From Matthew 13:3-9 / The Mystery of Propagation

As was mentioned before, this is the 1st of 7 parables concerning the mysteries of the Kingdom. This one is about the mystery of PROPAGATION – How the Kingdom expands. Mark summarizes it neatly: “The sower sows the Word” (Mark 4:14)

This is God’s means and method. All other schemes, programs, arrangements and allurements are human inventions without the promise of blessing. It is not about one nation rising and conquering – it is about the Word of God bringing forth its fruit.

Hint to preachers: Preach the Gospel! It is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.

Jesus goes on in vss. 18-23 to unpack the parable in some detail.

Note first: The “soil” in all four cases is exactly that – soil. There is no fundamental difference in the composition of the four soils. They are all dirt. There is nothing ontologically different between people themselves which makes any difference regarding the success of the Gospel. The parable doesn’t make the point that seed fell on concrete, and then on steel, a mountain side and then soil. In each case, the seed fell on soil. The problem, was the condition of each soil.

Note second: The soil on the path has all the inherent properties of the other soils – but it’s condition was that it was hard. It would not receive the seed easily. Many a person, even in the Church is unfruitful because of hardness. They receive nothing from the outside. Everything is on their terms. Their hearts and minds have been solidified into a thought process that lets no one, and no thing ever to really enter in. They do not want to be disturbed from the way they have everything figured out. They’ve got their point of view, they are unwilling to be changed. Their favorite songs are: “I’ve got to be me” and “I did it my way.” If they remain hard, if they do not hear the Word of the Lord calling to “break up the fallow ground” (Jer. 4:3 and Hosea 10:12) they will die fruitless, and lost. The hearers of Jesus’ words here should have connected them with God’s former rebukes to such hardness. But that is the nature of hardness, nothing gets through.

Note third: The rocky soil is simply shallow. Nothing gets deeper than the skin. There is “no depth.” This person lives for the visible – the surface things of life. In truth, they never really think about anything very deeply. They flit from relationship to relationship. They change jobs often. They are constantly – and but for a micro second – absolutely enthused about whatever has caught their attention – right then. And then it is off to something else. They’ve tried everything, and been everywhere, and think they are really broad in their experience. But in truth, they know only the slightest bit about a thousand things – nothing really about anything. J.I. Packer once remarked that American Evangelicalism is 10,000 miles wide, and an inch deep. This is true of so many even in the natural. They’ll respond to the Gospel the same way they buy into every other new fad. But stay with Christ? Endure the hardness of staying put and persevering to actually bear fruit in Christ’s likeness? Nope. The people are too difficult, the circumstances not accommodating enough, the preacher boring, the music is the wrong style, the building is too old or too new or too bright or too dark and, and, and…

Note fourth: We come to the fatally distracted. The thorns are the very same encumbrances which threaten us all. But for them – they take priority over everything else. God is good. Religion is fine. Christ and Christianity is great – as long as you don’t go overboard. After all, life is more than serving Christ, isn’t it? I mean, there’s a LOT of other priorities. So worship is second to sports or other involvements. Studying God’s Word is for the Bible nerds. Prayer? – I pray, sort of, when I think of it or something is really pressing. But the thought of actually arranging one’s life around the priorities of Heaven seems too extreme. They want the religion piece in place, but certainly don’t want it to dominate the landscape – just dress it up. And these too will die fruitless and lost.

Note fifth: Then of course there is the soil which hears and receives and endures and brings forth fruit.   

So the question arises, which soil are you?

Note lastly: Hardness can be softened by exposure to moisture. Attendance upon the means of grace can soften the hardest of hearts over time. Rocky soil can be cleared of debris. And thorns and thistles can be weeded out. No one need die in their sins due to these external conditions. Christ is a very great Savior. None of these are hindrances to Him, nor the Gospel. They are hindrances to us. But will He still not save any who call to Him irrespective of their environment? Indeed He will. So Paul can write in 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Such were some of you. Some hard. Some shallow. Some weedy. And yet washed and made new in Christ.