Matthew 13:3-9
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:18-23
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
At Last
Watching for the Snatcher and weathering the weather
And weeding out the worries on the farm,
It’s all a part of living on God’s estate on earth
Protecting all His seeds from heat and harm.
For there’s an evil spirit who’s intent on killing seeds
That are planted by the farmhands in the fields,
And all of us together, despite the wind and weather,
Need to work as one to multiply the yields.
It’s our responsibility to carry on the work,
While keeping calm and working hard all day,
Through dark and storm and cold and heat,
And arrows aimed from Satan’s seat
We’ll farm the fields and please Him—come what may!
And as we go out weeping, and do without the sleeping,
We’ll sense His present strength and grace to bear,
And as we work rejoicing, our joyful praises voicing,
We’ll meet him at the end in mansion fair.
No bad or bitter weather then: we’ll be with Him forever when
The sun will never set in that fair place:
We’ll everlasting stories tell of vict’ries won and lives lived well
And heart joy as at last we see His face!
Thoughtful Questions:
- Read the parable to yourself. Which section speaks to you most significantly—the birds, the withering, or the weeds? Why?
- Why isn’t there a bigger harvest?
- How is good soil described? Think of an area in your own life or family where you pray for lasting growth, and write your prayer using ideas from the parable.
