The people crowded around Jesus, not just for miracles or healing, but to hear him teach. They saw the truth of God in Jesus and wanted to learn from him. They were hungry for God and the things of God. They were seekers. How does Jesus teach them? In parables! The point of using parables (vv 12ff.) was to hide the meaning from some of the people. The point of this parable is that some of those who heard Jesus would not gain the eternal life and salvation they sought. Jesus gives this hard truth to remind us that God is sovereign over our salvation. We must not sit in judgment on the Word of God, but in humility let the Word work in our hearts.

The sower flings the seed (the Word of God) all over. He presents the gospel to all, just as we should. Yet the seed does not produce a harvest everywhere it lands. The seed that falls on the path is eaten by birds before it can germinate. This is like those who hear the gospel and tune it out. They hear it on the radio, TV or in conversation and figure that all this "Jesus talk" is for someone else. Before the Word can have effect, Satan steals it away.

Many who came to hear Jesus would take comfort in this part of the story because it describes, not them, but the "other guy" who doesn’t care about the gospel. Yet they might be wrong. Sometimes the one who looks the most resistant to the gospel is the nearest to receiving it. Sometimes the most respectable looking church goer may be practiced at tuning out the Word of God. You never know. That is why we proclaim the gospel freely to all. It is our denomination’s heritage and our Savior’s mandate.

The rocky soil group receive the Word with joy. Note that three of the four soils all have the same initial reaction. They receive the Word with joy and the plant sprouts. Three of the four types of people had a good feeling towards Jesus. They all changed their schedule in order to follow Jesus and listen to him teach. Yet many of them will never see it all the way to the harvest. Some will never see the fruit in their lives. That is quite a warning to those who flocked around him and pressed so close to him.

Some hearers later fall away because of trial, persecution or something else. Even today there are those who seem to receive the Word with joy but it only lasts a while. Something comes up. Their feelings are hurt. They experience a trial that throws them. That which sprouted up withers way as if it had never been there. This is quite a warning to those who flocked to Jesus. He told them that some of them would not last. They would not be part of the harvest.

Some hearers are like the seed that falls among thorns. The plant grows but the Word never produces the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. The cares of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things choke out the Word. Here is a person who has heard the gospel and he thought he received it. He continues to have good feelings toward Jesus, more or less. Only he has stronger feelings for other things. His priorities have changed. No longer does he hunger and thirst for righteousness as much as hunger and thirst for other things.

The gospel is designed to save you and change your heart. This image describes one whose heart does not change. Perhaps he came forward to make a decision for Christ. Perhaps he has a good attendance in Church. Perhaps he followed Jesus around and heard him teach. But the fruit is not being produced in his life.

Make no mistake. The point of planting is to have a harvest. This harvest is the fruit that the Word of God produces in those whose lives are changed by the Lord Jesus. Jesus tells his hearers that it is not enough to crowd around him and listen to his teaching. It must sink in (leaving out the seed thrown on the path). It must sprout and endure (leaving out the seed on the rocky soil). It must produce fruit (leaving out the seed among thorns).

What is good soil like? The tiller has broken it up (ouch!). Fertilizer has been added (the smell!). Weeds get pulled out (rip!). Sometimes the soil of our heart is prepared with trials, but with those trials comes ability to endure. The book of James says that trials brings patience with the goal of increasing faith.

There are two ways to respond to this parable. One is to say, "No way, Jesus. I’m not turning control of my life and my eternity over to you. I will listen only to what I want. I will hang with it only as long as it suits me. I will decide what is really important." That is the way of no harvest. Or you can say, "Jesus, I give myself to you. I do not know what the future holds, but I will trust and follow you as my Savior and Lord." Remain in Jesus and you will bear fruit (John 15:4). That is the way of great harvest. Every day, turn your heart to him in prayer and the Word. Every week, remain in Jesus by worshipping with his people. Jesus gives eternal life.