What Kind of Soil Are You?
by Doy Moyer
Mark 4 presents what we call the parable of the sower. What has recently struck me is how the entire chapter stays with the same essential point concerning the power of God's word. Here are a few thoughts:
- The parable's point is not whether we are sowing the seed as much as asking ourselves what kind of soil we are. I see this emphasized when Jesus says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Are we hearing as we should and bearing the fruit of being the good soil?
- The emphasis on proper hearing continues as Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10. Next, Jesus explains the parable. We really need to emphasize our own hearing in light of this.
- Though the figure changes to that of a light and basket (Mark 4:21-25), the point is essentially the same. "For to the one who has, more will be given ..." is parallel to those "who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold" (Mark 4:20).
- The growing seed also emphasizes the idea of bearing fruit and growing upon hearing the word of God (Mark 4:30-32).
- The sower, in this context, is Jesus. Notice what this says: "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it" (Mark 4:33). The seed is the word, and Jesus was speaking the word as they could hear it (i.e., what kind of soil are they?).
- Next, Jesus calms a storm with the power of His word. There is an interesting potential contrast here. As strong as nature is, it listens to the word of God. Only people will stubbornly refuse to hear. The storms obey. Do we?
What kind of soil are you?
