A Sower Went Out to Sow
June 7, 2026 – A Sower Went Out to Sow – Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23 contain the Parable of the Sower and its meaning. Jesus compares the “word of the kingdom” to seeds scattered on four distinct types of soil, representing different human heart conditions and responses to God’s message.
The Four Soils Explained:
- The Path (The Hard Heart): Seed falls on the path and birds eat it. This represents those who hear the Gospel but do not understand it, allowing “the evil one” to quickly snatch the message away.
- Rocky Ground (The Shallow Heart): Seed sprouts quickly but withers in the sun because it lacks deep roots. This depicts those who receive the word with immediate joy, but fall away as soon as “tribulation or persecution” arises.
- Among Thorns (The Divided Heart): Seed grows but is choked out by thorns. This symbolizes those who hear the word, but allow the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” to make them unfruitful.
- Good Soil (The Receptive Heart): Seed takes root and produces a fruitful harvest. This represents those who hear the word, understand it, and produce a lasting, changed life.
