SOWING THE GOSPEL SEED (Part 2)

Matthew 13:3-9

III. V. 4-9 THE SOWER’S MEASURE OF SUCCESS

A. As we read this parable, it becomes apparent that this sower lost some of his seed. Some of it fell on soil that had been unprepared, and that seed produced no fruit. Since that is true, was the sower a failure? No, he was successful in his work because he fulfilled his mandate. His mission was to sow the seed, and that is what he did! He had no control over the soil, and he had no control over the amount of fruit each plant produced. He was successful because of two truths:

           1. He sowed all his seed.

           2. He sowed all his field.

B. As a sower of Gospel seed, you and I are not responsible for the kind of soil into which our seed falls. We cannot even judge the soil condition because we cannot see into the heart of it, 1 Sam. 16:7. Three of the four soils in this parable looked good on the surface. Notice:

1. The Hard Soil – v. 4, 19 – The “wayside” refers to narrow footpaths that ran beside and through the fields. As roads of the day, the soil on them had become as hard as concrete from the feet of travelers who had walked upon them. When the seed fell on the footpath, it could not penetrate the soil, and it remained there in the open, only to be devoured by the fowls of the air.

We are told that this speaks of the person who hears the Gospel but does not “understand it.” That is, they cannot make the connection between the claims of the Gospel and their own life. Maybe they are steeped in sin and refuse to believe. Maybe they are calloused and cold toward the things of God and refuse to hear. Maybe they have hardened their hearts for years against the call of the Gospel, and as a path trampled underfoot for centuries, they have become hard-hearted! Whatever their need, they are hard-hearted, and the seed of the Gospel cannot penetrate the soil of their heart. When this happens, the devil and his minions will snatch away the Gospel seed by diverting the mind and helping the person become even more hardened against God. This person has a heart that is not prepared for a work of grace leading to salvation. 

2. The Stony Soil – v. 5-6; 20-21 – These stony places are common in Palestine. Often there will be an outcropping of limestone rock covered by a thin layer of topsoil. This soil looks like it is ready to be sown. This ground looks good and productive, and the seed cast here will germinate and quickly spring up into a promising plant. However, as soon as the sun beats down on the tender plant, it withers and dies without producing any fruit because there is no soil depth.

This kind of soil speaks of that heart that makes an emotional response to the presentation of the Gospel. Perhaps this person heard the Gospel and said, “That’s what I need!” Alternatively, perhaps they come because a friend came. Whatever their motive, they make a profession, but it is a shallow one at best. They may even show signs of life in the Lord, but when Christianity does not turn out like they thought it would, they quickly fade away and disappear! They shrink away from the radical claims of Christ and the cross, Matt. 16:24. These are the people who make a profession, go like gangbusters for a short time, and then wind up right back in the world. Were they saved? No! How do we know for sure? No fruit!

3. The Thorny Soil – v. 7; 22 – This soil also looks like it is ready to be sown, but underneath the surface are the living roots and seeds of thorns and weeds. When the seed falls here, it also quickly springs to life and gives every indication that a good harvest will follow. However, the same ground begins to produce the thorns and weeds already there and soon choke out the tender plant. This plant withers and dies without producing any fruit at all.

This is a picture of a heart that tries to benefit the Gospel while still clinging to the thorns of sin. Without a conscious break from sin’s old life, this person does not have a chance of being saved. The seed of the Gospel cannot survive to produce fruit in a heart filled with other things. The seed must have the ground, or sin must have the ground, but it cannot be shared! Jesus said it was the cares of the world and the quest for earthly riches that spelled disaster for this kind of soil. This kind of person begins well but soon fades away, having their profession choked out by sin and the world. Were they saved? No! How do we know for sure? No fruit!

4. The Good Soil – v. 8; 23 – Finally, some seed fell onto the good ground. This ground had been worked and prepared. It had been plowed and tilled, and it was ready to receive the seed when it came. The seed germinated within the heart of the soil, and the plant began to grow. When the plant reached maturity, it produced fruit that brought honor and gains to the farmer.

This is a picture of the heart that has been plowed deeply by the Word of God. It is a picture of a heart that has been tilled and prepared by the grace of God. When the seed of the Gospel hits this kind of heart, it germinates, grows up, and bears fruit to the glory of God. This heart alone pictures that kind of life that can genuinely call itself saved!

(Note: The only difference between these types of soil was fruit. On the hard soil, the seed never penetrated the hard ground and was carried away. The seed penetrated and disappeared on the other three soils, but only that which fell on the good soil produced fruit! I would caution you not to get hung up on fruit-bearing. If you are saved, then you will find out that “Fruit happens.” As you abide in Jesus, He will produce His fruit in your life, John 15:1-8.)

C. Sure, we may cast our seed into unprepared soil, but we are to cast that seed and leave the harvest in the hands of the Lord. After all, He is the “Lord of the harvest,” Matt. 9:38.

When we have sowed the Gospel seed into the field of this world, and when we have sowed the field as completely as possible, we have done all that we have been commanded to do, and we can consider our work a success. What if we never lead a soul to Jesus personally? I truly think some people are sowers, some water that which has been sown and others harvest. From time to time, you may get to sow, water and harvest. At others, only one of the three. Our duty is not to fret over the results. Our duty is to get out into the field and sow!

Thoughts: Did you know that there will never be a harvest unless the seed is actually sewn into the ground? The farmer can have the most fertile soil, the best of seeds, and the best intentions, but if he never actually gets out into the field and sows the seed, no crop will ever be produced!

     Friends, we can sit here in this fine building, and we can preach the Gospel. We can gather and pray for sinners. We can have the precious Word of God in our hands and our hearts, but until we actually go into the world and tell lost, dying sinners about Jesus Christ, we will never see a harvest.

     Oh, we might see one here and there saved by grace in the church, but we will never see multitudes come to Jesus until we go where they are, and we tell them about Him. May God help us to see the harvest through His eyes this evening, John 4:35-38. Whether we sow or whether we get to reap, does it matter? All that matters is fulfilling the great commission and telling a lost world about a loving Lord.