Monday 29 April 2013

Background

The Parable of the Sower is a story that is linkedwith the understanding of how the good news of the love of God isspread. Jesus is using this story to talk to a large crowd, beforeexplaining it later to his small group of followers (verses13-20).

Jesus uses such a parable with its agriculturaltheme because it is likely that the crowd around him would have hada connection with farming and sowing seeds, either for apersonal/family garden, small holding or as a living. The parabledescribes the different types of soil and the continued care ofthat seed.

The seed demands the right sort of soil to growstrong and healthy; if there are no roots then it will not gatherenough food and water to grow. Disaster may strike - as seen inthis passage as either birds (verse 4) or thorns choking the weeds(verse 7) - these incidents take away the roots' ability to grow ina good environment, and the weeds also block out any sunlight -vital for full growth.

This passage helps us to understand how the spreadof the good news that Christ shared can be hindered. There is aneed for a sower, someone willing to put in the hours of work. Theheart in which the seed is sown needs to have the right conditions,be open to receive, be able to build strong spiritual roots,allowing the community of God to pour light on the seed and not tobe choked by things that will strangle the new faith that is beinggrown. For the soil or hearts that are good, that do not get chokedor the seed stolen, then the harvest will be immense (verse20).

This story however is not explained straight away,the crowd are left to ponder on its meaning, before the disciplesget to hear its understanding and meaning later from Jesus inprivate.

To Ponder

• How can you sow seeds of good news?

• How can you help prepare people for the good news of God?

• What ground is there in you that you need toprepare before seeds are laid?