Hello, dear friend,
Today, let’s take look at how our Lord introduces the Parable of the Sower:
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;”
— Mark 4:3
In the previous verse, we see that Jesus was sitting in a boat while His listeners were on the shore. This was due to the large crowd gathered around Him. Mark tells us that Jesus begins the parable by mentioning a person who is not recognized by name but by vocation. It’s probable that we know nothing else about the sower, other than that he sows seed. We are not told about his routine or any further details except that he went out to sow.
“As he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.”
— Mark 4:4
Next, we are introduced to the first of the three types of bad soil: the soil beside the road. Jesus mentions that the seed which fell beside the road was picked up and eaten by birds.
“Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.”
— Mark 4:5
We are then introduced to the second type of bad soil: rocky ground. When the seed fell upon the rocky ground, it started to grow and sprouted quickly, but then it died because it lacked the depth of soil needed for growth.
“After the sun rose, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.”
— Mark 4:6
Because the soil was shallow, the small plant could not withstand the scorching sun. Jesus says it withered away.
“Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.”
— Mark 4:7
The third type of bad soil was among the thorns. Similar to the seed that fell in rocky soil, this one seemed to produce life, but it was choked by the thorns before it could yield a crop.
“Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they were yielding a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
— Mark 4:8
After this, we see Jesus shift to the good soil. In this case, the seeds that fell into the soil grew up and increased, yielding three types of harvests: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and one hundredfold.
This kind of harvest was unheard of in that time. Some suggest that Jesus was speaking hyperbolically about the abundance of the crop produced by the few seeds that fell in good soil. However, this hyperbole highlights the incredible fruitfulness that comes from good soil.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
— Mark 4:9
As in many of His parables, Jesus closes with this statement: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This phrase emphasizes the importance of paying attention to what was said. We see Jesus use a similar phrase when addressing the seven churches in the book of Revelation:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”
— Revelation 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
— Revelation 3:6
The statement underscores the depth of what Jesus was sharing through the parable, urging listeners to pay close attention.
However, we see that Jesus didn’t immediately explain the meaning of the parable to the crowd. He reserved the explanation for when He was alone with His disciples:
“When He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.”
— Mark 4:10
Jesus then explained that a judgment had fallen upon the scribes and Pharisees due to their rejection of the works of the Holy Spirit. This judgment took the form of withholding certain revelations from them:
“To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything comes in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, lest they return and be forgiven.”
— Mark 4:11-12
This spiritual blindness still exists today. Some people, even when faced with the evidence and reality of the gospel, reject its truth because their hearts are darkened:
“For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
— Romans 1:21
Like the sower, we must understand that sharing the gospel is not merely an intellectual exchange. It requires a deep dependence on God’s grace to illuminate hearts and enable people to see and submit to the truths of His word.
Sometimes, we may think that adjusting the gospel message to make it more appealing will result in conversion. However, Jesus Himself said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them:
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
— John 6:44
A practical example of this is found in Lydia’s conversion. Luke records how the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to Paul’s message:
“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”
— Acts 16:14
This is how true conversion happens. It’s not about the persuasive power of the preacher but God’s providence and sovereignty in opening hearts to hear and understand the gospel.
As believers, this truth should give us great courage and boldness in sharing the gospel. Our job is not to convert people, but to faithfully deliver the message and trust God to open their hearts.
I pray that this message encourages you to share the gospel with those around you:
“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
— 2 Timothy 4:5
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