Articles
MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES
Jesus explained to the disciples that He spoke in parables, “...because while seeing they do
not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13). Parables
were stories teaching practical lessons to those who wanted to hear and understand and to hide
His message from those who were unreceptive.
The parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23) is one of those parables that can be very
plain if we choose to accept what the Lord is saying. Jesus speaks plainly of the seed as the Word
(vs. 19). In sowing, the seed falls on different types of soil: roadside, rocky, thorny and good.
Each soil is representative of hearts who hear the Word. The outcome of that seed and growth is
based on the soil. We know that the heart of people who hear the Word will determine the
amount of fruit or if there will be any fruit at all.
One of the obvious lessons we need to take from this parable as children of God is the need
to be about sowing the Word. I know as a young person, we were encouraged to be about
evangelism, aka: sowing the Word! Is it possible that over the years the church has lost its desire
to evangelize? Have we determined beforehand that the soil around us is no good, so why bother
sowing the seed? Is it possible that we are looking for others to do the work, because sowing the
seed is just not my thing? The church is to be about teaching a lost world about Jesus Christ and
salvation through Him and Him only (Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:6; Eph. 3:10). Our world needs
that message today!
Early in my work as a minister of the gospel, I was reclining at home on a Sunday evening,
following the usual “exhaustion” of the day, but also frustrated because I was sure I had
preached the gospel and I knew there were those who should have responded to the Lord’s
invitation. But then I was reminded of this parable and how different hearts will respond in
different ways. Our task is to teach whenever we have the opportunity. Some of that teaching
will fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts. But, some of that teaching will fall on hearts anxious
to grow for the Lord. We may become frustrated because we don’t see the desired response, but
our task is to teach! We have no control over how people will respond to the Word. Let us
concentrate more on sowing the seed, and less time worried about the result. God will give the
increase (1 Cor. 3:7). ~P. Mowrer
