvest. May fathers and mothers who experience so many difficulties with their children never stop sowing the seed. Let the young people who have nothing going for them listen to this optimistic and mercilessly truthful word of the Lord. Pronounced two thousand years ago, it retains its freshness and strength. How necessary it is in today's world! Let us learn, with God's help, to distinguish seedlings where, it seems, nothing is visible.
The parable of the sower is a mirror placed before us by the Lord. But a vision devoid of illusions should not lead us into confusion. God can change the land of your life. He can turn everything around. He can break the stony insensitivity and hardness of your heart, and turn a life filled with tares into fertile cultivable land. We must just not interfere with Him doing this, open to His word, be ready for the changes that He will send us. These may be sad changes. But only at such a price can our life bear fruit. It was for this fruit that Christ came into the world—the Sower went out to sow.
(source - Archpriest Alexander Shargunov, website of the parish in the name of Demetrius of Thessaloniki,)
The meaning of the parable of the Sower is explained in sufficient detail by the Lord Himself. To the gospel explanation we can also add that the Sower is the Lord Himself, the seed is the word of God, the field is all of humanity, the whole world, receiving into its depths the miraculous seed of the gospel word. Like a seed, the gospel word carries within itself the beginning of life, true, spiritual life, for what is true life?
The meaning of the parable of the Sower is explained in sufficient detail by the Lord Himself. To the gospel explanation we can also add that the Sower is the Lord Himself, the seed is the word of God, the field is all of humanity, the whole world, receiving into its depths the miraculous seed of the gospel word. Like a seed, the gospel word carries within itself the beginning of life, true, spiritual life, for what is true life? This onethere is eternal life,- answers the Lord in Hishigh priestly prayer,- let them know Youthe only true God, and sent by YouJesus Christ(John XVII, 3). The gospel word gives this knowledge of the true God, and therefore it is a wondrous seed of salvation and life. Thrown into the human heart, under favorable conditions it grows and bears fruit - good deeds and a holy life. Like a seed, it eternally carries this living force within itself.
Nowadays, like nineteen centuries ago, it equally excites and touches, pleases and consoles, judges and humbles, touching the innermost strings of the human heart.
Philosophical systems die, political theories are forgotten, the flowers of poetry fade, but the word of God is living and active and sharper than anythingth double-edged sword: it penetrates to theof soul and spirit, joints and brains, and judgesthoughts and intentions of the heart(Heb. IV, 12). The eternally living truth is hidden in it.
But, always possessing this hidden living force to the same extent, the word of God does not always yield the same harvest. It depends on the soil into which it falls, and here the parable acquires a particularly burning, living, personal interest for us, for this soil is our heart. We all, listeners and readers of the word of God, receive our share of the holy seeds; We would all probably like to have fertile soil in our hearts that brings a hundredfold harvest, and the question of why this does not happen and why the seedlings are so stunted, wretched and mixed with weeds - this question, of course, is far from ours. indifferent.
Let us think more carefully about the parable in order to discover in its wondrous images and symbols the laws of spiritual agronomy that are important for us, which the Lord Jesus Christ points to.
In order to successfully cultivate a cornfield and apply rational cultivation methods to it, it is necessary first of all to study the soil and know its composition. Sandy soil requires one fertilizer, loam - another, black soil - another; and the cultivation methods themselves are different on different soils. The same is true in spiritual life. In order to understand the reasons that cause the fruitlessness of the word of God for a person, and at the same time find the right ways to cultivate and educate the soul, which could increase the harvest of the holy seed, strengthen the influence and effect of the gospel word on a person - for this we need to study the soil of our heart and find out what exactly in this heart prevents the successful growth of the seed. Accordingly, we can take certain measures.
Speaking about the fate of the seed, the Lord in His parable depicts four types of conditions into which it finds itself during sowing and which have different effects on its growth. These are four different types of human psyche, four types of structure of the soul.
When the sower sowed, something else happened(seed) fell along the road, and birds came and peckedeither(v. 4).
This is the first type. The heart is like a road, and the seed falling on it does not even penetrate the soil, but remains on the surface and becomes easy prey for birds.
What kind of people are these?
Firstly, this includes rude natures, of a purely animal nature. This is the worst type among people, and, unfortunately, there are especially many of them nowadays. They live a purely uterine life: eat deliciously, drink sweetly, sleep a lot, dress well - beyond this they know nothing. A trough, food and swill - this is all they contain. Their worldview is exclusively materialistic. Questions of the spirit do not exist for them. To the ideals of truth, goodness and beauty, to everything that humanity worshiped as the greatest shrine, that attracted and captivated heroes, ascetics and the best figures of history, to which they devoted their strength and their lives without treasure - people like the roadway relate to all this with cynical mockery and outright contempt. “Benefit” is the word that defines their activities. For them, God is the womb, and the Gospel, the word of God, meets in them a blank wall of dull indifference. It bounces off them like peas off a wall, without even penetrating the outer crust of egoism and without penetrating inside, into the heart. If sometimes it remains on the surface of memory, then only until the moment when the first impulse of debauchery, voluptuousness or covetousness swoops in like a bird and swallows everything without a trace, and the coarse heart remains as before hard and impenetrable.
Secondly, this category includes very frivolous people who live only on superficial impressions. The essence of their psyche is idle curiosity, which is easily aroused, but does not at all strive to connect the impressions received with the deep foundations of mental life. Such curiosity does not bring any benefit: it is aimless and pointless. Impressions are evaluated here solely by their effect on the nerves. Anything that tickles the nerves equally attracts people of this type. Therefore, it makes absolutely no difference to them: to listen to a good preacher or a fashionable tenor, to watch a religious procession or English boxing, to attend a solemn, inspiring worship service, or to roar with laughter while watching a funny vaudeville. They view the whole world as if it was created solely for their entertainment, and they approach every phenomenon in life with the same yardstick. If they listen to an inspired preacher speaking about the truth of the Gospel, about the radiant world of purity and holiness, about the Great Loving God, they will say only one thing in praise: “Oh, he speaks well, beautifully!” or: “He has a well-developed, elegant speech!” This is the most humiliating praise for a preacher, reducing him to the role of a schoolboy demonstrating his literary and declamatory talents before the examiners. Even if in the sermon one can hear sobs and genuine tears of suffering love, the groan of a tormented heart, bitterness and indignation at the sight of trampled truth, they will not find other words to evaluate other than the vulgar phrase: “Oh, he has dramatic talent!” It’s as if they were watching a stage performer performing solely to entertain them and tickle their frayed nerves.
These are people of small souls, and life for them is not a serious task full of deep meaning, but simply a farce. People of this type listen to the word of the Gospel as if it does not apply to them: they do not perceive it.
The third type of people of this type are absent-minded natures, with scattered thoughts. There is nothing basic, permanent about them that would serve as the center of their lives. These are people, as they are called, without a core, that is, they do not have a predominant inclination or attachment to one particular business or activity that determines the direction of their lives. How do these people live? You won’t say it right away: everything here is so fluid, so changeable, so impermanent. Today one thing, tomorrow another, the day after tomorrow another. One thought replaces another, like in a kaleidoscope, without any order or system. One passion is supplanted by another, plan follows plan, just like on a road where carriages roll, passers-by replace one another, and stray cattle trample. They start everything, try everything and finish nothing. They have no purpose in life. These are slaves of the momentary whim, a cane shaken by the wind. Their hobbies are fragile, unreliable, fleeting. With the ease of a moth they flutter from object to object. Every new thing attracts and captivates them, but only for a short time. “Whatever the last book says will fall on the heart.” Teaching them anything serious, preaching the word of God is almost useless. This means writing on the water, sowing along the road: passers-by will trample, birds will peck, that is, the world with its eternal change of new products, the devil with his temptations and seductions. Since impressions and thoughts here are constantly changing, not one of them penetrates deep into the heart, and as a result, the heart itself little by little loses its responsiveness, the ability to take them at least somewhat seriously, becomes dry, indifferent, hard, like a road, trampled by the feet of passers-by and rolled by the wheels of countless carriages.
These are the three categories of people belonging to the type of road. What they all have in common is that the seed of the word of God does not penetrate their soul at all, does not excite them, does not please them, does not excite them, but remains on the surface, that is, only in memory, in the head consciousness, and without bearing any fruit, dies soon.
A little better are the following two types of soil, indicated by the Lord Jesus Christ in His parable.
Another seed fell on a rocky place wherethere was little earth, and soon it sprang up" becausethe ground was shallow; when the sun rose,withered and, as if it had no root, withered(vv. 5-6).
Explaining these words, the Lord adds: poseon a rocky place means those whoSome, when they hear the word, immediately accept it with joy, but have no root in themselves and cannotstanding; then, when sorrow comes orhesitation for the word, they are immediately tempted(vv.16-17).
A type that is widespread and quite familiar to us. In these people there is an undoubted desire and love for good, and the word of God finds a living and quick response in them, but it does not capture them so strongly that, in order to implement it in life, they find in themselves enough strength and determination to work on themselves, to fight against obstacles and overcome hostile currents. Having heard the Gospel sermon about truth, love, self-sacrifice, they immediately light up like a Swedish match, but just as quickly go out. These flashes of fleeting passions can be very strong, like flashes of magnesium, and at this moment these people are even capable of a feat, but a moment will pass - and it’s all over, and, like after magnesium, only smoke and soot remain - annoyance at their cowardice and flabbiness or on the contrary, regret about your hobby. These people are not capable of harsh, persistent, long-term work, and the law of entry into the Kingdom of God, given by the Lord, represents an insurmountable barrier for them: From the days of JohnBaptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been powered bystruggles, and those who use force admire him(Matt. XI, 12).
Only small grass can grow on rocky soil, and these people, under normal conditions of a quiet life, are only capable of very small things that do not require effort. They cannot be denied sensitivity: you will sometimes see them in church praying with tears of tenderness in their eyes, they are inspired by good singing, touched by the sayings and exclamations of the Divine Service, full of sublime meaning; with feeling they repeat together with others: “Let us love each other...”, “Let us embrace each other, with our mouths: brethren!” But when the moment comes when you need to move from good words to action, you will immediately see that tearful emotion and religious uplift did not soften their cold souls, that it was only a phosphorescent shine that does not give warmth, simple sentimentality or false sensitivity, and not the real thing. feeling. They sometimes love to read the lives of saints, just as children love to read scary fairy tales and touching stories, but even here things do not go beyond sighs and verbal delight. They are not averse to dreaming about this ascetic life and imagining themselves in the role of ascetics and martyrs for the truth, but the efforts of will that this requires frighten them. They have nothing against virtue, morality, asceticism, they would even like to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, but on the condition that this does not require any deprivation from them and that this can be done with complete comfort and with all the amenities. They want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in a first-class carriage.
What prevents these people from completely surrendering to Christ and bearing full fruit? The rocky layer that lies beneath the outer layer of good soil and prevents the plant's roots from penetrating deeper.
In the human soul, such a rocky layer is self-love. Usually it is only slightly covered on top with a thin coating of sensitivity and good impulses. But when it is necessary to deepen these good impulses and implement them in life, that is, to do a good deed, which, in fact, constitutes the fruit of a good impulse, self-love and the self-pity born of it invariably rebel against this. Let's say you are asked to help. You are ready to do this and donate something to someone in need, but now you hear the voice of selfishness: “What will I be left with? I need money myself: I have so little of it!” Your good impulse encounters the cold, rocky wall of selfishness and fades like an unopened bud.
Self-love cannot be tolerated with deprivations, even imaginary ones.
This also happens in spiritual, ideological struggle. People often wear their Christian beliefs like a decent suit, giving them an appearance of decency and gentlemanliness, as long as it does not embarrass them or oblige them to anything. But when you have to pay for these beliefs with suffering and deprivation, now self-pity whispers insidiously: “Is it worth it to suffer so much? Is the fee too expensive? After all, you can do without convictions!”
The result is treason and apostasy.
The last type of people, in whose souls the word of God remains fruitless, is characterized by the Lord in the following words:
Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew, and choked the seed, and it did not bear fruit.
Those sown among thorns signify those who hear the word, but are in them with the cares of this world, deceptionwealth and other wishes, entering them,they choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful(vv. 7, 18-19).
These are people who want to work for God and mammon at the same time. Wanting to live according to the laws of God, they at the same time do not want to give up the vanity of the world and usually end up with this whirlpool of worldly worries, hobbies, and passions absorbing them without a trace, crowding out everything bright, ideological, sublime from the soul. If a person does not fight earthly addictions in the name of the truth of the Gospel, he inevitably becomes their captive, and just hearing the word of God will not save him. Attempts to establish a balance in life between tribute to God and tribute to mammon and this world have never succeeded, for the soul is a simple being and cannot be divided into two. No one can serve two masters- says the Lord: - for either one will be missing to see and love another; or one will be zealous and neglect the other(Matt. VI, 24).
These people are also unfit for the Kingdom of God. So much of the seed of God’s word is wasted to no avail!
Of the four categories, only one bears fruit: the other seed fell on good ground and gavefruit that sprang up and grew and brought forth otherthirty, some sixty, and some a hundred.
And what was sown on good soil means thosewho hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hundredfold(vv. 8, 20).
These are integral natures, whose word does not diverge from deeds and who, listening and perceiving the word of God, try to fulfill it and live according to its instructions. But even among these people, whose responsive and sincere heart represents good soil, obedience to the Gospel word is not equally complete and perfect for everyone, for some bring thirty, others sixty, others a hundred. This means that one is able to fulfill a third of what the highest ideal of Christian perfection requires of him, another - almost two-thirds, and only a few manage to fulfill everything completely and perfectly. These are chosen natures. These are the ones about whom the Lord says: I have found a man after My heart... whowho will fulfill all my desires(Acts XIII, 22).
There are few such people. But how brightly they shine against the dim background of the warm-cold attitude towards the Gospel of the majority of their contemporaries, sluggish, flabby, weak in goodness, and how the word of God, to which they surrendered selflessly and which they fulfilled to the end, exalted and enlightened their souls!
Here is St. Anthony the Great. Two gospel sayings made a decisive change in his soul and directed him on the path that led to the highest degrees of holiness. One day, shortly after the death of his parents, while still a young man of 18-20 years old, he heard the words of the Lord in church: if you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor... and follow Me. He took these words as advice addressed directly to him, and carried it out literally, distributing his property to the poor. Another time, hearing the words of the Savior: don't worryabout tomorrow he felt in them an imperious call, to which he unquestioningly obeyed: he left home and went into the desert, so that, freed from all worries, in the exploits of an ascetic life he could surrender to Him, whose will became the supreme law for him. The word bore fruit a hundredfold in him.
Here is the venerable martyr Evdokia, originally a great sinner, purified and transformed by the word of God, like that burning coal that the six-winged Seraphim took with tongs from the altar of the Lord to touch the lips of the prophet (Ex. VI, 6-7).
In the world her name was Maria. She was wonderfully beautiful, and this was her misfortune. Success, flattery, universal adulation turned her head. Maria led a vain, frivolous social life, elegant and brilliant on the outside, but empty and vulgar in content. Feasts and entertainment of all kinds filled all her time, not allowing her to come to her senses, to come to her senses. But underneath the appearance of a socialite lay a kind heart and a sympathetic soul. It saved her.
One day, near the inn where Mary was feasting, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, two elder monks stopped indecisively. It was clear that they had come from afar. Their feet and clothes were covered with dust, beaten, shabby shoes spoke of a long journey. They were tired and wanted to rest at the hotel, but the sounds of music and cheerful company frightened them. Finally they decided to enter. They were placed next to the banquet hall in a room separated only by a thin partition.
The noisy orgy continued. Shameless speeches were heard. Intoxicated Maria danced a seductive, voluptuous dance.
Someone remembered the elders.
Let's see what they do? They must be praying!
“Leave them alone,” Maria said with a smile.
But several dissolute revelers were already crowded around the partition, listening to what was happening behind it.
Shh... Tigle! They're reading something! Let's listen!
The noise stopped. In the silence that followed, one could hear the voice of the old man reading, slightly muffled by the wall.
He read:
And behold, the woman of that city who wassinner, learning that He is reclining in the house of Farisowing, she brought an alabaster flask of ointment and,standing behind Him at His feet and weeping, she began to pourHis feet with tears and wipe his hair with his hairwith her own, and kissed His feet, and anointed him with ointment(Luke VII, 37-38).
Here we have found a place for such readings! - exclaimed one of the young revelers. - Hey, you there!..
Leave it! - Maria cried. Her face became more and more serious as the wonderful gospel story about the forgiven sinner unfolded. She herself did not understand what was happening to her.
Therefore I tell you: sins are forgivenher many because she loved much(Luke VII, 47).
Well, you really won’t care about that! - the youngest of the guests whispered to Maria.
A loud cry was his answer. Everyone shuddered. Maria stood there trembling. Deathly pallor covered her face. The dark eyes burned with fire.
Get away from me! Leave me!..
These wonderful words about forgiveness, about salvation, about God’s mercy burned in her heart. So the parched earth greedily swallows the moisture of the spring rain.
The embarrassed guests dispersed. Maria rushed behind the partition to the amazed elders. The latter's instant amazement gave way to indignation.
Get away from us! - said one of them sternly. -
Or do you have no shame?!
Fathers, do not reject me! I am a sinner
but the Lord did not reject the harlot!..
She pressed her lips to the dusty feet of the elders: the sinner Mary became Saint Eudokia. The Word of God brought forth a hundredfold fruit.
What lessons can we learn from all this? If we really want the gospel seed to bear abundant fruit in us and intend to seriously work on this, then we must examine the soil of our hearts and find out what exactly is hindering the growth of the word of God. Think about what type you belong to? Does your heart imagine a passable road or rocky soil, or does the seed of God’s word perish within it, choke by the thorns of worldly vanity?
It should be borne in mind that these types are rarely found in their pure form. Usually the human heart has a little bit of everything, and the type can only be determined by the predominance of one or another trait.
Having determined the characteristics of the soil, it is possible to specify and apply special processing techniques in accordance with each type of soil. Of course, here it is always necessary to remember that planter andHe who waters is nothing, but God who increases everything(1 Cor. III, 7), Who alone by His power can make the most barren soil fruitful and, conversely, turn a fertile field into a desert, and that, therefore, our prayers and petitions for the success of the work should be addressed to Him first of all. But with this trust in God as the main condition for success, we are still not freed from the obligation to work under ourselves, for who knows how to do good anddoesn't do it, it's a sin(James IV, 17).
So what can we do?
There is almost no need to talk about the first variety of the first type, because the psyche of people of this type does not even contain the desire to become morally better and purer. Only some catastrophe sent by the beneficent providence of God can bring them out of their stupid animal complacency. You can only pray for them, but it is useless to advise them anything, since under normal conditions they will not want to follow any advice. The other two varieties, as we have seen, are turned onto the road by a mass of various motley impressions, which, rushing through the consciousness, like an endless string of carriages and passers-by, compact the soil, that is, make the soul hard, callous and unreceptive to the word of God. It is clear that our first concern here is to put up fences to prevent people from driving and walking on the road. In simple terms, this means delaying or completely stopping that flow of incoherent perceptions of daily life, which annoyingly crowds into the brain, cluttering it with all sorts of rubbish.
Think, really, how much rubbish goes through the head of the average so-called cultured person every day! One morning newspaper is worth it! There is also a deceitful editorial covering events the way the editors need it; here is a feuilleton full of obscene ridicule; there is also a newsreel reporting all the market news; here are advertisements about a missing pug and about a doctor who radically cures sexual impotence. After reading all this “useful” information, you feel the need to walk outdoors for at least two hours to clear your head. Next, you come to work and immediately find out a number of other news: whose wife ran away, which colleague stole, who received a promotion and an award, etc. You return home - your wife already has a friend, a patent gossip, who dumps on you a whole box of the freshest, freshly baked news. In the evening you go to the theater, and again a new string of incidents, speeches, monologues, various faces, spectators, actors, acquaintances and strangers, old and young, smart and poorly dressed, passes before you, all this excited, noisy, ever-changing crowd filling places of spectacle. Add to this the final chord of a restaurant dinner with impressions of electric light, dressed-up women, a cheap orchestra, etc. - and you will understand that after living for a month in this boiling cauldron of external diversity, fleeting effects and internal emptiness, you can become hardened and stupefied . There can be no talk of success and the influence of the word of God on the soul in such a situation. But put up the slingshots, give up this noise and bustle, limit this influx of impressions to the best of your ability, live a more secluded life, be sure to provide yourself with hours of deep thoughtfulness and silence - and you will see that the soil of your heart will begin to constantly change and more deeply perceive the shoots God's word.
For people of the second category, the obstacle to the growth of the gospel seed is a stone layer of selfishness. This is where efforts should be directed. This layer must be cracked and removed. This is how the field is cultivated in Finland. To prepare the soil for sowing, it is necessary to first remove the mass of huge boulders and stone debris that clutter the field. These stones are either blown up or uprooted from the ground, placing long thick logs under them. And you need to see this work! Bringing a log under a huge stone, a whole family of peasants - owners or tenants of the field - sits on its free end and begins to swing. They sway persistently, methodically, sway morning and evening, sway one day after another... And finally, the massive boulder begins to tremble slightly and quietly turn out of the ground. This is difficult, boring work, but there is no other outcome: the field must be cleared. There will be hard work to be done with self-esteem. There is no way to tear it out and remove it right away, but you can break it off in pieces. You just shouldn't feel sorry for yourself.
Let's say you are asked to provide a service. You don’t want to, because this means a loss of time and other inconveniences for you. Your selfishness protests and grumbles. Don’t listen to this voice, overcome yourself and, having conquered your unwillingness and self-pity this time, you have already broken off a piece of selfishness. Continue this work persistently, persistently, continuously, as the Finnish peasants work, and little by little your selfishness will soften, weaken and disappear, giving way to better feelings of self-sacrifice and concern for others. Then the roots of God’s word will penetrate deeper into the heart and will not perish from the first adversity.
Finally, people of the third category, for whom thorns choke the shoots of the Gospel sowing, need to remember that you cannot serve Mammon and God at the same time, that you must choose one thing, and since you have chosen to serve God, then the thorns and weeds of vain desires and worldly passions must be weed them out carefully, otherwise they will grow and choke the word of God. It is useful to remember that the sooner this work is done, the better. While the thorns are only in the bud, they are easy to weed out.
While sinful desires exist only in thoughts and have not yet turned into action, they are easier to overcome. But they take root when they are put into action, and then the fight against them becomes more difficult.
When the soil has been somewhat prepared in this way, then the cultivation of the soul itself, which contributes to the successful growth of the word of God, is carried out according to the old rule of ascetics: plow with the plow of repentance, fertilize with prayer, water with tears of contrition and constantly weed out the bad grass of passions.
Parable of the Sower
(Gospel of Luke 8:4-15)
4. When a great crowd had gathered, and the inhabitants of all the cities came to Him, He began to speak in a parable:
5. The sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the road and was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it;
6. And some fell on a stone and came up and dried up, because they had no moisture;
7. And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew and choked his;
8. And some fell on good soil and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold. Having said this, he exclaimed: whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!
9. His disciples asked Him: What does this parable mean?
10. He said: To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God, but to others in parables, so that seeing they do not see and hearing they do not understand.
11. This is what this parable means: the seed is the word of God;
12. And what fell along the way, these are the listeners, to whom the devil then comes and takes the word out of their hearts, so that they do not believe and are saved;
13. And those who fell on the stone are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but who have no root, and believe for a time, but fall away during temptation;
14. And what fell among the thorns are those who listen word, But, leaving, the worries, wealth and pleasures of life are suppressed and do not bear fruit;
15. A fallen on kind land, This those, which, after hearing the word, keep it in a good and pure heart and bear fruit in patience. Having said this, He exclaimed: whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!
Interpretation of the parable:
When Jesus spoke to large crowds, he often taught them through parables—simple stories about common events, circumstances, and things that his listeners could easily understand. Most of those Jesus spoke to were ordinary people, and He knew that His message would appeal even to children if He told it through such visual stories.
"Parable of the Sower" is one of the few parables contained in three different Gospels: Matthew, chapter 13, Mark, chapter 4 and Luke, chapter 8. This wonderful parable reveals four groups into which the states of human hearts can be divided. As we Now let's read the words of Jesus Himself, you may be asking yourself which of these four categories describes you!
"A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, (1) some fell by the wayside, and the birds of the air flew in and devoured it. (2) And some fell on a rocky place where there was not much earth. It soon sprang up, because the earth It was shallow, but when the sun rose, it dried out the plant, and it withered because it did not have deep roots.
(3) Another seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked the plant. (4) But other seed fell on good soil and sprang up, grew and bore fruit - thirty, sixty or a hundred times more than what was sown!
And having said this, He exclaimed: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Hear what the parable of the sower means!”
Now Jesus will reveal and explain to us what exactly this parable means: “The seed is the Word of God. Those who fall along the way are the listeners, to whom the Devil then comes and takes the Word away from their hearts, so that they do not believe and are saved.” When the life-giving seed The words of God are sown on this first earth, into such a heart, what happens? The ground on the road is usually hard and compacted. Before the seed can take root, Satan comes and takes it away (before people can understand, accept the Word, and be saved)!
The devil fights furiously against God's Word! The Bible tells us that "faith comes from hearing the Word of God" (Romans 10:17) . The devil, trying to prevent people from believing in Jesus and being saved, will do everything in his power to prevent them from hearing or accepting the truth of God's wonderful Word! The Apostle Paul says: “If our gospel is closed, then it is closed to those who are perishing, to those who do not believe, to those whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world (the devil) so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ does not shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
But what about the second type of land that Jesus describes? He says: “Some, like a seed sown on rocky soil, hear the Word and at first receive it with joy. But they have no root in themselves, and for a while they believe, and when tribulation and persecution comes because of the word, they are tempted and quickly fall away! "
These latter ones actually joyfully accept the Word and begin to grow, but when the time comes for temptations or trials, or persecution for the Word, their enthusiasm wanes, their faith dries up, and they die! This does not mean that they lose their salvation: if you have accepted Jesus in your heart, you belong to Him forever. He says: “I am with you always, I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Gospel of Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5) . But such people simply “have no roots,” no depth, they are shallow and never really stand up, grow and begin to bear fruit. They seem to die spiritually and fall away when the time of trials comes, when the hot sun of persecution or sorrow rises. They are weak and they cannot bear it.
How many such people are there! They are happy to accept Jesus, but they never truly study and absorb God's Word and allow His Truth to penetrate deep into their hearts. They are “lekbelievers” who joyfully accept God’s Gift of salvation; a very convenient fire escape from Hell and something like “life insurance” for future life. But when the time comes and they have to really stand up for their faith, tell others about Jesus, be willing to endure reproach, rejection, humiliation, or even real torment and persecution for the Gospel, they simply wither and fall away!
And here is how Jesus explained what the third type of earth is: “Some hear the Word as a seed sown among thorns; but the cares and troubles of this life, seduction of wealth And desire to get something else come in and choke the Word and make them unfruitful."
Being drowned out by the cares, riches and anxieties of this life is perhaps the most dangerous pitfall for most people in the world today! The wonderful ways in which God could use them are completely suppressed and drowned out by the material concerns of this temporary life. They are busy with so many things (“the works of life,” 2 Timothy 2:4) apart from the Lord, His Word and His work, that their spiritual growth is severely limited, their strength is spent, and the thorns of this world choke their ability to bear fruit, rendering them useless for God's eternal Kingdom!
This doesn't mean wealth is bad. "Love of money" is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10) . Only when we value wealth, fortune and material things more than the Lord does the “deception of riches” begin to choke us, make us fruitless and lead us astray!
And finally, the fourth type of land that Jesus describes: “Those who receive the seed that fell on the good ground, those who with an honest and good heart hear the Word and keep it, and with patience bear fruit every year thirty, sixty or a hundred times more than was sown!"
Unlike other barren lands, this fourth land receives the Word and retains it within itself, preserves it and patiently protects it until it grows, develops and bears fruit to the glory of God!
What is the land of your heart? Even after being saved, many people become like the second earth, hard, rocky and shallow, due to their disobedience to the Lord. Their hearts are "hardened, deceived by sin" (Hebrews 3:13), and they never become the strong plants for the Lord that they could be, they never grow, develop spiritually and begin to bear fruit. So when the "fiery temptations" of temptations come, their faith fades because they had no depth, they were never "rooted and established in the faith" as they should have been! (1 Peter 4:12, Colossians 2:6-7)
Or, like the third earth, they allow the material concerns of this life, like thorns, to choke their potential benefit to God. They never seem to find time - never set aside time - to prayerfully read and absorb God's Word, and therefore they do not have the "spirit and life" that His Word would give them. (John 6:63) .
How differently does the Bible describe a man who, like the fourth earth, gives the Lord and His Word first place: “His delight is in the Word of the Lord, and he meditates on His Word day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, It bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. And in everything that it does, it prospers!" (Psalm 1:2-3) .
Oh, if we only realized the eternal importance of submitting ourselves to God's Word and God's will - as the good, fertile, receptive earth submits to the peasant's plow, receives the seed he sows and patiently brings forth the harvest - then, surely, we would feel contempt at the thought of is to allow temporary material things to choke our usefulness for God! And we certainly will not allow our faith to wither or perish because of a little resistance, trouble, or persecution for the sake of the Gospel!
If you want to please the Lord, bear fruit, and be useful to Him, submit your heart to Him today and allow Him to make you into who He wants you to be! If you faithfully read and draw strength from God's life-giving Words, you will be amazed at the speed of your spiritual growth. And if you obey Jesus' command to "preach the gospel" and tell others about His love, then the seed of God's Word that you sow in their hearts will take root and grow, and you will win others to Jesus and thereby bear fruit thirty, sixty or even a hundred times more than what was originally sown in your life! And God Himself will reward you eternal saved souls and you will shine like the stars forever! (Daniel 12:3)
Pictures for the parable"about the sower"
