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
I understand the method of sowing in this parable would have been “broadcast seeding.”. This is not planting in neat rows, in small holes prepared to receive the seed. This is swinging your arm with a handful of seed being generously flung out. Results will vary, depending on where the seed lands. And in this parable, when the seed lands on the “good soil,” the yield, while not consistent, is amazing.
I want to linger here before turning to Jesus’ explanation. I have been cleaning campsites and paths every day, pruning and pulling out varieties of plants and trees. The soil is extraordinarily rocky and sandy, not “good soil.” However, most plants are well-rooted and growing in wild abandon. I know a seed landing on good soil offers a good yield. And now I see another truth: with the right seed landing even on poor soil, surprising growth is possible.
Let anyone with ears listen!
Prayer
Variety and difference are gifts of God whether in seed, soil, or humankind. In this season, may plants and all creatures find life and a place to thrive. Amen.