In “Bible” Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus talks about soil and the seed. There are four types of soil which Jesus refers to. These four types of soil symbolize the four kinds of people in accept the word of God.

One, a path. “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” (verse 4); “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” (verse 19). When Jesus spoke of the sower, he was referring to God himself, spreading the seeds of the gospel. There are people who indeed hear the message about the kingdom but don not understand it. They have no spiritual grasp of it, and they do not act on it in faith. They do not react. They witness, but they do not understand. To such people, the evil one comes and steals away the message of the kingdom.

Two, a rocky ground. “Some seed fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had not root.” (verse 5, 6); “The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.” (verse 20, 21). These are very emotional kinds of people. They quickly become enthusiastic about what they heard, but they soon become double-minded when they are emotionally upset. Emotional people cannot see the kingdom of God. Emotional people cannot take root in the word.

Three, a thorny ground. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” (verse 7); “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness for wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (verse 22). People who are like thorny ground have usually rich soil; they are able to do great things. They can produce abundant fruit. However, they are also worrying people. They worry day and night, until they have no time left to let the word grow in the soil of their hearts. The more they worry the more thorns of doubt and thistles of uncertainty grow in their hearts. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Instead of focusing on the words of God, thorny people focus on their worries. They lack the faith to trust and believe in God for the doubts and uncertainties that lie in their hearts.

Four, the good soil. “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (verse 8 ); “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (verse 23). This happens whenever someone “hear the word and understands it”. Such a person produces a crop—-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. The people whose minds are like good soil have a hundred mind toward the word of God. Such a person can understand the meaning of the word. And understanding comes from love. When we love the word of God, we can understand and see the glorious kingdom of God.

Excerpted from Sunday worship service, by David Kim
2006.5.21