A farmer planted seed and as he scattered the seed:
Some of it fell on the road and birds ate it.
Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly.
Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds.
Some fell on good earth and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
The seed the farmer scattered on the road - When anyone hears the news of the Kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart.
The seed cast in the gravel - this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character and when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives there is nothing to show for it.
The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the Kingdom news but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard and nothing comes of it.
The seed cast on the good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News and the produces a harvest yeilding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
No - this parable isn't designed to acknowledge the narrator/teacher, his gifts or his ability to communicate the Word. Jesus told this parable to a hard-hearted, blind-eyed, deaf-eared audience. A people He knew from ancient times would reject the truth He came to live out and offer. This parable described His audience - and anyone who would hear the Word from that day forward. Not all will be hard hearted though.
Because we know the many paths a person can take upon hearing Jesus' Story of Reconciliation, paths chosen by the hearer and known by the Creator, I like reading this and seeing how it affects the heart of those called to teach the Word:
the depths of the responsibility and honor laid upon (James 3:1),
the spiritual knowledge and hermeneutical work involved in (Titus 2:7),
and the creativity infused within the spiritual gifts to publicly proclaim the Word.
Yes, the Spirit convicts, convinces and converts a mans heart...but He does it through mere men and women. Sinful men and women. It is a postition worth double honor and a heavier dose of accountability to God Himself.
Plant well. With love and grace, seasoned with spiritual salt so that is desired by the listener.
Taken from Matthew 13