What Kind of Soil Are You?

8th Sunday after Pentecost, 8/7/11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23


What Kind of Soil Are You?


People tend to categorize things and other people. Manufacturers will categorize their own product line as “good, better and best.” Retailers will inform you that, of all the choices they offer you, this one particular item is categorized as the best value. We also categorize things such as sports teams and musical groups from worst to best.

We even do it with individuals. As open-minded as we try to be with others, as accepting as we may think we are, as non-judgmental as we try to be, we have a natural inclination to gently or not-so-gently place that person in a certain category, especially after we have come to know them. We do it with our fellow-employees, with our business and social contacts, with our neighbors, and even with our fellow-members here at church. And I’m not saying that this is a sinful activity which we should avoid. I’m simply saying that’s the way we operate. We place this person here and that person there and this other person over there in the grand assessments we inevitably make of others.

This morning we have before us what is likely the most well-known of all the parables that Jesus spoke—the Parable of the Sower. That’s the title of it here in our version of the Bible. That title isn’t in the original Greek. Others have referred to it as the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. In it, Jesus categorizes the soil into four different types and then explains each type. Have you ever asked yourself why he would do that? After all, Jesus did everything for a reason. And while Jesus doesn’t explicitly tell us why, a hint is given to us here in Matthew’s Gospel.

That hint is found in the context. The first three words of our text tell us, “That same day.” What same day? The one treated in the previous chapter. On that day Jesus had healed a man who was demon-possessed. The reaction to this miracle by the Pharisees was that he did this miracle by the power of Satan. Jesus pointed out how foolish and ridiculous such a statement was. The Pharisees and teachers of the law then asked Jesus for a miraculous sign from him, one from the heavens, proving that he had come from heaven and not from hell. Jesus told them they would be given the sign of the prophet Jonah, meaning, they should watch for his resurrection from the dead after three days. Jesus was astounded at their hard hearts.

And then came what was likely the most difficult situation Jesus had yet faced. His mother and brothers stood outside the home where Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people and wanted to speak with him. About what? Mark informs us that they considered Jesus to be out of his mind and wanted to get him the help that he needed. In other words, at this point they didn’t at all support Jesus and his ministry. They opposed what he was preaching and teaching about himself. Jesus must have been crushed. This was the response his word was receiving! This was the kind of soil his seed was falling on!

And so, with a large crowd of people standing on the shore, Jesus got into a boat, sat down and said, “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.” In Bible times, farmers didn’t carefully place one seed after another into the soil and then cover it as you and I might do in our vegetable gardens today. That took too much time. They simply reached into a bag, grabbed a handful of seed and scattered it about them. And in Bible times, it was common for footpaths and animal paths to cut right through a particular field. As he scattered the seed, some inadvertently fell on that path where the ground was too hard for the seed to fall into the soil. That’s exactly what the birds were waiting for. They quickly came and ate it.

Jesus explains, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” He doesn’t understand it. Why not? Not for lack of teaching, but for the individual’s refusal to acknowledge its truth. All this talk about sin and its punishment and God and his grace in sending a Savior from sin seems like utter nonsense. The person refuses to acknowledge their sin or their need for such a Savior, perhaps even refusing to acknowledge the existence of the one true God himself. Satan has won this heart with his lies, and, in keeping with his hellish work, he takes the truth of that word away.

Jesus continues with the parable, “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.” Don’t think here of soil with a few stones in it such as is common here in our area of the country. Think of a shelf of rock or a field with an out-cropping of rock. Such rock might have a thin layer of soil on it and some vegetation might be able to grow there. When the seed falls there, it germinates and a plant grows, but not for long. When the dry weather and the hot, summer sun come along, the plant dies because its roots have been unable to sink down deeply into the soil.

Listen to Jesus explain this type of soil. “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.” This person is overjoyed to hear the message of forgiveness through Jesus. But they haven’t considered the cost of being a disciple of Jesus and when things get rough, they fall away.

Jesus moves on to yet a third situation. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” With any plot of ground weeds are inevitable. They grow up along with the desired plants. And, unless removed, hinder the growth of the desired plants, and, in this case, actually choked the plant. The weeds grew over the top of the plants, preventing the plants from receiving proper sun and water. In the course of time, the plants died.

Jesus explains this situation which, tragically, is all too common. “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” The weeds that choke the plant are the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth. In other words, the things of this life and the other pursuits this life has to offer, make the word of God seem less and less important to the Christian, until, slowly and imperceptibly, their faith in Jesus is dead. They no longer make the effort to hear the word, receive the Lord’s Supper or study God’s word on their own and their faith in Jesus withers away. How tragic!

But finally, some good news! Jesus makes mention of the situation we all hope for and look for. “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” This is exactly what the sower intended when he scattered the seed. The seed found good soil where it was able to take root deeply and received nutrients from the soil and rain and sunshine from the sky. The plant grew as God had created it to grow. It produced fruit for the sower to harvest when ripe and to enjoy as food for himself and his family.

Jesus explains what is obvious to us, “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” By the grace of God this person believes the truth of that word regarding his or her sins and the punishment those sins deserve. They also believe in God’s plan of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. That faith in Jesus saves them and produces fruit in their life as they live their life of faith. They continue to hear that word and, thus, remain in their faith until Jesus calls them home to heaven.

Jesus concludes, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Jesus has presented us with four types, four categories, of soil. But the parable isn’t about the soil. Let me repeat that. The parable isn’t about the soil. It’s about the powerful word of God. That word has the power to create and sustain saving faith in every heart. That’s also God’s highest will for every sinner—that he or she believes what his word says about Jesus as their Savior.

But we still want to categorize things. We still want to place this person here and that person there. In fact, with a little thinking, we know people who are like the hard soil of the path. We know others who were Christians for a short time but fell away. We know others who had saving faith for some time but then lost it because they let the things of this life choke their faith out. And, thankfully, as we look around this morning, we know others like ourselves who are “good soil.”

Really? Good soil? Is that the category we place ourselves in? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that there have been times in our lives when we have been every one of these types of soil? Have we ever said, “I know that’s what the Bible says, but I don’t believe it”? Or, “I know that’s what the Bible says, but I’m going to do this anyway”? That’s hard soil. And how many times have we concluded that being a Christian is too difficult in this particular area at this particular moment of my life? That’s rocky soil. Be careful. And has anything ever been more important to you at a particular moment than hearing God’s word or receiving his Supper? That’s thorny soil. Be careful. So, what type of soil are you?

Thankfully, the parable isn’t about the types of soil. It’s about the powerful, gracious word of our God which forgives you through Jesus and offers you eternal life with him. Praise God that he has worked saving faith in your heart! Pray that he would ever keep you in that faith through his word. And then cherish that word! Make it your greatest treasure. Gladly hear and learn it! Share it with others! Amen.