The golden seed (Luke 8:5-15)

The first of Jesus’s parables that Luke recorded was the parable of the sower. It is recorded in the book of Luke 8:5-15 As we read the parable, it seems it is more about the seed than the sower yet the title is “The parable of the Sower”

Jesus explained to the apostles about who the seed was and what the soil meant. He said the seed is the Word of God and the soil is the receiver; us, the people. He said that the seed that fell on the side of the road and was eaten by the birds represents those who have heard and the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart. The seed on the rocky soil are those who receive it with joy and they have no firm root. They believe for a while and loose sight when temptation comes. The seed that fell among the thorns, He said, are those who have heard and as they go on their way, they are chocked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity. Jesus likes the seed that fell in the good soil. I pray that is you and I. He says, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart and hold it fast and bear fruit.

As I ponder about the seed that falls on all these bad terrains, I can’t seem to take away my attention from the sower. For the sower is the planter and has to prepare the soil for the seed to grow and produce a plant that bears fruit. How can the seed grow on the side of the road as it is left uncover, unprotected. Surely it is up for grabs from the birds as it does not stand a chance. what about the thorns? shouldn’t the sower help take the thorns away? The good soil was ready for growth to help that seed germinate and become stronger.Therefore that seed was in a great place to become a fruitful mature plant.

A seed has everything it needs to grow. Inside it has a whole start up package. It is new life encased in a protective cover with it’s own identity and supply of food. This is the word of God in this parable. It is ready to produce but it needs a supportive environment to help it grow.what about the sower? Who is the sower? I believe, and correct me if you think I am wrong but it is us Christians. We tend to plant the seed but perhaps we fail to nurture it and to help it along the way. what did Jesus say we need? We need to love our neighbor as ourselves. when that fertile soil is not there, how can we expect the seed to grow?

The ones that heard the word and the devil came and stole it and took it away from them, where they not babies?(young believers) What could have been done to help them? Is it all on them and will the Judge of the World judge them solely on their actions? For He will take into account everything that Soul went through. Am I saying that they are without excuse? No. For as the word is heard each one of us is accountable for our response as we all have free will to accept it or refuse it. I am saying that the sower will also account for the sake of that seed.

What then is the good soil? and what then is a good sower?  I believe it goes back to the greatest commandment from our Lord recorded in Mathew 22:37-39 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it . Love your neighbor as yourself.