The Parable of the Sower

We have all heard this story many, many times. I probably cannot count on all of my fingers and toes how many times I have heard it and read it. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."

"Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

 Wow, now that is quiet a parable. Jesus tells us the crowds the parable and then later on his disciples ask him what it means and he tells them. It seems to be laid out pretty well. I think this is a great parable and I have seen every single type of seed Jesus talks about. But what I want to talk about here is the seed that was sown on good soil.


The very last part was pretty convicting to me. Jesus says that the seed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and another thirty. I had to stop and think about it, what do I yield? Twenty, fifty-five, eighty? I sure hope that I am one of the cases that produce a hundredfold. I want my life to count for something more than just living for this world.


What seed are you, and how much to you bear fruit and yield?