Articles
What kind of Soil Are You - Matthew 13
What kind of Soil Are You - Matthew 13
Jesus spoke to them in parables. Such were ‘stories with intent’ – with the intention of drawing one into the story and causing him to think! We often find it easier to make judgments about how others act, hence the parables draw us in, make us discern right and wrong, and thus expose our own character. At the conclusion, we often hear the echo of Nathan’s voice to David: “Thou are the man!” Jesus was a master at such stories.
Although he did many miracles and they were amazed at his teaching, many did not put their trust in Him. How could this be? Wasn’t everyone to be a follower of the Christ when he came? No.
Jesus quotes from Isaiah 9: “14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; 15 For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.'”(Matthew 13:14-15). Later in Isaiah, we read of the Messiah’s rejection: “1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?... 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:1, 3).
Isaiah’s prophecy was one that is fulfilled in every generation: They hear but do not hear. They see but they do not perceive. Their hearts are dull, their ears don’t hear, and their eyes don’t see. BUT, such is true of our generation!
With this in mind, Jesus then tells and explains the story of the ‘sower’, but more accurately labeled the parable of the soils. The seed is the word of God. The same seed is scattered everywhere. The RESPONSE (producing fruit from this seed) differs not because of the seed but because of the soil.
This is Jesus’ story, we must let Him tell it. He gives four different soil types. Three out of the four are unproductive. While such unproductiveness is due to different reasons, the end is the same: they produce no crop. Even the good soil produces differing yields.
We are to sow the seed – on every soil. We can not expect that everyone that hears will respond correctly, rather, Jesus’ shows that a majority of people will NOT respond and produce fruit!
Since the soil is the hearts of men, there is personal responsibility involved in such non-fruit production! Such soil/heart CAN BE changed! We are NOT the sole product of outside forces. Ezra prepared his heart (Ezra 7:10)! We are to ‘keep the heart with all diligence’ (Prov. 4:23). Some harden their heart instead (read again the story of Moses and Pharaoh).
What kind of soil are you? You can tell by inspecting the fruit. Yes, it was Jesus who said, “by their fruit you shall know them.” What does your fruit say about your heart?
Hugh DeLong
