The Parable of the Soils
To start our new series on the parables that Jesus told, we have an episode on the Parable of the Soils. What does the seed represent, what are the soils and how can you make sure that you are the good soil? Tune in to find out!
To find out what a parable is, why Jesus used parables to teach others and what kind of stories he used to tell, listen to this past episode - JESUS LIFE: His Parables.
Bible Passage: Matthew 13:1-8
“That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach.Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore. Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said:
A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn’t very deep. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants. But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered.If you have ears, pay attention!”
Later Jesus’ disciples asked him about the stories, why he used them etc, and Jesus answered their questions and then explained the meaning of the parable.
The seed is the gospel, the word of God, the good news of Jesus dying on the cross for your sins. This parable is about people's reactions when they hear the good news.
Jesus explains the parable to his disciples later:
Bible Passage: Matthew 13:18-23
"Now listen to the meaning of the story about the farmer:
The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts.The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away.But they don’t have deep roots, and they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand the message. They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.”
Story Time!
I was handing out skittles. The colourful fruit flavoured lollies (candy).
I gave some to Jack. He would not even try one. Would hardly even look at it. He was absolutely not interested.
I gave some to Olivia. She thought they were delicious and ate and ate straight away. She said they were the best lolly she had ever tasted. But then her fingers got a bit of colour on them and they got a bit sticky and she didn’t like that, so she decided she didn’t like the skittles anymore.
I gave some to William. Will though that the skittles were yummy, but his friend came along with smarties and he quickly decided that they were the best lollies she’d ever had.
I gave some to Charlotte. Charlotte was interested, happy to learn about them and try them. When she tried it she thought the skittles were so fantastic that she wanted to devote her life to having as many people enjoy those skittles as much as her, so she grew up and became a skittles sales marketer.
What do you think?
I want you to imagine that you see a kid in the park. They are playing an interesting game and you want to play. For some reason you decide to tell them about Jesus dying on the cross for your sins.
This person doesn’t want to hear it at all and just wants to keep playing. They tell you so. This is like the first soil where it lands on the road. It doesn’t sink in and the birds take it away.
Imagine that you are at the park another day and meet a similar person playing a similarly fun game. You tell them about Jesus. They love that story! They believe you straight away and come along to church when you invite them. All of a sudden they are talking about Jesus, going to everything that they can and inviting all their friends. But then something in life gets hard - someone passes away or someone gets sick - and all of a sudden they don’t believe in Jesus anymore. This is the soil where there are rocks and the plant doesn’t have deep roots. Roots in plants are important for longevity.
Imagine the same scenario, back at the park. This time your new friend listens to you, wants to know more, like your other friend, but as they get older, so do problems in their lives. Their faith grows, but so does their worries and life goals, and they have no time left for being a Christian and following Jesus. Their problems are the weeds that grow up with their faith-plant.
Your last friend that you meet at the park is someone who listens to you, wants to know more, and grows without the presence of rocks (worries) or weeds (problems/life goals), and so their faith is able to grow up healthy and strong!
Question Time!
Do you remember how you reacted the first time you heard about Jesus saving you from your sins? If you did, which soil do you think you might have had when that seed landed on you?
What can you do to ensure that you are the good soil?
What might Jesus be talking about when he says that "they produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.” Matthew 13:23
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