The Sower and The Seed

The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (NASB) Matt. 13:20-21

This person hears the Word of God and at first is excited and happy about what he or she hears. Luke 8:13 says that the person believes for a while but eventually stops believing because of temptations to sin. Matthew 13:21 adds that affliction and persecution also motivate this person to stop believing. Together Matthew and Luke give us the complete picture. Persecution and affliction can motivate a person to respond incorrectly. That is, persecution and affliction will tempt a person to take an incorrect course of action and not respond to God.

Some years ago a woman was attending a women’s Bible study in order to learn more about God. She soon realized that the members of her family had a different view of God. They had a different faith. She started responding to the truth she was hearing, and a spiritual battle occurred within her about believing in Jesus. She strongly felt that what she was hearing was true but eventually decided not to believe in Jesus and give herself to Him because she was uncomfortable with the truth that loved ones who never believe in Jesus will go to hell. The fear of persecution and rejection tempted her to reject Jesus and she did. She is just one example of seed cast among the rocks. Lord willing, she may eventually believe and follow Him. We can only pray.

Mark 4:17 alerts us to the fact that some will respond to what they hear, but their response is “only temporary.” How long is temporary? We do not know, but it is clear that they do not continue. Eventually, they leave the faith.

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (NASB) Matt. 13:22

A person whose heart is like this soil hears the Word of God but due to anxiety or distress about issues in the world or concerns over money, eventually rejects Jesus. The Greek word that is translated as “worry” is MERIMNA. It refers to a feeling of apprehension or distress. This person starts to worry about events in life or financial needs and eventually leaves Jesus Christ. This person may not intentionally ignore Jesus Christ, but does. He or she becomes preoccupied with issues in daily life, work, home, family, or even church and never believes in Jesus. A person can attend church but never believe in Jesus and never be saved from the penalty of sin.

I have often shared the true story about a man who considered himself to be a Christian. One day he told me that he was very disappointed with God because he thought that God would make him wealthy if he followed Jesus. He had missed the point that God does not forgive our sins and promise that we will become wealthy. God’s purpose is not to make everyone rich. God’s primary goal is to forgive our sins. This man had it wrong. The deceitfulness of wealth had caught him. God wants those who believe in Jesus Christ to follow Him.

And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. (NASB) Matt. 13:23

The good soil represents a person who hears the Word of God, believes, and is saved. Luke 8:15 explains that this soil has an “honest and good heart.” It believes and holds fast. It perseveres or continues believing. This person understands the Word of God and does not pull away from God because of affliction or persecution, wealth, or the worries and cares of life.

Luke 8:15 makes it clear that this person believes that Jesus is God and continues believing throughout earthly life. He or she never stops believing. He or she bears fruit for God. The other soils never produced fruit. This is the only soil that produced spiritual fruit. Fruit is symbolic of spiritual growth and effective ministry for God. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in the life of believers.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . (NASB) Gal. 5:22-23

This type of fruit will be growing in one who is really a follower of Jesus. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Then the Word of God produces a miraculous work in the lives of those who really belong to God.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (NASB) Rom. 10:17

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (NASB) 1 Thess 2:13

The result is spiritual fruit. Romans 1:13 tells us that Christians can bear fruit by bringing others to Jesus Christ, and Ephesians 5:9 reveals that fruit includes godliness,

. . . for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth . . . (NASB) Eph. 5:9

Conclusion. The four soils reveal that people have rejected and will reject Jesus Christ for different reasons. At first some may respond, be happy, and rejoice; but if they are not true followers of Jesus Christ, they will eventually walk away. They will never produce any fruit. The following verse explains why someone may appear to be a Christian or a follower of Jesus Christ, but yet not be real,

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (NASB) 1 John 2:19

The four soils illustrate this truth. The four soils also illustrate how real followers of Jesus Christ continue believing and never stop. It is an error to conclude that just because someone claims to have believed Jesus was God, died for his or her sins and was willing for God to take control of his or her life, does not mean that he or she did or was serious. The ultimate proof comes later when he or she either stops believing and leaves the faith or continues. Real Christians continue in the faith.

The true marks of a follower of God are found later in the desires of the heart, the quest for a godly life, and one’s manner of conduct. The fruit of the life proves everything. Some day each and everyone of us will stand before God. Some will go into eternal life and some to eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46). Jesus will review the deeds we have performed or the fruit of our lives. There is no escape. True believers not only believe what Jesus claimed about Himself. Jesus taught that He was God, died for our sins, and returned to life. True faith also willingly submits to Him.

. . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved . . . (NASB) Rom. 10:9