‘The Parable of the Sower,’ a familiar one, is the interest of study for us today, though we may have read/studied/experienced it many times in our lifetime. When asked, Jesus always interpreted the parables to His eager disciples and he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables." (Luke 8:10). Likewise, the Holy Spirit is always ready to reveal the treasures of the depth of God to those who earnestly desire it.

This parable is seen in all three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  It illustrates the preaching of gospel and its results. The sower implies a PREACHER or any person who shares the gospel. The seed implies the WORD OF GOD (Luke 8:11).  As a man of God has clearly explained, we can find 4 types of Heart applicable to each type of person based on his/her reception of the Word:

1. Seedless Heart (Luke 8:5 & Luke 8:12)

2. Rootless Heart (Luke 8:6 & Luke 8:13)

3. Fruitless Heart (Luke 8:7 & Luke 8:14)

4. Good Heart (Luke 8:8 & Luke 8:15)

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1. Seedless Heart: God so loved the world, that He sent His begotten Son to this earth that one who believes in Him can be saved (John 3:16)- this is the Gospel message. A person who has heard this message and has never given value to it but allowed the Word to be trampled is the “seedless” heart described here. The devil comes and takes away the word from his heart and he will not believe and be saved (Luke 8:5 & Luke 8:12).
   
   What a pathetic situation! The only solution for this heart is to believe and “..and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21). In not allowing the devil to snatch the Word, one has to submit to God and resist the devil who will flee! (James 4:7)
   
    

2. Rootless Heart: This person received the Word and welcomed it with joy but there was no root -depth of the Word of God in his heart; he just believed for a while. But the Word of God is not for our “quick fixes” but it is to be beneficial lifelong- the Word of God is everlasting! When the trials and temptations come, such a person just falls away. (Luke 8:6 & Luke 8:13)
   Whatever the storms we are facing or going to face, a child of God who is rooted in the word of God boldly says, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Heb.13:5-6).
   
    

3. Fruitless Heart: This person received the Word of God, but “thorns” sprang up and choked- the anxieties, cares, riches and pleasures of life surely choke the Word of God. Both will not grow together! He could not produce any fruit because of the thorns. (Luke 8:7 & Luke 8:14).
   
   The sower has a responsibility here: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” (Jeremiah 4:3). For all cares of this world, the remedy is: “…casting all your anxieties on him[Christ], because he cares for you!” (1Peter.5:7)
   
    

4. Good Heart: This person is honest, heard the Word and kept it! This heart is one which is rooted on a good foundation- Jesus Christ (Matt.7:25) Hence the Word grew within him and produced fruit. Bearing fruit does not happen in a day but with patience he bears fruit!
   Producing fruit is not a onetime process; it’s a day to day practice. “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.” (James 1:22 GW).

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Meditate on it:

Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the

vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” 

-John 15:4