The Sower, the Seed and the Soil

Matt. 13 presents us with what we commonly call the "Parable of the Sower." There are other parables in this chapter (such as Wheat and Tares in vs. 24-30; Mustard Seed vs.31-32; A woman who hid three measures of meal in v.33; Hid Treasure v. 44; Pearl of Great Price vs. 45-46; The Net vs. 47-51; and The Scribe in v.52). He spake in parables partly as a fulfillment of prophecy, and part because the unsaved would not want to understand the truths or the point of the various parables, both of these ideas and more are found in vs. 10-17.

The Parable of the Sower speaks about the various 'hearers' (represented by the soil) of the Word (the seed). Because of the condition of the soil, the seed was either effectual or not. To be certain the Lord (which is the Sower) could not possibly be blamed for the results since He was diligent to do His work. The seed could not be at fault neither, we read how when it found good soil that it did yeild fruit abundantly. So the fault lies at the heart or the hearer (which is the soil). The responsiblility is ours to recieve God's Word so that our lives can have the results that God wants us to have. This is why Jesus in Luke 8:18 (a parallel passage) warns us to: "Take heed therefore, how ye hear..."