ON GOOD GROUND

By newcomb

HERE, following, IS THE TEXT OF THE PARABLE. 

KFI  announcer, Ned Skaff, reading these verses for us
(starts to play automatically after download - click to stop voice over)

NOTE: (There are  several translations of this story.  One may notice minor changes in the words used.  However, the story remains the same.  One may find slight differences in verse reference, numbering.)

Following this story, please read Jesus’ explanation.                                           

“A sower went out to sow.

The Parable Explained - - -

Later, He said to His Disciples,

“You, then, may hear the parable of the sower. When a man hears the word that

tells of the Kingdom but fails to understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what has been sown in his heart.  There you have the seed sown along the foot path.

The seed sown on rocky ground stands for the man who, on hearing the word, accepts it at once with joy, but as it strikes no root in him, he has no staying power, and when there is trouble or persecution on account of the word he falls away at once.

The seed sown among thistles represents the man who hears the word, but worldly cares and the false glamour of wealth choke it, and it proves barren.  But the seed that fell into good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it, who accordingly bears fruit, and yields a hundredfold or, it may be sixty fold, or thirty fold.                                                                    (New English Bible)

 THE SOWER & THE SEED

A long time ago, in the late 1920s, I watched my Father Sow.

Sowing seed is not scattering, sprinkling or planting.  Sowing is Broadcasting, an acquired, skill. When the sown seed has sprouted, we can plainly, see just how well the Sower broadcast his seed! Many conditions must be met to produce an evenly sown field.  This results in full use of the land without over crowding of the new plants.

The Sower carries the bulk seed in an open sack supported over one shoulder.  (He can’t carry a full sack very far and a small sack must be re-filled too often.)

The Sower holds his head up and his eye is on some object across the field.  He walks directly to that spot.  He dips his throwing, hand into the sack and withdraws an open hand full of seed.  His hand is cupped but open as he sweeps his arm outward in an arc that spreads out a shower of seeds.  He continues to march in line as his repeats this action.  His step and pace just match the width of the scattered seed.  He establishes a coordinated rhythm that produces an even carpet of seeds spread in one direction by his throwing arm and in a cross direction by his measured step. The result is smooth movement that is pleasing to watch

The seeds, like a spray of water, ‘thin out’ at the far edge.  The last several feet will not have been well enough covered.  The Sower compensates for this by purposely overlapping, to that extent, (as the next trip is made across the field.)  He can’t sow when the wind is up or sow in the dark.

The seed is also food for his farm animals and for his family. Here he is, throwing it away!  Many times the seed being sown is last season’s harvest.  Critical decisions are made and mistakes are deadly.  Some of the seeds must be saved to provide next season’s harvest.  If too few are sown, the harvest will be smaller.  If a crop fails the people suffer.

A number of Farming references are found in Psalms and Proverbs.  These are also practical for forming a wholesome lifestyle.

*Read these references to add detail to the narrative.  Read other parables where Jesus speaks of seeding and harvest.  The Old Testament also has a rich detail of farm life, lost farm animals. Custom, laws of ownership, restitution.

- - -Epilogue- - -

The parable of the sower - - -

Is a favorite and well understood because it includes an explanation of what Jesus wants us to remember about it.

This is also an example of how we should view His other parables.  Not to dig deeper and try to make something of each of the words, but to gain the simple truth being taught, and importantly, to apply it to our own life.

We do well to notice to whom is He speaking?

Where they are at the time.

What were they doing? Resting, Eating, Walking

Where they were going? *

- - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

While visiting the Holy Land we sat on the bank of Galilee, (The Silver Woman). Many times one could look up from reading this Gospel to still see

 What Jesus was talking about when these Parables were first told

By that I mean, the little boat on the lake, the man fishing, the fish he catches,

The birds in the air,

The pathway,

  The stony place,

The Thorny place

(The most difficult to find,) the good ground!

*These several parables were told while on His journey to Jerusalem. Some were prompted by their experiences on the way.  nw

DON’T OVERLOOK THIS OBVIOUS, UNSPOKEN FACT----

While Jesus was speaking, He was the Sower!  His Words were the seed!

Some of the seed was falling on GOOD GROUND

Matt, Mark and Luke have written, for us, the very words of JESUS.

The SEED HAS MULTIPLIED FOR OVER 2,000 YEARS.  Many thousand fold.

Every time this parable of the Sower is told, the original story is re-enacted. 
The WORD is again falling into good and bad places.  We are God’s Good Soil.

We are this Parable.

After the parable was told-----Jesus called out to the crowd - - -    “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(These pictures were taken at Galilee by the author and may be used freely.)

Note: One may notice sheep resting on the foot  path.  nw