Daily Blast - The Book of Matthew: Chapter 13
Scripture
“As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Reflection
Today we are looking at a famous parable, The Parable of the Sower. Many of us know this parable well, but despite the number of times we have heard it, it never loses its significance.
The message behind The Parable of the Sower is about the human heart’s reaction to the word of God. Jesus gives us four examples. In the first example, the seeds fall on the footpath and the birds come and eat them. This is the description of a human heart that hears the word of God but doesn’t let it penetrate into their heart. In modern terms, it goes in one ear and out the other without much of a thought as to what has just been said and they walk away completely unaffected by God’s word.
The second example tells of the seeds that fall on to shallow soil, with shallow roots. These people hear the word of God and welcome it into their hearts, but they don’t then let God’s words strengthen and develop strong roots within them. When trials and hard times come these people shrivel as they don’t have to roots to sustain themselves.
The picture the third example presents is of seeds that fall amongst the thorns. This is the human heart that hears and says that they believe and want to live by God’s word but when the worries and attractions of life come, they are consumed by them. Just like the seed getting choked and consumed by the thorns, it won’t survive.
The fourth and final example is the seeds that fall on the fertile soil. This is the people who hear the word of God and allow for it to dwell in their hearts, which will strengthen and grow deep roots within them. This seed flourishes and produces good fruits.
Jesus wants us to be like the seed that falls on the fertile soil. Not one that shrivels under hard times, gets consumed by things of this world or one that hears but doesn’t really listen and act on his word. He wants us to grow strong foundations in Him and flourish and bear good fruit to share with the people around us.
God provides the water, sunshine and nutrients that we need to grow and flourish, but we are the ones that determine what kind of seed our heart is and whether or not we accept the nourishment that God provides. James 1:21 says ‘So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls’.
Challenge
This scripture really made me think about my relationship with God. What seed am I? Do I always listen and act on God’s word? How strong are my roots? Do I get distracted by things of this world? I encourage you to reflect on this scripture and decide where your heart is.