Behold, a sower went out to sow. . . .
He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
Jesus is the Sower of the seed of the Word of God into the hearts of people. Yet, the Sower in the parable is an application of every Christian who spreads God’s Word. There is no contradiction because Jesus sows the gospel through His believers. Jesus loves all because He sows the seed on all kinds of ground: He sows on the hard-hearted, wayside hearts. He sows on the shallow, rocky-soil heart. He sows on the thorn-infested, sinful hearts. And He sows into the good ground of receptive hearts. How receptive is your heart?
Jesus, give me a receptive heart to receive and believe Your Word. Forgive me for when I was not quick to seek Your presence or when I was slow to believe.
The Sower must choose seed to match the soil. Just as peanuts should be planted in soft, sandy soil (not thick, clay soil), so Jesus sows a judgmental message against sin to break a hard heart. Jesus sometimes sows a tender message of forgiveness to mend a broken heart. Just as seeds planted too closely together will choke out sunlight and seeds planted too far apart will reduce profits, so Jesus knows how often and how long the gospel message must be presented. Jesus, the Sower, knows how and when to plant, as well as how and when to harvest.
Jesus, I’ve tried to reach others but have not been as successful as I could be. Teach me how to sow the gospel into others, and teach me how to harvest. Amen.
Go Deeper: Matthew 13:1-23
Jesus sows the Gospel through us.
