Today, I want to speak to you about the parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13:1-9. Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven throughout His ministry, but not everyone responded with open hearts. In Matthew 11, we see that even when Jesus performed mighty works, some people refused to repent. In chapter 12, others tried to trap Him, seeking ways to accuse Him. Because of these hardened hearts, Jesus began to teach in parables. And one of those parables, the parable of the sower, illustrates how people react to God's kingdom's message.

This parable describes four types of soils, representing four kinds of hearts that receive the Word of God. First, there’s the wayside. This represents those who hear the message but don’t understand it. Their hearts are hardened, and the Word never penetrates. Satan, like the birds in the parable, snatches it away. You may know people like this or recognize this in yourself. If your heart is closed off to God, the Word can’t take root, and Satan will blind you to its truth.

The second soil is the stony ground. This represents those who first hear the Word and are filled with joy. But they fall away when trials or persecution come because they aren’t deeply rooted in faith. Have you responded to the gospel but found that when life gets tough, your faith falters? This is what happens when we have enthusiasm but no solid foundation.

The third soil is thorny ground. Here, people hear the Word, but the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of life choke it out. These distractions keep them from being fruitful. Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the worries of life, or you're chasing after wealth and success—things that can never satisfy your soul. If this is you, Jesus warns you won’t bear the fruit He desires unless you realign your priorities with His kingdom.

Finally, the good soil. This person hears the Word, understands it, and bears fruit. This soil represents a heart that is open, willing, and patient. If you are the good soil, you will bear fruit—whether in winning souls, living a holy life, or producing the fruits of the Spirit. The good soil produces fruit in different amounts—some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty—but all are fruitful in their own way.

So, I ask you now—what kind of soil are you? Are you hardened like the wayside, shallow like the stony ground, choked by the thorns of this world, or ready to bear fruit in the good soil? If you are not the good soil, it’s not too late. You can repent today and allow God’s Word to take root in your heart.

Make the choice today to respond to Christ's gospel and His kingdom's message. Let the Word transform you.