The Parable of the Sower
A large crowd was gathering, and the people were coming to Jesus from town after town. He told them a parable, "A farmer went out to sow his seeds, he scattered some seed along a path, and birds came and devoured it. Some seed fell on the rocks and when it came up the plants withered away and died for the moisture was not plentiful enough. Other seed fell among thorns and when the plants grew up the thorns choked them. Still other seed fell on good soil and they grew up and yielded a crop a hundred fold (times)." Then Jesus explained to the people the meaning of the parable. He said, "The seed represents the word of God, the seed that fell along the path represents the ones who hear, but Satan comes and takes away the seed so that they may not believe. And the seeds that fell among the rocks represent the ones who recieve the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root they believe for a time, but when testing comes they fall away. The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go they are choked by lifes worries, riches, and pleasures and they do not mature. The seed that fell on the good soil stands for those with good and noble hearts who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Amen! Luke 8: 4-15
