Good Soil (Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23)
“1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!”
18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Is the condition of the soil prescriptive or descriptive, “ought” or “is?” Is it an imperative? Certainly, we are responsible for cultivation. We need to self-examine. We are responsible for obedience. We have some part in molding our perspectives and finding truth. Still, God is above all. Had he not set us free from our settled views, our learned demeanor, our attitude and tendencies, we would be lost. It’s a bit of a miracle how we found our way to Christ. Once there, we can take this parable as an incentive to stay on track.
We have already avoided the condition of the seed on the path. By evidence of our faith, we have passed the first hurtle. We can only feel bad for people whose perspective closes that door. Still, we live lives of hope knowing God can create something out of nothing. By walking according to the spirit, we have joy and vitality. We have compassion and grace. Maybe our flowering heads, our fruit, will draw some lost souls to the realization that they want to be, at the very least, open to this attractive dimension. Waiting, we abide with awe and humility.
The condition of the seed sown on rocky soil is a step up. It’s a blessing to have at least felt the joy of renewal and restoration. This condition is also a warning about shallowness and insincerity. Fear is appropriate, for fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. We do not want to fall away; a condition which is worse than the first. So, we develop perseverance and continually recommit. We are resolute, trusting that by staying connected to the vine we will come out on top. And we encourage a like response in others.
The third condition affects us all, for we all live in the world with its many distractions. Remember, Jesus’ prayer in John 17 was not that we be taken out of this world, but protected from the evil one. We can not be a light without the existence of contrast. We are called to demonstrate the most excellent way amidst a world of trouble. We trust in the good, yet at the same time we ready ourselves for trial and opposition. We are assured of ultimate victory, but the prerequisite for success in this life is that we listen to instruction, allow ourselves to be molded, watch or P’s and Q’s, and continually test our motivations. The Christian life is a steady growth toward maturity. Blessings will come in the form of satisfaction and a sense of peace and wellbeing. But we must remain on guard, for we do not want to sink into unfruitfulness. By what consequence? That of the loss of joy, vitality, the warmth of love, and a sense of God’s goodness.
The condition of the fertile soil is the greatest of blessings. Here, we experience abundant joy, remarkable vitality, deep satisfaction, and love! The picture is that of a spacious place with green pastures and quiet waters, where God transforms us through restoration. There is peace amidst turmoil, energy among the doldrums, abundant strength to show affection, and an overwhelming sense that God is great and that this life is worth living. We do not have to create or sustain meaning and purpose; God has already ordained us to be fruitful. It’s a state of being, of active rest, where the more we put in the more we receive. Abundant return is the promise. And as great as this is, we look forward to something even better. Imagine: we are held by God, kept by the assurance of heaven despite ourselves.
So, is the parable imperative or indicative? God’s remarkable truth is that it is both; two sides of the same coin, a paradox of wonder and grace. God nudges us forward with the prescriptive so that we might revel in the descriptive of love coming to fruition. The joy is as much ours as it is His. He is pleased when we see clearly enough to make a choice, then he aids our success. In this God’s infinite grandeur is displayed, the purpose of His plan which was established before time.