The Sower

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.
This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

(Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23)

The Parable of the Sower is one of the "parables of the kingdom." These parables focus on hearing the word of truth, coming into the kingdom and remaining faithful.

The Parable of the Sower might well be called the Parable of the Soils, inasmuch as it says far more about the soil into which the word of truth comes than it does about the one who plants the word. This is a parable about humility before God, about spiritual receptivity, about the openness of human hearts and minds. In it Jesus encourages his listeners to receive the truth, seek to understand and cherish the truth and thereby strive to sink one's spiritual roots deep, so that neither the pressure of persecution nor the cares of this temporal world can distract us from eternal things. Men and women must therefore plow, harrow and fertilize their own soils and show tender care for the seed or word of salvation, if they are to reap an abundant harvest here and hereafter. This parable is thus a call for sincerity, spiritual depth and certitude, all of which enable one to remain faithful in the face of opposition.