Understanding the Parable of the Sower
By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel
“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: the seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long…,” Matthew 13:19-23.
It is important that, we Christians consciously live in the new life we received through Christ when we got born again. The new life gives us authority to overcome demonic powers, overcome the flesh, and the audacity to stand our ground in the face of any challenges while enjoying all the benefits of the new life. The devil will come against you, but you must be conscious of the fact that he is subject to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can resist him by using your faith in the word of God as a shield.
It is also important that we have an understanding of the Scriptures, not by human understanding (which we were warned not to lean on) but by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. First, we must know exactly what the Scripture says, armed with that knowledge, we then rightly divide the word of truth and then believe the word to the extent of acting on it. For faith is an act! Again, faith is an act! Where there is no faith in the word, there is no corresponding action. What we act on is actually what we believe!!! The substance of faith is our action that corresponds to what we believe. The evidence of faith is the action that reveals we believe what the Scriptures say without seeing it first. This is what the Scripture says is how we respond to the word of God for it to produce life in reality. So, we can live our brand, which is the new life; the life of Jesus Christ! Proverbs 4:20 “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
Four Types of Hearers
There are four kinds of people who hear the word of God but only one of these four will produce the fruit of the seed of the word, which is the life we have in Christ Jesus.
Those without understanding. Matthew 13:19 “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it.” This group of people don’t understand what is being taught and have no interest in understanding it. These people are referred to as “churchgoers.” They go to church for whatever reason but they have no interest in knowing anything at all about Jesus. They do not come to be taught. They are usually late for everything. They come to fulfill all righteousness.
Forgetful ones. Matthew 13: 20 “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.” This group receive the word with rapt attention and end up forgetting everything once they leave the church building. Unlike the first set of people, these people listen thoroughly to the word of God but once they leave the church premises, they forget it. They do not see the need to water the seed by meditating on the word to keep it in view and in their heart as the scripture Proverbs 4:20 urges us to. They spend their time on things of this world and have little personal time for the word of God.
Anxious ones. Matthew 13: 22 “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” This group of hearers replace the word of God with certain worries and are always in a haste to go tend to their problems. They are in pursuit of money and worldly treasures at the expense of the riches of Christ; the treasures of eternal value.
Hearers and doers. Matthew 13: 23 “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” These hearers truly hear and understand the divine purpose of the word of God in their life. Their minds are not clouded with the worries of life or irrelevant things. They are not in a haste to get away from the presence of God. They are focused and fruitful.
They approach God’s word with open hearts, eager to receive and apply its teachings in their daily lives. Their understanding goes beyond mere comprehension; it transforms into action, bearing fruits of love, compassion, and righteousness. Their faith is like fertile soil, nurturing the seeds of God’s truth to grow abundantly. With patience and perseverance, they cultivate a life that reflects the goodness of God, yielding a bountiful harvest that blesses not only themselves but also those around them.
Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of The Living Word Church, New Jersey.
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