Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. “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. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 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. 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!”
Matthew 13:1-23 NLT
Jesus frequently spoke in parables, stories from everyday life that made a point. They illustrated the way that God works in the world. Matthew 13 is the third (of five) major teaching sections in the Gospel of Matthew. The stories in this chapter are about organic growth. God doesn’t leave us static; He grows us. These parables of Jesus were not always easy to understand though. Sometimes the meaning or meanings were very clear, other times the only thing you could figure out was that you couldn't figure it out! What were you supposed to do? Go ask Jesus for more help.
Jesus told the parable of the Four Soils to the entire crowd, but only the DISCIPLES came and asked Him for more information. They were given the secrets of the Kingdom because they asked. The offer for deeper understanding (of God) was for everyone, but only those who realized they need help, and came to God, received more information. This is why Jesus quoted Isaiah; people hear but don’t understand. The parable fulfills Isaiah—and itself. The disciples understood that they didn't understand. They were the good soil from the story. The story was about the word of God being shared, and the story itself IS the word of God being shared. The people fulfilled the story even as they listened to it. Which soil would they be? Satan fights against truth, deep roots take hard work, and worry and wealth tempt us. Which soil will you be?
How has God been working to grow you? Will you let His word sink deep into your life?
