Jesus spoke many things in parables (v.3). He spoke in parables in order to hide His wisdom from the multitudes and so that only His disciples could understand the “mysteries of the kingdom” (v.10-11). First, He told the multitude the parable of the seed and the sower (v.3-8). Later (v.18-23), He explained to His disciples alone the meaning of the parable. God’s truth is “spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). That means that it must be understood by a spiritual mind that is taught by His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Those who do not have the indwelling Spirit are not given to understand the spiritual things of God. They can memorize verses and learn the details of the stories, but the greater truths of scripture are hidden from them.
In order to know the things of God, you must know Jesus Christ as your Saviour. In the parable of the sower, the sowing of the seed is the preaching of the word of God (v.18-19). As it is preached, it falls on four kinds of ground: the wayside where it is devoured by birds, on stony ground where it cannot take root, among thorns where it is choked before it grows very much and on good ground where it grows and bears much fruit.
Have you allowed the seed to take root in your heart? Have you trusted in Jesus Christ (who died for your sins on the cross and arose from the dead to give you eternal life) as your personal Saviour? If so, are you bearing fruit for Him? What fruit is the seed of the word bearing in your heart?
