Hearing and the Parable of the Sower and the Seed

Most of us are familiar with the account of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed in Luke chapter 8.

The seed is the word of God and it’s planted in different kinds of hearts… the “wayside” where Satan snatches the word out of their hearts before it can even grow a root. The “rocky soil” where the word takes root but before faith can grow they are tempted and fall away. The “thorny soil” where the word is choked out by things that compete for our time and the good “rich soil” where the word develops a deep root and is very productive.

The primary application of this parable is not to the planter of God’s word… it is to the hearer of God’s word.

Note that Jesus’ explanation transitions from the agricultural side to a description of a lamp and light and the need to let it shine. The words “hear and heard” occurs six times in the parable and the explanation of the parable and then culminates with the light/lamp explanation and the words “Take heed therefore how you hear…”

You can be a “wayside” hearer, a “rocky soil” hearer, a “weed choked” hearer or a “good soil” hearer. You are in control of how you hear God’s Word… Jesus said so.

And then at the close of this explanation Jesus’ mom and brothers come looking for him and Jesus addressing the crowd said to them those who “hear the word of God and do it” are my mother and brothers.

Those who hear and do are those who believe and shine. If you do that you will be productive.