Good Seed, Rich Soil, and Abundant Harvest

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Jesus was great at using everyday experiences, nature, and common things to teach His disciples about spiritual life. One day He was with His disciples and a large crowd gathered around them. Jesus seized the opportunity and talked with them about seeds, soil, and harvest.

Three things…

First, a thought about the seed. Jesus explained that the seed was the Word of God. It is good. It is cast out by means of a sower to be planted in the lives of others — you and me. When I say it is good seed, I’m only declaring what the prophets said about it. Like Isaiah who, speaking for the Lord, wrote, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” [Isaiah 55:10-11].

Second, a thought about the harvest. Like Isaiah, Jesus said the seed would produce a harvest. Isaiah said “it always produces fruit.” When Jesus talked about the harvest, He said it “yielded a crop; some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirtyfold” [Matthew 13:8]. That’s quite impressive.

Third, a thought about the soil. The ground upon which the seed was scattered was the main point of the Lord’s teaching that day. The condition of the soil determines harvest. That’s why, along with the soil, Jesus talked about weeds, thorns, rocks, and other things that “choke” the growth the seed.

The parable is not that difficult to understand. Jesus used the relationship between seed, soil, and harvest to make me cherish the precious nature of His Word, the life-giving seed. The harvest is inevitable when the Christ follower gives full attention to, gladly receives, and learns from the Word. That’s the good soil pictured in the parable.

Jesus went on to say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [Matthew 13:9]. As we begin our weekend activities, let’s make every effort to open our ears and prepare our lives to receive the life-giving seed of the Word. I don’t know about you, but I want to be fertile, rich soil that produces a harvest for His glory.

Then Jesus told them many things in parables saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Matthew 13:3