Luke 8:11-15
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”
Taking each of the three sections of this passage in turn gives us a chance to notice the change in focus from the sower – who throws seeds every which way – to the soil. For in this explanation, Jesus describes the Word of God as the seed thrown with abandon and then focuses attention on different kinds of soil as representing different kinds of attitudes or dispositions or even temperaments.
Some have no depth, and so the word is easily snatched away. Some have no roots, and so when challenges come they give up. Some can’t seem to give over the everyday cares of life and so have the life of faith choked out of them. And some hold the Word fast, take it seriously, try to live according to it and so grow and bear fruit.
They typical way to read this passage is to treat it as a kind of moral exhortation, with the ringing conclusion, “So be good soil.” This is often followed by a list of things good-soil Christians do or should do.
But I think the old hymn captures the thrust of this explanation better: “Lord, let my heart be good soil.” Because the thing is, dirt is dirt. Dirt doesn’t choose whether it is on a path or on rocks or infested with thorns or happens to be in rich farmland. Rather, dirt is dirt, and we ask that God would make us good dirt, good soil, capable of hearing and holding fast to the Word.
Which brings us back to the parable. For in the image of a sower who flings seed with such careless abandon – even on the worst dirt around – we have the promise that God will, indeed, cause us to be good soil that yields a magnificent harvest. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Dear God, let our hearts be good soil, that your word would take root, grow, and flourish, leading us to share the news of your grace and mercy with all those we meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Loved thinking of this parable in a different light! Thanks!