As a Christian, you have an identity that we cannot deny. In 1 Peter 1:1-2, Peter calls the Christians ‘aliens’ who are chosen by God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is their identity. One of the key ways to identify a true believer is love and trust in God’s word. We love His Word because we love Him. It is by His word that we are saved and by His word anyone can be saved. The parable of the soils distinguishes between the unsaved and the saved by their response to God’s word, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first soil is hard and outright rejects God’s word from the beginning. They could be saved if they just listened and believed but they don’t want to hear. The gospel is available to anyone if they would only listen and believe.

The rocky soil receives the seed but falls away after facing some hardship or suffering. An example is Demas who sought the comforts of the world rather than the difficulties of faith. The true believer remains faithful through all circumstances. They persevere not because they are strong but because they are held fast by Jesus. The Lord by His grace will not lose a single one of his sheep.

Luke 8:14 Thorny Soil – Thirdly we have the thorny soil. Thorns are a bad sign. In farming, thorns are a menace that ruins a crop. This is because weeds and thorns are usually stronger than crops and grow easier and more abundantly. A farm field requires constant attention, removing the weeds continually, so they don’t overtake the crop.

To put it spiritually, a soil with thorns is a worldly heart. Jesus says, “As they go on their way”. A thorny heart does not go in the Lord’s way but in its own way. They hear the word and interpret it in their own way. The word does not truly pierce or break their heart, meaning they do not fully surrender and submit to God. They have two masters in their hearts, the old with the new. They did not deny themselves and take up their cross. Richard Baxter insightfully shares, “The self is the most treacherous enemy and the most insinuating deceiver in the world.” If it is not removed, then there is no salvation.

Those who pursue self are like the prodigal son who left his father and went his own way (Luke 15:2-3). Judas also took his own way as he betrayed Jesus for money (Luke 22:3-4). The worldly are eventually choked by three things: worries, money, and pleasure. The Christian must forsake these things if we are to know Christ. Why would we seek these terrible idols when we know God and His glory?

• Worry: We do not need to worry because we have a Heavenly Father who knows our needs and He has given us His Son Jesus who fully satisfies us (Matthew 6:31-32, Phil 4:12-13). Worries belong to non-believers while Christians possess the gift of trusting in God above.
• Money: It is dangerous to love money. In Luke 12:15,11 Jesus warns against greed and its folly of empty promises. Dear saint, we are rich and have all that we need in Christ (2 Cor 8:9). Be satisfied with Christ for He is ours and we have unending blessings which no amount of money could ever buy.
• Pleasure: Pleasure, lust, or sensuality is another dangerous idol rooted in the wicked world (Romans 14:17). Our hope is for believers to find their joy in the Lord rather than the superficial and destructive pleasures of the world.

What is the result of worldliness? They do not bear fruit. “Is not every fruitless professor of Christianity in dreadful danger of becoming a withered fig tree? There can be no doubt of it. So long as a man is content with the leaves of religion–with a name to live while he is dead, and a form of godliness without the power–so long his soul is in great peril. So long as he is satisfied with going to church or chapel, and receiving the Lord’s supper, and being called a Christian, while his heart is not changed, and his sins not forsaken–then he is daily provoking God to cut him off without remedy. Fruit, fruit–the fruit of the Spirit, is the only sure proof that we are savingly united to Christ, and on our way to heaven. May this sink down into our hearts, and never be forgotten!” – J. C. Ryle

Luke 8:15 – The Good Soil No one is born as good soil. Scripture clearly says that no one is good and no one seeks after God. Only God is good. So how does the hard, rocky, or thorny soil become good soil? When God comes and works in a man’s heart, the soil is prepared for receiving the seed and bearing fruit (Exodus 15:16-17). Apostle Paul’s heart is an example of a bad soil turned good (Acts 25:19).

The good soil hears like all the other soils but they hear with an honest and good heart and hold it fast. They understand that the message is God’s living and holy word and respond by believing (Acts 17:11). Regardless of their circumstances, even though obedience might be tough and detrimental, the believer knows it is better to obey God’s word. A good and honest heart recognizes the true divine nature of the gospel message.

What kind of fruit? The fruit is an acceptable attitude towards the Lord followed by acceptable action. Some display very obviously and some might not. However, there is always a sign of fruit. The fruit must be there if the soil is good. A concluding suggestion to bear fruit more clearly: First read the Bible every day and examine yourself. Also, ask those close to you if they see the signs of fruit. Ask yourself which soil are you? If you are a hard, rocky, or thorny soil, then thankfully God’s word is still available for you to receive through repentance. If you are good soil, then continue to immerse yourself in God’s word so that you may bear more fruit.

We continue to identify hallmarks of God’s kingdom citizens in the Parable of the Sower. 

In this parable, Jesus describes four types of soil on which the sower’s seeds fall. The seed represents the word of God; the soil represents the heart. The first three soils show the marks of unregenerate hearts that all men are born with- the Wayside Heart, the Rocky Heart, and the Thorny Heart. Though they vary in their responses to God’s Word, they all ultimately fail to bear fruit. The last soil represents the Good Heart. This soil is the heart made good not by man’s deeds, but by regeneration through God’s mercy. (Titus 3:5) This is the only soil that represents the heart of a true Christian.

As we delve into the characteristics of the first two soils in this parable, we are called to examine our own hearts through God’s Word. Do you recognize in your own heart these traits of those who are not kingdom citizens?

Wayside Heart

The soil of the well-trodden path represents a heart that is as hard as stone. Just as a packed and hardened dirt path is unable to allow a seed to penetrate its soil, this wayside heart is of a stiff-necked person who will not listen and hear the gospel with faith. When the Word of God comes to him, Satan comes and snatches it away so he wouldn’t be saved. He confuses them with lies that misrepresent the severity of sin, God’s wrath against sin, and man’s futile pursuit of truth apart from God’s Word.

How should we deal with these people who reject the gospel? As long as they are alive, we must pray for them to repent as they hear the gospel. 

Rocky Heart

The rocky soil represents the hearts of those who are shallow and superficial. They may seem like believers, but there is no depth to their confession. These individuals respond quickly to what they hear, but their joyful response is merely an emotional reaction. They view the gospel as the key to solving all their problems, but their problem is never about sin but is merely psychological and circumstantial.

It is difficult for the gospel to take root in a rocky heart because these types of people do not count the cost of Christianity. They claim salvation on their own terms, wanting God’s grace but rejecting His lordship. Their faith is not genuine, and because of this, they fall away when they are tested with persecution or suffering.

These soils exist within the church. They exist among those who may be falsely assured of their salvation. Salvation is a gift of God, who shed His blood on the cross to save us. As we examine ourselves to see that the Holy Spirit is truly working in our hearts, we can appreciate this matchless gift and give glory to our merciful God.

The kingdom of God abides and operates in all believers. There are internal and external marks of kingdom evidence in Christians. These marks are seen in producing fruit up to a hundredfold as the gospel takes root and bears fruit.

The distinct feature of kingdom people is they are able to hear the voice of God (v 8). Hearing is better than seeing (Ro. 10:14, 17). Thus, hearing the gospel and the Word of God is what is most important for anyone, whether to believe in Christ Jesus for salvation or continue to grow in spiritual understanding.

The Spirit of God is who regenerates our heart, allows someone to have spiritual understanding in the first place that leads to repentance and faith. And it is through Scripture that God speaks personally before someone believes. Sanctification, then, occurs through continual understanding until glorification.

As Jesus says, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear”, a person can only hear God through the Bible. The Bible is the only right source. Reading coupled with the Holy Spirit enables Christians to gain an understanding of God’s intending meaning. More importantly, prayer to God for understanding is so vital as God is the author of sacred Scripture.

Trust in God results in having confidence in what we hear and understand from the Bible. Naturally, trust leads to obedience (Phil. 2:8; Mk. 4:10). In other words, hearers delight in the word of God. Kingdom citizens take pleasure in His word and find joy in it. What distinguishes believers and unbelievers is the heart attitude towards the word of God. The disciple of God loves God and His word. Mere knowledge does not make one a kingdom citizen nor can it lead to obedience, but heart transformation leads to obedience.

To reiterate, God is the only one that is able to grant divine understanding to a sinner to hear and delight in Him and His word. Without God’s grace, there is no life or understanding. Transformation can only take place through the supernatural work of God by His grace through faith (Gal. 2:20). If we are granted grace, we must genuinely and sincerely repent as we see the love of God on the cross. Repentance, faith, and humility follow upon being given grace as we understand what Jesus has done for us.

Therefore, the spiritual understanding given by the Holy Spirit to the Christian leads to delighting in Him and His word, which is evidenced in a life of obedience and bearing fruit for His glory.

Jesus is known for teaching in parables. Throughout history, many teachers have used parables to make a point or teach morality. However, the Lord’s parables were unique, they were firmly based in reality, and played an important role in His ministry, not just to teach, but to discern. The parable of the sower in Luke 8 is one of the longest and most well-known parables that Jesus taught.

We find that when the crowd gathered, Jesus switched to parables. As the Teacher, Jesus used parables to paint a vibrant and colorful picture of the Kingdom of God. Through the parables, we gain insight and clarity into the Kingdom of God through the connection made to the tangible real-life experiences that everyone would be familiar with. Also when Jesus spoke in parables, he desired response from the crowd, either acceptance or rejection.

Three kinds of parables

1. The true parable: based on daily life that everyone understands. (Luke 8:4-8 farming)
2. The story parable: explains an experience. (Luke 15:11-32 the prodigal son)
3. The illustration: tells of what should be avoided or followed by example. (Luke 10:37 Good Samaritan)

Some might argue based on Mark 4:33-34 that Jesus used parables to hide truths. However, if we consider the heart of Jesus, how His purpose in leaving heaven and coming to earth was to seek the lost and save sinners, it makes sense that parables are the best means of communicating the invisible kingdom of God to the common man. Jesus preached repentance and the kingdom of God continually (Luke 4:43). Jesus clearly wanted everyone to hear the gospel and be saved. So the way Jesus used parables was not to conceal, to entertain, or to leave open for interpretation, but to explain and clarify.

It is true, Jesus used parables to both reveal and conceal. To the believer, the parables are open and produce a hunger for more truth for they teach us about God’s kingdom. To the non-believer, they have no response, and the truth is hidden from them. In the same way, the straightforward gospel is hidden and rejected by the non-believer, the parables are also hidden because they know nothing of the Kingdom of God. The non-believer has no desire to repent so how will they know and accept the truths in the parables? It’s not that the parables themselves are hidden but because their unrepentant heart has no ability or desire to know the truth.

Going back to the scene of the parable. It says “When a large crowd was coming together”. They were coming from all over. Jesus’ popularity had risen to feverish heights (Mt 4:25, Mk 1:33, LK 5:1). He was so popular because He was healing every disease, performing miracles, feeding them, and preaching like no one else ever preached. They almost took him by force to make him King (John 6:15)

However, Jesus’ popularity took a nosedive when he started preaching in Luke 6:35 about being the Bread of Life. This is the fickle nature of the crowd. Based on the fluctuating size of Jesus’ followers, we must ask how many of them are saved. A lot or a little? The disciples asked the same thing (Luke 13:22-24). Jesus says the door is narrow and many will try to enter but won’t be able to. This should sober everyone. The Lord tells us to strive to enter through the narrow gate. This means diligently pursuing holiness and obedience. Our striving does not justify us, justification is by the blood of Jesus, but those who enter the narrow gate, through the blood of Jesus, must pursue holiness. This is in direct opposition to the comfortable way of salvation that is popular with the crowd. So Jesus spoke parables to the few who were truly saved, not to the crowds who were gathered.

The sower went out to sow (Luke 8:5). Jesus is the sower. He is not a sower but The Sower. The sower sowed on four soils. These four soils are actual soils that farmers faced in their fields. All the people, especially the farmers would know exactly how these four soils behaved. Especially the good soil, every farmer would know the joy and satisfaction of the seed-bearing a fruitful harvest.

While speaking in parables (Luke 8:8), Jesus would call out. Jesus calls out to you. Listen to Him. He doesn’t just inform you but calls out to you. His final goal is not to teach but to save. Hear His calling. If you have ears to hear, then by faith receive the truth of the gospel and believe.