Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Verse 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. Verse 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. Verse 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Verse 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. Verse 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Verse 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Verse 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Verse 9Let anyone with ears listen!" Verse 18"Hear then the parable of the sower. Verse 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. Verse 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Verse 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. Verse 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. Verse 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Devotion
When hiking, it’s amazing to see trees and flowers growing out of rocky ground. It looks like there isn’t any good soil or fertilizer, not even an adequate water supply, yet against all odds, life grows. This is a good reminder for us not to assume that we know exactly what is good soil. In the church we often think we are expert gardeners and know what is good soil and what is not; where the seed is going to take hold and where it is not. In this parable, there is only one sower, and it is not we. God does not plant seed in neat and tidy rows; we may be surprised where God’s word takes root. We are called to treat everyone like they are good soil and good seed because you can never tell where the sower may plant next.
Prayer
Lord of all good soil, plant in us seed that will grow into beautiful faith that can help feed one another. May we not look at our neighbor and say, “he’ll never” or “not her.” May we know that, with you as the sower, all things are possible. Amen.