But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:23)

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to Part 2 of our series, “The Sower’s Seed.” In this part, we will explore the scripture of Matthew 13:1-23. It is about the seed scattered by the Sower. This is one of the many parables that Jesus shared with the crowds.

In the previous article, we discussed why Jesus used parables to communicate with the people. The purpose of Jesus’ parables was to keep those who did not believe outside of God’s covenant. While God’s message is within our reach, our understanding is hindered by the condition of our hearts.

Today, we dive into the topic of “the scattered seed.” What exactly is this seed? What does it symbolize, and what is its purpose in the story? Let’s examine these questions together.

Introduction to the Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower focuses on a farmer’s seed and a receiving ground. As the parable is preached every day of the different types of soil that receive it. The teachings of the Bible span across many subjects, not just one.

Before sharing the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus first presented the Parable of the Sower to the crowd. Both parables feature a Sower and a Seed, with the farmer representing Jesus Himself. He came to sow His seed on the fields prepared by God. First, He spoke about the different types of ground that receive the seed. Then He delved into the nature of the seed itself.

The Receiving Ground

The farmer went out to sow his seed. The same seed scattered across all the different types of ground in his field. In John 3:16, we are reminded that God gave His only Son to the world, not just to the church. It is through belief in Him that we are promised eternal life. It’s striking how often the church has used the Son of God as a tool of judgment. The church should be offering Him to the world in the same way that God offered Him. He was given to bring hope, redemption, and life.

The parable of the Sower illustrates the seed that God intended for Jesus to scatter across the fields of the world. As the Sower spread His seed, it fell on various types of ground. It fell along the path, in rocky places, among thorns, and on good soil. This seed was meant for all the people of the land, as it touched each of these four types of ground.

This seed belongs to God. It is the same seed He gave to humanity in the Garden of Eden. This happened after mankind sinned against Him. The seed represents the protection and strength humanity needs to overcome the devil’s work. Jesus sowed His seed so that it would be available to everyone. This seed was sown with you and I in mind. It offers us the opportunity to receive it and grow in faith.

The seed was sown within us. From the soil of the earth, man was formed, and it is on this same ground that Jesus scattered His seed. God planted this seed in each of us to help resurrect us from our flaws and shortcomings. The grounds on which Jesus sowed His seed are our souls. He sowed it into our hearts, with the hope of bringing transformation and renewal.

The Importance of the Seed in God’s Plan

God’s intention in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth was to bring us peace. This peace is embodied in the seed that Jesus scattered on the various grounds. It was God’s choice to offer this peace to everyone. He birthed His Son as a child to bring us peace, and this peace, which Jesus carries, is concealed within the seed He scattered. In essence, God brought us peace, but this peace is wrapped in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ

Walking with God means walking with His Son, in the name of the Father. It is about bringing peace into our lives through that relationship. While God is always with us, it requires us to acknowledge Him. Even though we walk with God, His message is not always fully received. Walking with God is not always easy—it demands dedication to His word. Just as all the grounds of the world received the seed, God shared His love with us. He did so through that very Seed. It is up to us to embrace and nurture it within our hearts.

On all types of ground, God has made provision, ensuring that no one is left out of His covenant. However, it is up to each of us to pick up our cross and follow His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus sowed His seed across all nations, offering everyone the opportunity to receive it. What would the outcome have been if God had neglected His children? The church would be in a desperate state.

The seed is of great significance to God. Walking with the Lord gives us the strength to endure the pressures of this world. This is the very reason God sent His Son into the world. He offers us that strength and enable us to navigate life’s challenges with His peace and grace.

Jesus’ Mission: Sowing the Seed Across Nations

The sowing of the seed by Jesus was a profound commission fulfilled. This mission brought us peace and saved our souls through His death on the cross for all mankind. He paid the price for our sins. The seed plays a vital role in the fulfilment of Jesus’ work on earth. He came to sow this seed into our lives, offering us the peace that only He can provide. Without the seed, our lives would be consumed by the fleeting treasures of this world. This would leave us without true fulfilment or hope.

Jesus scattered the seed across all nations to bring us unity and solidarity. He sowed this seed on the ground that God had prepared with His love. The seed that fell on good soil produced a bountiful harvest. However, the seed that fell on bad ground yielded nothing. God gave His only begotten Son to be crucified on Calvary for our salvation. Those who accepted and embraced His Son’s teachings bore much fruit. In contrast, those who rejected His message yielded nothing, as illustrated in the parable.

God gave up His Son to be the sacrificial Lamb on Calvary, offering salvation to the world. The word of God is meant to save the world from hatred and division. Those who heard Jesus’ teachings and received Him as their Saviour yielded much because they built their faith on His word. However, those who rejected His teachings and did not accept the word of God, Jesus, bore no fruit. This happened because they allowed the enemy of this world to steal God’s word from their hearts, replacing it with fear.

In Matthew 13:18-23, Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower:

“Listen then to what the parable of the Sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

So, what is the nature of this seed that the Sower scattered?

Coexistence of Good and Evil

God wants to plant a particular seed in each of us. This is so we may truly know Him as our God. This seed is meant to help us distinguish between the Son of Man and the devil, between good and evil. A time will come when the wheat and the weeds will grow together in the same space in the field. In Matthew 13:24-29, Jesus shared the Parable of the Weeds. This parable comes between the Parable of the Sower’s Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. This parable illustrates how, in the world, both the righteous and the wicked will coexist. They will do so until the appointed time of harvest.

The seeds of both wheat and weeds have been planted in the field of the Lord. They share the same space, and as they grow, it may be difficult for us to distinguish between them. However, it is only through the word of God that we can discern the difference. To recognize what is of His Kingdom, we must be grounded in His word and gain understanding of His ways. The seed that Jesus scattered in the field is crucial for our growth and development. It guides us in truth, helps us grow spiritually, and equips us to live according to God’s will.

Conclusion: Embracing the Word of God for Spiritual Fulfilment

In the Parable of the Sower, a farmer went out to sow his seed. The grounds on which he scattered the seed represent the state of our hearts. We see that the seed—the Word of God—has been scattered generously by Jesus across all hearts and minds.

The key question is: how do we receive Jesus Christ? The parable suggests that the farmer had only one type of seed. He sowed it equally among all the different types of ground. This represents each of us, regardless of the condition of our hearts. God gave us His word out of love, sharing the same seed with everyone. However, those who refused to receive it bore no fruit for His kingdom.

God has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from the hands of the enemy. Yet, tragically, the very people He came to save—the ones like you and me—often reject His message.

So, how do we rise above our struggles when the message Jesus came to deliver has been rejected by us?

Just as the farmer sowed his seed on different types of ground, God has entrusted us with His word. This gives us the opportunity to bear fruit in His kingdom. The key lies in how we receive that seed and nurture it in our hearts.

As we reflect on the teachings of this parable, let us remember that the message of Jesus is not exclusive. It is universal. It’s up to each of us to examine the condition of our hearts. We must be open to receiving the Word in a way that allows it to grow and flourish. God has given us everything we need for spiritual growth—now, it is our responsibility to respond.

I encourage you to take some time this week to revisit Matthew 13:18-23 and reflect on the seed that Jesus scattered. Ask yourself: How am I receiving His word? Is my heart open and fertile for growth, or are there obstacles in the way?

Now that we’ve explored the seed that Jesus scattered in the field and its significance for our growth and development, I’ll be sharing insights about “The Mustard Seed” in the next post.

Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s engage in a meaningful conversation about how we can allow God’s seed to bear fruit in our lives. If this message has inspired you, be sure to share it with others who may benefit from hearing it.

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Let’s journey together in understanding and living our faith in Christ Jesus! 🙏

Written by Eunice Forson

Be sure to check out post #3 in our series next Monday!

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If you missed any of the previous posts in this series, here’s a quick recap:

Over the past couple of weeks in our “The Sower’s Seed” blog series, we’ve discussed…

• Introduction to the Series – The Sower’s Seed