The Parable of the Sower
(From the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13, verses 1-9,18-23)
One day Jesus went to the beach. Many people went there, too. They wanted to see Jesus and listen to what he said. But the beach got very crowded. Everyone couldn't hear Jesus. So he got into a small boat and rowed a little bit off shore. He threw the anchor overboard. And from that place on the water, he thought to himself, "What should I talk about?"
Jesus knew that people were having a hard time understanding what it means to be part of God's kingdom. So he decided to teach about that. He told the people this parable:
"A man had a bag of seeds that he needed to plant. So he took a walk. And as he walked, he took handfuls of seeds out of the bag and threw them onto the ground.
Some of the seeds fell on the path that the man was walking on. But a flock of birds saw the seeds. Those seeds looked yummy! So the birds swooped down and ate them all up.
Other seeds fell on soil that was full of rocks. They started to grow. But the soil was hot and dry. Before too long, those little plants drooped over and shriveled up.
Other seeds fell on soil that had lots of big weeds growing in it. Those seeds sprouted, too, but the weeds crowded them out. The little plants died.
But some seeds fell in places where the soil was good. Those seeds began to grow. They grew and they grew until they were big, healthy plants. Those plants produced seeds for the next planting."
Jesus ended his parable by calling out to the crowd, "Let anyone with ears listen!"
Later, some of Jesus' friends came to him. "We don't understand the parable you told," they said. "Would you please explain it to us?"
And so Jesus did. This is what he told them:
"The seeds that fell on the path and got eaten by birds are like people who don't understand what they hear about God's Kingdom. Rather than try to figure it out, they let move on to other things. Eventually they forget whatever they once heard.
The seeds that fell on rocky soil are like people who hear about God's Kingdom and think to themselves, 'Wow, this is great news!' They really want to live the way God wants them to. But then something hard happens in their lives. They decide to do what they want, not what God wants.
The seeds that fell on soil that was full of weeds are like people who hear about God's Kingdom, but they've got a lot on their minds. They don't pay attention. They have very full lives, but deep inside themselves they feel empty.
But the seeds that fell on good soil are like people who hear about God's Kingdom and understand exactly how God wants them to live. These people love God very much and show that love by caring deeply about other people. Their lives feel fruitful and happy."
Questions to think and pray about:
Have you ever planted seeds and watched them grow?
How is Jesus' teaching like a seed that grows?
Have you ever done what you wanted to do, and not what God wanted you to do?
Have you ever felt sad and empty inside?
What are you doing to live the way God wants you to live?