“A sower went out to sow his seed.” So begins one of Jesus’ most famous parables, the parable of the soils. Included in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this parable is key to understanding the other parables of Jesus. It serves as both an encouragement and warning to us as we begin our study of the parables: We are to take heed how we hear the Word of God.
Want to study the themes in this episode further? Here are a few passages and reflection questions to consider:
What fruit are we to bear as believers? Check out Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 1:11, Hebrews 13:15, and Romans 1:13.
Based on the fruit described in the passages above, what fruit have you been bearing recently?
Do any of the unproductive soils convict you? Are you currently being hardened by sin, or disheartened by a trial, temptation or persecution, or choked by worry or love of money? If so, how do Jesus’ words encourage you to respond?
Are you sowing the Word of God? To whom? How does the parable of the soils encourage you as you do?
Consider committing 2 Peter 1:1-11 or John 15:1-11 to memory as a way to meditate on God’s Word!